I have been trying to determine the parentage of George R. Grinnell, so far without success. My objective is to link him to the original Grinnell, Matthew, who came to the United States and settled in Rhode Island. One of Matthew's descendants is "Pirate Dick" Grinnell (1717-1789). My grandmother, Frances Grinnell Kirschner, had been told by her father, George C. Grinnell, that there was a pirate in the family. It is unclear whether or not we are a direct descendant of said pirate. Richard Grinnell was married twice and had five male children by his second wife Comfort Billings. The Grinnell Family Association's website shows no children by Richard and his first wife, Alice Church. It is conceivable, however, that Richard and Alice had a son who could have been an ancestor of George R. Grinnell. I do not know what George's middle initial stands for but, if it is Richard, that might be a clue that he was descended from Richard Grinnell.
Descendants of Unknown Grinnell Generation No. 1 1. UNKNOWN1 GRINNELL Notes for WILLIAM W GRINNELL: William is described in the Army of the United States Certificate of Disability for Discharge as 5 feet 3 inches high, dark complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and by occupation when enlisted a farmer. He was also listed as being born in Watertown, Jefferson County, NY. William W. Grinnell and George R. Grinnell both enlisted as Privates on 26 October 1861 in Company E, 97th Infantry Regiment, New York on 4 January 1862. George participated in battles at Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Station, Thoroughfare Gap and the Second Bull Run (Manassas). William received a disability discharge from Company E, 97th Infantry Regiment, New York on 13 February 1863 in Washington, D.C. The following is found in his war record, written by the Adjutant General's Office, WAshington, Oct. 22, 1888. Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions William W. Grinnell, a Private of Company E, 97 Regiment New York Volunteers. The charges of desertion of September 6th and 7th 1862 are removed. He was admitted to Ascension General Hospital, Washington, D.C. September 2 1862 with Febris Intermittent and was returned to duty Nov. 15, 1862, was received at Camp Distribution, Alexandria, Va. November 18, 1862, examined by Medical Boar at Convalescent Camp, VA February 6, 1863, diagnosis; valvular disease of heart and discharged on Surgeon's Certificate of Disability February 13, 1863.
William wrote the following to John C. Black, Washington, D. C. from Clearleaf, Kansas October 5th, 1888. On Dec. 10, 1914 P. H. Martin, Attorney at Law, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin wrote the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C. that he was trying to locate William W. Grinnell as he was an heir to a small estate.
William's Civil War pension record lists his disabilities as "rheumatism and piles." According to Williams' statement, he never married. William was living in Seattle, King County, Washington in 1890. He filed a claim on August 23, 1890.
Generation No. 2 2. GEORGE R.2 GRINNELL (UNKNOWN1)5 was born 1826 in Jefferson County, New York, and died 10 Sep 1862 in College Hospital, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.6. He married LUCY ANN HEMSTREET7 11 May 1856 in Russia, Herkimer County, New York, daughter of JACOB HEMSTREET and ELIZABETH LANE. She was born 1836 in Russia, Herkimer County, New York8, and died 29 Aug 1885 in Cold Brook, Herkimer County, NY. Notes for GEORGE R. GRINNELL: George enlisted October 26, 1861 from Russia, Herkimer County, NY, the same day William W. Grinnell enlisted. George participated in battles at Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Station, Thoroughfare Gap and, lastly the Second Bull Run August 30, 1862 where he was wounded. He was first thought to have deserted. Instead, George became a prisoner of war and was later paroled at Groveton, Battlefield Sept. 6th, 1862. He died of wounds received in action at the Battle of Bull Run and died in Washington, D. C. at the College Hospital in Georgetown September 10, 1862. His widow, Lucy, applied for a Widow's Pension, no. 5,799, admitted April 15, 1863, paid to March 4, 1866. She supplied a certificate of marriage signed by officiating justice and two witnesses who were present and said that George R. Grinnell and Lucy Ann Grinnell were married. "George Miller and Wm. Davenport being strictly sworn say that they were both present and witnessed the ceremony of the marriage between Lucy Ann Grinnell and George R. Grinnell ...that they were married by Griffith O. Jones the Justice of the Peace of Russia in said county of Herkimer, that these deponents are residents of the town of Ohio in said county in the immediate neighborhood of the said Lucy Ann Grinnell and have resided there and were acquainted with the parties for more than twelve years before their marriage and have been acquainted with them since their marriage and they do not now nor have they ever heard of a record either public or private of their marriage nor do they know that there is any public record of marriage generally ....they and the said Lucy Ann Grinnell and husband George R. Grinnell have been are and are now resides." More About GEORGE R. GRINNELL: Notes for LUCY ANN HEMSTREET:
Generation No. 3 3. GEORGE CHARLES3 GRINNELL (GEORGE R.2, UNKNOWN1)9 was born 25 Jul 1862 in Russia, Herkimer County, NY10, and died 19 Oct 1936 in Glendale, Los Angeles County, CA11. He married (1) JENNIE LOUISA HEMSTREET 16 Dec 1882 in Menomonie, Dunn County, WI12, daughter of PERIS HEMSTREET and FANNIE WATKINS. She was born Abt. 1864 in Jefferson County, New York. He married (2) ADDIE BELLE WHITING 26 Nov 1888 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, MN13. She was born 17 Jul 1871 in Clitherall, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and died 01 Feb 1932 in Kansas City, Kansas. He married (3) ADDIE D. BUZZELL Aft. 12 Dec 1891. She was born May 1874 in Wisconsin. He married (4) ANNA N. FREEMAN 1919 in Minnesota. She was born 30 Jul 1868 in Sweden, and died 05 Mar 1957 in Hennepin County, MN. Notes for GEORGE CHARLES GRINNELL: On June 2, 1866, a Surrogate's Court held for the County of Herkimer , and upon the application and petition of Lucy Ann Carpenter, appointed Lucy Ann Carpenter of the town of Grant in the county of Herkimer guardian to George C. Grinnell, minor child, son of George R. Grinnell, deceased until he shall attain the age of 14 years until another shall be appointed, the said guardian having filed in the Surrogate's Office, the bond with sufficient surety required by law. In the 1885 Otter Tail, Otter Tail County census George C. Grinnell, 23, is listed as living with Peris Hempstreat, 65, Fannie Hempstreat, 56, Bessie Hempstreat 14 , Jenny Grinnell, 21 and Jay I. Grinnell, 0. In the 1900 census he is listed as "carpenter and painter." He was also found in the 1917 Minneapolis City Directory as being a painter and living at 3329 18th Ave. More About GEORGE CHARLES GRINNELL: Marriage Notes for GEORGE GRINNELL and JENNIE HEMSTREET: Notes for ADDIE BELLE WHITING: ROWE--Mrs. Addie Belle Rowe, 61 years old, Ray, N.D. died today in Bethany Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas. She leaves her husband, Richard L. Rowe, of the home; four daughters, Mrs. Kenneth A. Slattery, 7531 Sunset Drive; Mrs. Bonnie Kirschner, Spring Valley, Wis.; Mrs. Agnes Doherty, Shawano, Wis. and Mrs. Mildred Evans, Racine, Wis; two step-daughters, Mrs. Lilas Garrett and Miss Muriel Rowe, both of Salem, Ore; two step-sons, Herbert Rowe, Lakehurst, N.J. who is a member of the crew of the United Stats dirigible Los Angeles; and Harold Rowe of the home; and five brothers, Charles L. Whiting, 810 South Cottage Street and the Rev. Erle I. Whiting, 812 South Cottage street, both of Independence; N.F. Whiting, St. Ignace, Mich.; Julian Whiting and Roy Whiting, both of Clitherall, Minn. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday at the True Church of Jesus Christ, Independence. More About ADDIE BELLE WHITING: Notes for ANNA N. FREEMAN: More About BERTRAM DARIUS GRINNELL: 6. v. LLOYD VERNON GRINNELL, b. 07 Jan 1893, Lake County, SD; d. 24 Mar 1981, Los Angeles County, CA.
Generation No. 4 4. JAY IRA4 GRINNELL (GEORGE CHARLES3, GEORGE R.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 27 Mar 1885 in Otter Tail Township, Otter Tail County, MN15, and died 04 Aug 1918 in Enderlin, ND16. He married CLARA DAHLER17 12 Dec 1906 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota17, daughter of ANDREW DAHLER and HELEN. She was born Abt. 1889 in Minnesota. Notes for JAY IRA GRINNELL: Obituary from the Fergus Falls, MN Daily Journal August 27, 1918: Jay Grinnell, the oldest son of Mrs. J. H. Jones died at his home in Enderlin, N.D. of Infantile Paralysis, Aug. 4, 1918, at the age of 33 years, 4 months and 14 days. He was born in Ottertail, Minn., March 27, 1885. He leaves a wife and two children to mourn his untimely death besides a mother and many relatives and friends. From the Perham Enterprise Bulletin, 1/24/1895. "Jay Grinnell sent to Public School at Owatonna instead of reform school as his relatives wanted." 1900 Federal Census: Jay Grinnell, Byron, Waseca, Minnesota, age 15, estimated birth 1885, birth place Minnesota, relationship to head-of-house, boarder, race, white. Hosuehold members: Jacob W. Pierce, Sarah A. Pierce, Bertrice M. Pierce, Claud A. Pierce, Jay Grinnell.
Notes for CLARA DAHLER: Notes for JENNIE E. GRINNELL:
5. FRANCES BONNIEBELL4 GRINNELL (GEORGE CHARLES3, GEORGE R.2, UNKNOWN1)18 was born 14 Oct 1889 in Clitherall, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and died 10 Jun 1976 in Montevideo, Chippewa County, Minnesota. She married (1) VERNI CHARLES BAYLESS 1909. He was born 11 Aug 1885 in Postville, Allamakee County, IA, and died Dec 1974 in Chicago, Cook County, IL. She married (2) FRED KIRSCHNER 1917. He was born 26 Sep 1888 in Waumandee, Buffalo County, WI, and died 10 Mar 1941 in Plum City, Pierce County, WI. Notes for FRANCES BONNIEBELL GRINNELL: 1906 lived in Duluth with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis West. Daisy Evangeline Whiting lived with her for awhile there. Address was 901 E. 4th St. Frances was engaged to the West's son, George. While there, she worked at Marshall-Wells Hardware Company, a wholesale hardware store at 251-319 Lake Avenue South. The building still stands. The house is on a hill overlooking the city. The business was a good walk down toward Lake Superior. George West was a photographer. However, when George came to meet her she decided that she could not and departed. Instead, she married Verni C. Bayless in 1909. From St. Paul City Directories Frances moved to St. Paul, Minnesota when her daughter, Marjorie went to the University of Minnesota. She lived on Sherburne Avenue. Frances moved to Montevideo, Minnesota in 1951 after her daughter and son in law moved there. She contributed poetry and prose on a regular basis to the Montevideo American News and was called Montevideo's poet laureate. More About FRANCES BONNIEBELL GRINNELL: More About FRED KIRSCHNER: More About HARRY ALEXANDER BAYLESS: ii. LEO MORLEY BAYLESS, b. 10 Jul 1912, St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN; d. 16 May 2001, Craig, Moffat County, Colorado; m. MARY ALICE "SUE" THRASHER; b. Abt. 1915; d. Abt. 1989, Craig, Moffat County, Colorado. Notes for MARJORIE KATHERINE KIRSCHNER: Marjorie and John moved to Montevideo, Minnesota where both were active in the community. Marjorie belonged to AAUW, PEO, and the Hospital Auxiliary. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and was very active in the Congregational Church. In 1966, the family moved from their house in town to a farm outside of town where they kept quarter horses. That same year, Marjorie was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which has an average life expectancy of 18 months. Marjorie lived 10 years, long enough to see her three daughters graduate from high school. She became interested in her family history and made a number of trips to Clitherall, Minnesota where her mother was born and to Spring Valley, Wisconsin where she grew up.. While at Clitherall, she would visit her great aunt, Amy Whiting. More About MARJORIE KATHERINE KIRSCHNER: More About JOHN HOWARD ALLEN: iv. ALAN FREDRICK KIRSCHNER, b. 17 Sep 1918; d. 14 Aug 1943, Wyoming. Notes for ALAN FREDRICK KIRSCHNER: Liet. Alan Kirschner Killed in Crash
Mrs. Upman, Mrs. Art Brooke, Mrs. Katherine Larson, Miss Josie Banks and Bill Powless attended the funeral of Lt. Alan Kirschner at Fort Snelling Monday. Neil Lillie and Jimmie Noterman with Leo Petan and Keith Brown, of Setuh Hill, and two Plum City boys were pall bearers for Alan. Mrs. C. W. Lilie of St. Paul served supper to all those who attended the funeral. More About ALAN FREDRICK KIRSCHNER:
6. LLOYD VERNE4 GRINNELL (GEORGE CHARLES3, GEORGE R.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 07 Jan 1893 in Lake County, SD, and died 24 Mar 1981 in Los Angeles County, CA. He married (1) LULU I. BROCKWAY19 27 Oct 1909 in Aberdeen, SD20, daughter of MOULTON. She was born 24 Nov 1892, and died 14 Nov 1958 in Hennepin County, Minnesota21. He married (2) DELLA MARGUERITE KRENZ 1959. She was born 29 Mar 1899 in Michigan, and died 29 Oct 1992 in los Angels County, CA. More About LLOYD VERNE GRINNELL: NOTES FOR LLOYD VERNE GRINNELL: Notes for DELORES R GRINNELL: More About DELORES R GRINNELL: ii. OLIVE MARJORIE GRINNELL, b. 03 Jul 1919, Doland, South Dakota; m. RAYMOND C. KERKOR.
7. ELSIE IRENE4 GRINNELL (GEORGE CHARLES3, GEORGE R.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 03 Oct 1894 in Lake County, SD, and died 1950 in California. She married ANDERSON. NOTES FOR ELSIE GRINNELL: 8. CLYDE W4 GRINNELL (GEORGE CHARES3, GEORGE R.2, UNKNOWN) WAS BORN Apr 1897 in South Dakota, and died 26 Dec. 1928 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. NOTES FOR CLYDE W GRINNELL:
Endnotes 1. American Civil War Soldiers database. |
| Allen | Hankins | Jensen | Kirschner | Grinnell | Whiting |
| Home | Bibliography | Hulet | Talcott | Hemstreet | Contact Me |