My Genealogy Hound

George W. Grigsby, groceryman and queensware merchant, at Lamar, Mo., was born in Spencer County, Ind., September 13, 1838, and is a son of Charles and Matilda (Hawkins) Grigsby, who were born respectively in Indiana and Kentucky. The paternal great-grandfather was born in England, and came to America at an early day, settling in Virginia, and afterward in the “Blue Grass State.” Grandfather Grigsby was kidnaped when seven years of age by the Indians, and kept until thirteen years of age. He was one of the early pioneers of the “Hoosier State.” Charles and wife were married and lived in Indiana until 1851, when they came to Carroll County, Mo. He was a farmer by occupation, and during the late war served in the militia, and after that time was a Republican in his political views, having previously been a Whig. He and wife were members of the United Brethren Church, and he died in 1887, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife still survives him, and is seventy-two years of age. Their family consisted of eleven sons and two daughters, seven of the sons serving in the Union army during the late war. George W. is their sixth child, and is the only one who resides in Barton County. He acquired his education in the old log school-house, and, on reaching manhood, engaged in farming, which he continued until the opening of the war, when, in June, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Twenty-Second Missouri Volunteer Infantry, which was afterward consolidated with the Tenth, and became the Tenth. He was an active participant in the two famous battles of Iuka and Corinth, besides numerous minor engagements, and late in the year 1862 was discharged on account of disability. Later he joined Company B, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, in which he served until June 20, 1865, being mustered out as sergeant, at Vicksburg, Miss. After the war he engaged in merchandising in Carrollton, Mo., for two years, then went to Kansas, where he learned railroad carpentering, at which he worked for some time, then returned to Carroll County, where he farmed seven years, and again betook himself to merchandising. In 1878 he moved to Texas, and was engaged in the cattle business two years, then returned to the farm in Carroll County. Since 1882 he has been a merchant of Lamar, and is doing a prosperous business. He is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R., and belongs to the I. O. O. F. In 1872 he married Miss Hannah L. Blocher, a native of Indiana, who died in January, 1889, having borne two children: William E. and Lonnie.