Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | Ninth Generation92. Clarence Lucius GRIGGS (*) (~) was born on 15 August 1856 in Barre Township, La Crosse County, WI.57,64 Bernice Griggs' Notes: "Clarence Lucius Griggs was a drug clerk (at his father's drug store), a farmer on the family homestead, and a rural mail carrier on the present Routes 1 and 2 in Tomah, for 26 years." Gary Griggs has his daily prayer book entitled "Daily Food for Christians." The book is undated, but probably was printed in the 1880's. He also has Clarence's "Hymns for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church," which has the inscription "Book presented by his brother Osmon." The book was printed in 1868 and Osmon died in 1877, so the book was probably given to Clarence in the early-1870's. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Barre Township, La Crosse County, WI.25 He appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.44 Clarence appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.53 He was living with his parents. He appeared in the census in 1880 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.72 He was living at the home of his father and his occupation was "Farmer." Between 1881 and 1919 he was a farmer in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.64,72,74,107 Until the Spring of 1884, he lived with his father, Lucius, and helped his father on his 160-acre farm at the intersections of Highways 12 and 21, north of Tomah (the southeast corner of Section 21). On June 16, 1898, after his father had died, a Quit-Claim Deed was issued to him by his step-mother, Kate Gilmore Griggs, and his sister, Florence. The deed was "Subject to the terms and conditions of a certain mortgage of even date herewith, securing the payment of certain annuities and legacies payable according to the terms of the last will and testament of Lucius S. Griggs, deceased." On July 9, 1910, Clarence and his wife, Carrie Griswold Griggs, issued a deed that transferred ownership of the 160-acre farm in Section 21 as well as a 20-acre farm in the northwest corner of Section 22 to Martha Watrous Griswold, Carrie's mother. The purpose of this transaction is not known because two days later, on July 11, 1910, Martha deeded the properties back to Clarence and Carrie. On September 29, 1919, Clarence and Carrie deeded the 160-acre farm to their daughter Mattie and her husband, Rollie Vandervort. (The 20-acre property, which was located about 1/4 mile north of the main farm, was apparently purchased in 1884 by Clarence's father, but was listed on a plat in 1897 as being owned by Clarence Griggs.) Gary Griggs has a picture of the family "raising" a new barn in 1904 at the location of his father's main farm. Among those pictured rebuilding the barn were Clarence, Carrie, and their children, Ben, Mattie, Mabel, Clare and Carroll. The barn was destroyed in a windstorm in 1911 and later re-built. Clarence appeared in the census in 1885 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.108 He and his wife and sons Sam and Ben were living in his father's household. He appeared in the census in 1895 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.77 His household consisted of 4 males and 3 females; their given names were not listed in the Census, but the 4 males were Clarence and his sons, Samuel, Lucius, and Clare; the 3 females were Carrie and their daughters Mattie and Mabel. He appeared in the census in 1900 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.98,109 His household consisted of himself, his wife, Carrie, and their six children. His occupation was "Farming." From a Tomah Monitor-Herald Newspaper Article, dated July 7, 1911: " About 5 o'clock on the afternoon of July 4th, a wind and rain storm hit this section of the country that was near cyclonic. A large number of trees were uprooted and several buildings north of the city were blown down or off their foundations, and very much damage was done to the grain which was laid flat. The large barn of C. L. Griggs was completely destroyed, and the barn on the Finucan farm northwest of the city nearly completed, was demolished. In the city, nearly every July 4th stand was blown down, and the central school building struck by lightning had considerable damage." Clarence appeared in the census in 1905 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.110 His occupation was "Farmer." He appeared in the census in 1910 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.111,112 His occupation was listed as "Mail Carrier, RFD Route." According to a letter that he wrote on May 13, 1911 to Roxana Liscomb Griggs, the wife of his father's brother, Roswell, "I am still on the R.F.D. route. Don't know how long I shall continue at it." He appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.57,113,114 His household (at 1308 Stoughton Avenue) consisted of Clarence, age 63; his wife, Carrie, age 61; their daughter, Mabel Koopman (then a widow), age 30; and Mabel's children, Merle, age 6; Mildred, age 5; Milo, age 3 4/12; and Lucille, age 2 4/12. A detailed search of the 1930 Census failed to locate Clarence and Carrie, as their home at 1308 Stoughton Avenue was not listed in the census records. The census enumerator included neighboring homes in their block at 1312, 1314, 1316 and 1320, as well as homes across the street at 1301, 1303 and 1305 Stoughton. But, for some reason, she did not include 1308. It is possible that Clarence was very ill at the time of the census, and the enumerator simply skipped the household. It is believed that their grandchildren, Blanche, Glenn and LaVerne Griggs, were living with them at that time, as they also cannot be located in the 1930 Census. Clarence died on 28 July 1931 at the age of 74 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.43,54,64 Obituary Notes: "Clarence Lucius Griggs, life-long resident of this community, passed away early Tuesday morning after a long illness. He had been bed-ridden for a number of years. Mr. Griggs was born at Barre, La Crosse county, on August 15, 1856, and at the age of nine years came to this community with his parents. He has made his home here since. In 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Griswold in the Town of Wilton. Six children were born to them, four of whom are living. Those surviving are his wife, two sons, Sam of Kirby and Claire of Tomah; two daughters, Mrs. Mattie Vandervort, Tomah, and Mrs. Mabel Thompson, New Lisbon; and 18 grandchildren. Mr. Griggs operated a farm until 11 years ago, when failing health compelled him to give up this occupation and he moved to Tomah. He was member of the Woodmen and Mystic Workers lodges and the Methodist Episcopal church. Funeral services will be conducted from the Methodist church on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, Rev. Wm. F. Schuelke officiating. Burial will be made in Oak Grove Cemetery." Bernice Griggs' Notes: "He suffered from arthritis, hardening of arteries, exhaustion and deforming rheumatism. He died of a stroke while living at 1308 Stoughton Avenue." He was buried on 1 August 1931 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.43,64 in the Oak Grove Cemetery (First Addition, Block 2, Lot 14). Clarence Lucius GRIGGS (*) (~) and Carrie Permelia GRISWOLD (*) were married on 25 November 1880 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.47,64,104,115 Their witnesses were G. D. Bigelow and Florence Bigelow, Clarence's twin sister and her husband. Their minister was Joel Brown. She would become to be known in the family as "Goody Grandma." (In some family records, her middle name is listed as "Pamelia." However, it is listed as "Permelia" in the Benjamin Thwing family tree on the Internet, and Permelia was the name of her father's sister; so it is very likely that it was Permelia. Martha Thwing was her great-great-grandmother on her mother's side.) She appeared in the census in 1860 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.25 She appeared in the census in 1870 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.44 Carrie appeared in the census in 1875 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.53 She appeared in the census in 1880 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.72,121,122 She was living with her parents. In his book, Hiram Griswold (a brother of her father) includes a letter that Carrie wrote to him dated July 15, 1878, in which she states "I have given up the idea of getting married, as I shall have you to take care of." The book also includes a letter that he wrote to her on July 4, 1908, in which he mentions his visits to Ridgeville, and his disagreements with Carrie's father. Carrie had an autograph book that contained messages from many friends and relatives, with most of them written between October 1879 and mid-1882, after her marriage. A message from her mother said: "There's a morning full of brightness, For every night of pain. There's a sunbeam for each shadow, And for every loss some gain. There's a smile for every tear drop, And mirth for each heart sigh, True joy for each dark sorrow, All coming by and by." She appeared in the census in 1885 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.76 Carrie appeared in the census in 1895 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.77 She appeared in the census in 1900 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.98 She was living with her husband and six children. She appeared in the census in 1905 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.110 Carrie appeared in the census in 1910 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.111 She was living with her husband and six children. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.57,113,114 (She and her husband were not listed in the 1930 Census. Many neighboring homes on Stoughton Avenue were included, so it is probable that the census enumerator skipped their home. Her husband had been ill for about two years before he died in 1931, so it is possible that sickness prevented the enumerator from visiting their home. It is believed that the children of her son Sam--Blanche, Glenn and LaVerne--were living with Carrie and Clarence at that time, because they were not listed with Sam and his second wife, Anne. Nor can they be found elsewhere in the 1930 Census.) She died on 7 November 1936 at the age of 78 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.64,120,123 Obituary Notes: "Mrs. Carrie Griggs passed away at her home (1308 Stoughton Avenue) Saturday morning at the age of 78 years, 1 month and 14 days. She was born at Ridgeville, Wis., September 15, 1858, and resided there with her parents, Samuel and Martha Griswold, until her marriage to Clarence Griggs. Six children, four sons and two daughters, were born to this union. Mr. Griggs and three sons, Samuel, Lucius, and Carroll, preceded her in death. The surviving children are: Mrs. Mattie Vandervort, Mrs. Mabel Thompson, and Claire, all of Tomah. She also leaves to mourn her passing, 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mrs. Griggs was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a faithful worker as long as her health permitted. She was also a member of the W. R. C. She was a good neighbor and loyal to the H. B. T., of which she was a charter member. Funeral services were conducted at her home and at the Methodist Episcopal Church on Tuesday, November 10, 1936. The Rev. Robert Johnson officiated. Interment took place at Oak Grove Cemetery." (Note: With her birth date of September 15, 1858, that would have meant that she died on October 29, 1936. Notes of Bernice Griggs and Lyle Griggs indicate that 'she died of a stroke on November 7, 1936,' so her obituary may have miscalculated her exact age.) Carrie was buried on 10 November 1936 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.43,64,120 in the Oak Grove Cemetery (First Addition, Block 2, Lot 14). Clarence Lucius GRIGGS (*) (~) and Carrie Permelia GRISWOLD (*) had the following children:
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