Grissom Genealogy

Edwin Grissom
(1822-1896)

Edwin Grissom was born 24 April 1822 in Tennessee and died 10 September 1896 in Ripley, Tippah County, Mississippi. According to some researchers, his birthplace was Union City, Obion County, Tennessee. He married first Margaret Delilah Kinney on 6 January 1849 or 1850 in Tippah County, Mississippi. Margaret was the daughter of James Kinney and Catharine Johnson. She was born 12 November 1831 in Haywood County, Tennessee, and died 25 December 1885 in Tippah County, Mississippi. After Margaret’s death, Edwin married a second time to Lula S. McGown on 14 July 1887 in Ripley, Tippah County, Mississippi. She was born about 1861.

Edward and Margaret lived and farmed in a rural area of Tippah County, Mississippi, near Blue Mountain, a few miles west of Ripley, the county seat. They can be found in the Tippah County federal censuses of 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Tippah County had been formed from Chickasaw territory in 1836 and Ripley named its county seat in 1837. The original log courthouse was replaced by a brick building in 1838, which was burned by Union troops on 9 July 1864. A new courthouse was built in 1870 and renovated in 1928.

Margaret’s brother, Robert D. Kinney, died in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, in 1862 from wounds received during the Battle of Perryville. He was one of more than 7,500 casualties that covered the fields after five hours of fighting. Nearly every church, barn, and home was converted into a hospital. Local citizens were left to bury the dead and to care for the living. Robert died intestate and in the settlement of his estate Edwin and Margaret and her sister, Lucinda Jane Godwin, sold their interest in his property to their brother, James A. Kinney.

James A. Kinney Deed from Edmond Grisham et al.

This Indenture made and entered into this 21st day of November 1863 between Edward Grisham and his wife Margaret D. Grisham and Lucinda Jane Godwin of the first part and James A. Kinney of the second part. Witnesseth that whereas Robert D. Kinney lately departed this life intestate, leaving as his only lawful heirs the said Margaret D. Grisham and Lucinda Jane Godwin his sisters and the said James his brother and whereas also the said Robert having died seized and possessed of the lands hereinafter mentioned, and the said Margaret and Jane having sold their undivided interest in said lands to the said James A. Kinney their brother and Co-heir at law—Now in consideration of the promises and in further consideration of Two thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the second part to the parties of the first part, we the said parties of the first part do hereby bargain sell and convey unto the said James A. Kinney all our undivided interest in the South West 1/w of Section Sixteen (16) Township 4 of Range 3 East and 58 acres more or less lying on the north part of the NW ¼ of Sec 21 Township 4 of Range 3 East – the latter described 58 acres being the same land conveyed in a deed made by Hiram C. Spencer to the said Robert D. Kinney dated Oct 27th 1860 – and duly recorded in the Probate Clerk Office of Tippah Co. Miss. In Deed book T on pages 464 & 465 and all of said land 208 acres more or less lying and being situated in Tippah County Mississippi. To have and to hold unto the said James A. Kinney his heirs to forever. And the said parties of the first part do covenant that they will warrant and defend the title of their undivided interest aforesaid in said land unto the said James A. Kinney forever. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this day and year first above written.
E. Grissom {seal}
Margaret D. Grissom X her mark
Lucinda Jane Godwin X her mark {seal}

Edwin also served in the Civil War as a private in Hovis's Company B of the First Partisan Rangers (later known as the 7th Mississippi Cavalry), usually referred to as Falkner’s Regiment after its recruiter and first colonel,William C. Falkner, the great grandfather of writer William Faulkner. This unit was organized during the early summer of 1862 and took an active part in the operations in North Mississippi, Kentucky, and West Tennessee. The regiment ended the war in Mississippi and was included in the surrender on May 4,1865. At some point during his service, Edwin was wounded in the leg and, years later, according to family lore, when he was past seventy he fell from a log while crossing a stream and broke this leg. He later died from this injury.

According to family tradition, Ed and Margaret are buried the small family cemetery known as Marvin Cemetery in unmarked graves near Margaret’s parents. The cemetery is on private property near the Ripley airport.

All of their children who lived to adulthood moved to Texas except Lou, the youngest.

--
E. Grissom Deceased Last Will and Testament

In the name of God amen
I Edwin Grissom being in feeble health and knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of Death do make this my last will and testament revoking any and all will heretofore made.
First - I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Lula Grissom the following land to wit The South East 1/4 of the South East quarter of Section 19, in Township Four (4) of Range Three (3) East and one gray horse and buggy and one half the hogs on the farm.
Second - I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sallie Grace Grissom one hundred and twenty (120) acres of the South East quarter of Section nineteen (19) in Township Four (4) of Range Three (3) East and being all of said quarter except the 40a above named and Twenty (20) a in the North East quarter of Section Nineteen (19) in T4 R3 E off of the West end of the East half of said NE 1/4 Sec 19 T4 R3E and of equal width across the same. One Black mare, half of the hogs on the farm. All the Farming tools including wagon harness all house hold and kitchen furniture Except what now belongs to my wife. I direct that my wife Lula S. Grissom shall have control and manage the Farm and Stock and all income from the same for my Daughter Sallie Grace Grissom until she is of age or marries. In fact to be her lawful Guardian. It is my request that after my Daughter Sallie Grace becomes of age that she takes care of her mother if she remains single. I hereby constitute and appoint my Wife Lula S. Grissom the Executoress of this my last will and direct that she shall not be required to give any bond or report to any court.

Given under my hand this the 27th day of May 1896.
Edwin Grissom

Witness
W J McIntyre
S O Love

Children of Edwin Grissom and Margaret Kinney are:

i. Jane Catherine Grissom, born 6 June 1850 in Tippah County, Mississippi; died 5 July 1920 in Saint Jo, Montague County, Texas. She married Daniel Washington Donnell 9 January 1868 in Tippah County, Mississippi; “Wash” was born 09 Jan 1843 in McNairy County, Tennessee and died 31 March 1928 in Saint Jo, Montague County, Texas. Both are buried in Mountain Park Cemetery, Saint Jo, Texas. They had six children: Rufus, John, Isaac, Frances "Fannie", Homer, and Ola Mae.

ii. Ellen T. Grissom, born 17 October 1851 in Tippah County, Mississippi; died 03 Apr 1873 in Tippah County, Mississippi. Ellen is buried in Antioch Cemetery in Tippah County.

iii. James William Grissom, born 19 April 1854 in Ripley, Tippah County, Mississippi; died 23 November 1927 in Alvord, Wise County, Texas. He married Mary Sheldon "Mollie" Moore 24 Feb 1881; Mollie was born 24 February 1860 and died 19 December 1957. Both are buried in Alvord Cemetery, Wise County, Texas.

iv. Charles Davidson "Charlie" Grissom, born 23 December 1855 in Tippah County, Mississippi; died 19 May 1939 in Haskell, Haskell County, Texas. He married Florence Hunt in 1883 in Texas. Charles was the first of his family to come to Texas from Mississippi, coming alone on horseback about 1874. For a while he was a sidewalk photographer in Fort Worth, but was soon a land owner and cattleman in Alvord.

v. Unnamed Grissom child, born and died 14 May 1858 in Tippah County, Mississippi.

vi. Frances "Fannie" Grissom was born 21 Aug 1859 in Tippah County, Mississippi and died in Texas. She married William J. “Willie” Wesson 15 December 1878 in Tippah County, Mississippi. After Willie died she married Elic Goren and lived in San Antonio. She died south of Dallas. She had several children.

vi. Thomas Haywood Grissom was born 23 Sep 1863 in Tippah County, Mississippi and died 01 Oct 1877 in Tippah County, Mississippi. He is buried in Antioch Cemetery next to his sister, Ellen.

vii. Mary Ann "Mollie" Grissom was born 2 May 1866 in Tippah County, Mississippi and died 16 January 1911 in Alvord, Wise County, Texas. She Married James Edward Caldwell on 25 December 1888 in Tippah County, Mississippi. He was born 11 March 1864 in Harmon County, Tennessee and died 1 March 1951 in Decatur, Wise County, Texas. They had five children: Plummer Edward, Allie Pearl, Exa C., Wirt Amon, and Whit Charlie.

viii. Lula Grissom was born 12 February 1875 in Tippah County, Mississippi and died 23 April 1943 in Tippah County, Mississippi. She married Henry Asberry Smith 14 Jun 1896 in Tippah County, Mississippi. Asberry was born 03 Feb 1871 and died 04 Sep 1934 in Tippah County, Mississippi. Lula and Asberry are buried in New Prospect Cemetery in Tippah County. Lula was the only one of her full siblings to stay in Mississippi. The others all moved to Texas.

Child of Edwin Grissom and Lula McGown is:

i. Sallie Grace Grissom was born 26 June 1888 in Tippah County, Mississippi. She married William H. Anderson 20 April 1907 in Tippah County, Mississippi; he was born in 1888 in Arkansas.

Sources:

1. Edwin and Margaret Grissom Family Bible, copy in Grissom family file, Ripley Public Library, Ripley, Tippah County, MS.
2. Confederate Pension file of Lula Grissom, widow of Edwin Grissom, Mississippi State Archives, Jackson, MS.
3. Tippah County, MS Marriages 1858-1899, USGenweb, Tippah County, MS. http://www.rootsweb.com/~mstippah/Mar2index.html
4. Will of Edwin Grissom, 21 May 1896, Tippah Co., MS Chancery Court Records, p. 197.
5. Research of Steven Rutherford, "Tippah County Mississippi Connecting Families" on Ancestry.com, postems@hughes.net.
6. Research of Kelly Grissom, Family Tree Maker, World Family Tree CD, Vol. 11, #1588, Broderbund Software.
7. 1850 Census, Tippah County, MS, Division 2 Reel No.: M432-381, page 406b.
8. 1860 Census, Tippah County, MS, Southern Subdivision, Roll: M653_592; page 783.
9. 1870 Census, Tippah County, MS Township 4 Range 3, Roll: M593_750; Page: 146.
10. 1880 Census, Tippah County, MS, Beat 2, Roll: T9_665; Family History Film: 1254665; Page: 396.1000; Enumeration District: 190.
11. 7th Mississippi Cavalry Muster Roll, ww.rootsweb.com/%7Emscivilw/7thmisscav.htm.
12. Military Service Records of Robert D. Kinney, National Archives, Washington D.C. [Robert is described as 30 years old at death, 5 ft. 11 inches tall, fair complexion, gray eyes, unmarried.]
13. James A. Kinney Deed from Edmond Grisham et al., 21 November 1863, Tippah County, MS Deed Book U, p. 627.
14. Donnell Family Bible, transcribed in letter from Doddridge Walter Wiley, Jr. (deceased), great grandson of Jane Catherine and D. W. Donnell, to compiler, undated (ca. 1989).
15. Census of 1860, McNairy, TN, Pub. No. M-653, Reel No. 1262.
16. Census of 1850, McNairy Co., TN, Pub. No. M-432, Reel No. 888.
17. Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service, http://www.itd.nps.gov/
18. Marriage License for D.W. Donnell and C.J. Grissom, 9 January 1868, Tippah County Courthouse, Ripley, Mississippi.
19. Death Certificate for Daniel Washington Donnell, #13075, March 31, 1928, Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas.
20. Gravestone of Jane Grissom Donnell, Mountain Park Cemetery, Saint Jo, Texas, photograph in possession of compiler.
21. Death Certificate for Jane Catherine Donnell, #23611, July 5, 1920, Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas.
22. Gravestone of Daniel W. Donnell, Mountain Park Cemetery, Saint Jo, Texas, photograph in possession of compiler.
23. Cemeteries of Tippah County, Mississippi, compiled by the Tippah County Historical Society, Ripley, MS.
24. Tombstone of Ellen T. Grissom, Antioch Cemetery, Tippah Co., MS, photograph in possession of compiler.
25. Tippah County, MS Marriages 1858-1899, USGENWEB, Tippah County, MS.
26. Tombstone of Thomas Grissom, Antioch Cemetery, Tippah Co., MS, photograph in possession of compiler.
27. Census of 1910, Tippah County, Mississippi.
28. Research of Helen Parker, compgenie@yahoo.com, "Parker and Related Families" on Ancestry.com.