William T. Griner and Elizabeth Roe Griner, Citizens of Hicksville

 

The Story of Catherine Elizabeth (Roe) and William Theopolis Griner

Scotch Ridge, Wood County

Six Corners, Hicksville Township, Defiance County

Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan

William T. Griner was born in Wood County, Ohio, to John Clarence Griner and his wife, Eve Elizabeth Wolf, on December 6, 1856. He grew up with a passel of siblings, at least twelve, in Webster Township. Their post office was Scotch Ridge, named because of the influx of Scottish settlers there in the early days of the county.

William married Elizabeth Roe on March 3, 1879, in that county. Her parents, Edward D. Roe, born in Ireland, and Catherine Lingle, were also early settlers in Wood County.  When they married, George Muir made application for them because although William was 21, Elizabeth required the permission of her parents, as she was 17.  She was born in Williams County on March 13, 1862. The couple lived in Wood County for about fifteen years before moving to Six Corners in Hicksville Township, Defiance County.

On June 11, 1900, they were enumerated in the Hicksville Township Census when they had been married twenty-one years. William, 42, farmed his own farm, while Elizabeth had eight children to care for daily; she would eventually have ten.

The couple had six sons: William Edward, Worthy Leroy, Elmer Ray, Clarence Otto, Earl DeLoyd and Merl, and four daughters: Pearl Elizabeth (Cummings), Martha Eugelia (Blythe), May Ioma (Jackson) and Jennie Naomi (Treadwell). 

On the 1910 census, William gave his occupation as carpenter, and they were renting a house on the Antwerp Pike, which in that township, would have been on Ohio Route 2. Eight children were still at home, with several of the sons working on the farm.  On September 1, 1913, Elizabeth died of stomach cancer at the age of 51. Her two youngest daughters were 12 and 8.  Her obituary from the Hicksville newspaper:

"GRINER

Elizabeth Roe was born in Williams county, Ohio, March 1, 1862. She was united in marriage to William T. Griner March 3, 1879. They lived in Wood county nearly 15 years, moving to Six Corners, Defiance county, in 1894, where they have resided ever since. To this union were born six boys and four girls, all of whom are still living and can rise up and call her memory blessed.

Eight years ago, Mrs. Griner was converted and joined the United Brethren church at Six Corners. When the class was disbanded at this place, she, with the family transferred their membership to the church in Hicksville, where she continued a member until her death.

She was a good wife and a devoted mother. Her life was entirely within the home. Her strength and energy were expended for the welfare and well-being of the family. Her life was fraught with duty, but the burdens were lightened by the love she bestowed upon her family. Like a fond mother, her care was for them and her life was lived for those she loved.

She was a good neighbor and will be greatly missed in the community. Her ambition knew no bounds and held her to the performance of her duties when suffering intensely. Disease was preying upon her for some time, but she gave not up until the last. Hence the last illness seemed the more brief. Although suffering greatly, she bore it with fortitude. The end came and she yielded to the ravages of the disease September 1, 1913, aged 51 years, 5 months and 18 days.

She leaves to mourn her husband, six sons - William Edward, Worthy Leroy, Elmer Ray, Clarence Otto, Earl DeLoyd and Merl; four daughters  Pearl Elizabeth, Mrs. Bertha Eugalia Blythe, May Ioma, and Jennie Naomi, seven grandchildren; one brother, Thomas Roe, Luckey, Ohio; one half-brother, Charles Roe and one half-sister, Ida Roe.

The funeral was held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Six Corners U.B. Church, Rev. P. O. Rhodes, officiating.  Interment was made at Six Corners."

After his wife's death, William moved to Sherwood, Branch County, Michigan and bought a farm. In the 1920 census, William was 62 and farming with the help of Worthy, Elmer, and Merl. After the girls married and he became older, he moved in with Elmer and Merle, who had a house in Battle Creek. By that time, all the girls were married and moved out.

William T. Griner died on February 15, 1928, in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan, but he was brought back to Six Corners to be buried with Elizabeth.

The Battle Creek Moon-Journal carried his obituary on Wednesday, February 15, 1928, on page 7:

"WILLIAM GRINER DIES

William T. Griner, age 76, passed away about one o'clock this morning at the home of his sons, Elmer and Merle Griner, 84 Burchard Street, where he had lived since last October, coming here from Sherwood.

Besides the two sons at whose home he died, he leaves four others, Edward of Trinidad, Colorado; Worthy of Sherwood (Mich.), Clarence and Earl of Battle Creek; three daughters, Mrs. Pearl Cummings and Mrs. Jennie Treadwell, both of Jackson, and Mrs. Bertha Blythe of Edgerton, Ohio; one brother, Clarence Griner of Bowling Green, Ohio; four sisters, Mrs. Lucretia Mure, Toledo; Mrs. Alice Thompson, of Bowling Green, Mrs. Adeline Bushnell of Weston, Ohio, and Mrs. Della Albright of Farmersville, also 22 grandchildren. 

Announcement of funeral services will be made later."

             Six Corners Cemetery, Hicksville Township, Defiance County, Ohio

Thank you to Lynn Monroe of Lansing, Michigan, who sent in much of the above information on his great-great grandparents, William and Elizabeth Griner.