George William GRIGGS Jr.

First Generation

1. George William GRIGGS Jr. was born on 11 Feb 1820 in Ontario, Canada. He died estimated 1887/1890 in Livingston County, MO.

George William Griggs, Jr. and Keren Happuch Cramer were married in the Gore District of Ontario, Canada on September 19, 1846. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio sometime between 1851 and 1854 and later, before 1859, moved to Barry County, Michigan, and then in 1869 moved on to Livingston County, Missouri.
The 1851 census for Oakville, Halton County, Ontario Canada page 31, shows George Griggs, occupation baker, religion Christian, age 32, wife Keren age 27 and children Lanson, Edgar and Mary all born in Canada. In the 1860 census George and Keren were in Castleton, Barry County, Michigan, with added children George W. born Ohio and Ella M. born Michigan. In the 1870 census they are in the Fairview Township, Livingston County, Missouri with added children Ida, Lafayette and Nettie B. born in Michigan, and William, age one, born in Missouri. In 1880 they are still living in Livingston County, but Keren is deceased. In that census, George lists his parents as being born in New Jersey.
Sometime between 1869 (when they arrived in Livingston County) and 1878 (when his ownership is reflected in the 1878 Livingston County Atlas) George Griggs purchased 80 acres in Township 56, Range 23, Section 5, 5 ½ of SE ¼. Deed records show he sold this land on August 31, 1887. The deed was filed on September 13,1887.
It is unclear when George Griggs died, but apparently it was either sometime after August 31, 1887 when the above-mentioned land was sold, but before the 1900 census where he does not appear. It is also unclear where he is buried. His wife Keren and one daughter, Ella May, are buried in the Griggs Plot at the Maberry Cemetery near Avalon, Missouri. Both Keren and Ella May’s names are on the headstone, but George’s is not. It is also possible that George Griggs could have moved out of the area after he sold his farm in 1887 but before the 1900 census, however that appears unlikely because three out of his six surviving children were still living in Livingston County at that time and he would have been 67 years of age in 1887.

George married Keren Happuch CRAMER daughter of William CRAMER and Mary BUTTS on 19 Sep 1846 in the Gore District, Ontario, Canada. Keren was born on 4 Nov 1825 in Ontario, Canada. She died on 6 Aug 1873 in Livingston County, MO. She was buried in the Griggs Plot at the Maberry Cemetery, near Avalon in Livingston County, MO.

Descendants say William Cramer, who was Keren's father, was a Scotsman who married a French Canadian Indian, although nothing has been found to date to document this claim. Keren's name is also quite unusual, apparently she was named after one of Job’s daughters in the Bible (Job 42:14).

George and Keren had the following children:

	2	M	i	Alanson (Lanson) GRIGGS "Lanson" was born on 9 Jun 1847 in Canada. He died on 25 Nov 1864 in Columbia, TN. Lanson Griggs served, as a private, in Company L of the 8th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. He enlisted on August 9, 1864 in Jackson, MI giving his age as 18 years and 1 month (he was actually 17 years and 2 months). He was a volunteer substitute for William H. Johnston of the town of Marshall in Calhoun County, Michigan. He was listed as "Missing in Action" on November 25, 1864 in Columbia, TN. "The rendezvous of the Eighth Cavalry was at Mt.Clemens, and was recruited under the direction of Colonel John Stockton, who was authorized by the Secretary of War, with the sanction of the Governor, to raise the Regiment. Its recruitment commenced in August, 1862, and was mustered into the service of the United States on May 2, 1863, having on its rolls, 1117 officers and men, leaving the State by detachments in that month, with orders to report to the field in Kentucky, the first detachment, composed of eight squadrons, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Wormer, leaving on the 12th. day of May. During their term of Federal service, they were engaged at: Triplet Bridge,KY/ Lebanon,KY/ Lawrenceburg,KY/ Salvisa,KY/ Buffington's Is.,OH/ Winchester,KY/ Salineville,OH/ Lancaster,KY/ Kingston,TN/ Cleveland,TN/ Calhoun,TN/ Athens,TN/ Loudon,TN / Philadelphia,TN/ Sweet Water,TN/ Lenoir Station,TN/ Campbell's St.,TN/ Knoxville,TN/ Rutledge,TN/ Ream's Station,TN/ New Market,TN/ Mossy Creek,TN/ Dandridge,TN/ Fair Gardens,TN/ Sevierville,TN/ Kenesaw Mountain,GA/ Sweet Water,GA/ Chattahoochie,GA/ Moore's Ridge,GA / Covington,GA/ Macon,GA/ Sunshine Church,GA/ Eatonton,GA/ Mulberry Creek,GA/ Henryville,TN/ Mt Pleasant,TN/ Duck River,TN/ Nashville,TN On September 22, 1865, they were returned to Nashville, where they were mustered out of the service of the United States, then returned to Michigan on the 28th. there to be soon after paid off and disbanded, at Jackson. On the previous July 20th., the 11th. Cavalry had been consolidated with the Eighth, the Regiment retaining the designation of the 8th. Michigan Cavalry. Total Enrollment--3025. (including 512 men from the 11th.)..... Killed in Action--24..... Died of Wounds--7..... Died of Disease--290" (Don & Lois Harvey, http://www.members.aol.com/_ht_a/dlharvey/8thcav.htm)
	3	M	ii	Daniel Edgar GRIGGS was born on 29 Mar 1849 in Canada. He died on 7 Dec 1860 in Barry County, Michigan. He was buried in Hosmer Cemetery in Castleton Township, Barry County, Michigan.
+	4	F	iii	Mary GRIGGS
	5	M	iv	George Wesley GRIGGS "Wesley" was born on 10 Oct 1854 in Cleveland, OH. He died on 27 Apr 1930 in Paradise, Butte County, CA. He was buried on 29 Apr 1930 in the Magalia Cemetery, Magalia, Butte County, CA. George Wesley Griggs, who went by the name of Wesley, is found in the 1870 census as Geo. W. Griggs, age 16, in Fairview Township, Livingston County, Missouri in the household of his father, George William Griggs, Jr. Wesley must have left Livingston County, Missouri sometime between 1875, when he came of age, and 1880 because in that year he is found in the Cottonwood, Chaffee County, Colorado census. He is in the household of Charles Eames and is listed as 25, single, born Ohio and his occupation is “Stock Tender”. Perhaps being called a “Stock Tender” in the mountains of Colorado in 1880 he would qualify as a "cowboy". Wesley is next found in the 1900 census where he is in the Centralia City, Lewis County, Washington, he is a boarder; age 45, single, born Ohio and his occupation is listed as “Saw Sales”. Wesley is not found again until the 1920 census where he is found in Magalia Village, Butte County, California with his wife Rebecca. Wesley is listed as age 65, born Ohio and his occupation is a “Farmer”. At age 61 Wesley married Rebecca (Senger) Stephens in April of 1916. Although Wesley never had children of his own, Rebecca had three sons and a daughter from her first marriage to John Francis Stephens. Wesley died in Paradise, Butte County, California on 28 April 1930 and is buried in the Magalia Cemetery, Magalia, Butte County, California. The following is the obituary of George Wesley Griggs: Wesley Griggs Dies In Optimo - Wesley Griggs, 75, native of Cleveland, Ohio, died at his home in Optimo yesterday. Surviving are the widow, Rebecca, and two sisters and a brother in the east. Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Magalia church, the Rev. E. P. Shier officiating. Burial will be in the Magalia cemetery. The Westfall funeral home has charge of arrangements.
				George married Rebecca SENGER "Becca" daughter of Felix SENGER and Hannah HESS in Apr 1916 in Douglas County, OR. Rebecca was born on 4 Apr 1858 in Maquoketa, Jackson County, IA. She died on 22 May 1950 in Butte County, CA. She was buried in the Myrtle Creek IOOF Cemetery, Myrtle Creek, Douglas County, OR.
	6	F	v	Ella May GRIGGS was born on 3 Mar 1859 in Barry County, Michigan. She died on 15 Dec 1883 in Livingston County, MO. She was buried in the Griggs Plot at the Maberry Cemetery, near Avalon in Livingston County, MO.
+	7	F	vi	Ida Marie GRIGGS
	8	M	vii	Abijah GRIGGS was born after 1861 in Barry County, Michigan. He died on 2 May 1869 in Barry County, Michigan. He was buried in Hosmer Cemetery in Castleton Township, Barry County, Michigan.
+	9	M	viii	Francis Lafayette GRIGGS
+	10	F	ix	Nettie Belle GRIGGS
+	11	M	x	William C. GRIGGS

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