Bertha Gritton: Gritton Genealogy

1884 - 1970 (85 years)

Generation: 1

Bertha Gritton was born on 22 Apr 1884 in Petersville, Mercer County, Illinois (daughter of Edward Preston Gritton and Sarah Caroline Minteer); died on 6 Apr 1970 in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois; was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Duncan Township, Mercer County, Illinois.

Other Events:

Census: 1930, Joy, Mercer County, Illinois
Census: 1940, Joy, Mercer County, Illinois

Notes:

Mrs. Bertha Dorsett
Aledo - Funeral services for Mrs. Bertha Dorsett, 85, of Elmhurst, Ill., formerly of Joy and Eliza, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Reiser Chapel, Aledo. Elder Clyde McKee of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of Rock Island will officiate. Burial will be in the Millersburg cemetery.
Visitation will be held after 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at Reiser Chapel.
Mr. Dorsett died Monday morning at the Americana Nursing Home at Naperville.
A daughter of Edward and Sarah Minteer Gritton, she was born April 22, 1884 at Petersville, Ill.
The former Bertha Gritton married James E. Dorsett April 12, 1919 at Lamoni, Iowa. She was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; and had been a Gray Lady of the Red Cross 12 years, having been cited for her services.
Survivors are one daughter, Mrs. George (Lillian) Wamsley of Elmhurst, Ill., with whom she had made her home; three brothers, Joe and Elmer Gritton of Aledo and Lewis Gritton of Muscatine; one sister, Mrs. Wesley (Earl) Norton of Joy; also three grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, one sister and two brothers.
The Muscatine Journal, Muscatine, Iowa. Tuesday. 7 April 1970.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153130296/bertha-dorsett

Bertha married James Everett Dorsett on 12 Apr 1919 in Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa. James was born on 20 Jul 1885 in Ontario, Canada; died on 9 Dec 1925 in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska; was buried in Graceland Park Cemetery, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Children:

Lillian Pearl Dorsett was born on 14 Apr 1921 in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska; died on 19 Apr 1989; was buried in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Arlington Heights, Cook County, Illinois.

Generation: 2

Edward Preston Gritton was born on 20 Apr 1858 in Marion, Linn County, Iowa (son of Levi Gritton and Elizabeth R. Durdin); died on 14 Aug 1939 in Joy, Mercer County, Illinois; was buried on 16 Aug 1939 in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Duncan Township, Mercer County, Illinois.

Other Events:

Occupation: farmer
Census: 1900, Duncan, Mercer County, Illinois

Notes:

E.P. Gritton Is Dead In Joy, 81
Retired Farmer Succumbs to Year's Illness; Funeral Will Be Tomorrow.
Joy, Ill., Aug. 15 - (Argus News Service) - Edward P. Gritton, age 81, died at his home yesterday afternoon. He had been in failing health for a year.
Mr. Gritton was born April 20, 1858, in Marion, Iowa, a son of Levi and Elizabeth Gritton. He married Sarah Caroline Minteer in Aledo, Sept. 13, 1883.
They have lived in Joy for 17 years following their retirement from a Mercer farm. Mr. Gritton was a member of the Modern Woodmen.
Surviving are the widow; four sons, Glenn and Elmer of Aledo, Lewis of Muscatine, Iowa, and Joseph of New Boston; two daughters, Mrs. Bertha Dorsett of Joy and Mrs. Pearl Norton of New Boston; a brother, Norman of Tipton, Iowa, and a sister, Mrs. Clara Boyles of Joy. A daughter, Nellie and son, Clarence, preceded him in death.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Joy Methodist church, with Elder Vanderwood of the Latter Day Saints church, Rock Island, officiating, assisted by the Rev. A.H. Dickinson, pastor of the Joy Methodist church. Burial will be in the Millersburg cemetery.
The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois. Tuesday, 15 August 1939.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16238891/edward-preston-gritton

Also known as Millersburg Cemetery

Edward married Sarah Caroline Minteer on 13 Sep 1883 in Mercer County, Illinois. Sarah was born on 5 Feb 1860 in Mercer County, Illinois; died on 21 Jan 1945 in Joy, Mercer County, Illinois; was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Duncan Township, Mercer County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah Caroline Minteer was born on 5 Feb 1860 in Mercer County, Illinois; died on 21 Jan 1945 in Joy, Mercer County, Illinois; was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Duncan Township, Mercer County, Illinois.

Other Events:

Occupation: housewife
Census: 1940, Joy, Mercer County, Illinois

Notes:

Sarah Gritton Dies At Home In Joy Sunday
Hold Funeral services Today rom Mercer Native, 84
Mrs. Edward P. Gritton, 84, died at her home at Joy, Sunday, Jan. 21, 1945. She suffered a paralytic stroke Friday morning, Jan. 19.
The former Miss Sarah Catherine Minteer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Minteer, was born near Joy, Feb. 5, 1860. She was married to Edward P. Gritton, Sept. 13, 1883. Her husband passed away Aug. 14, 1939.
Life Resident
She was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was a lifelong resident of Mercer county with the exception of a little over a year, when she lived in Iowa. For the last 22 years she as lived in Joy.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Bertha Dorsett and Mrs. Pearl Norton of Joy; four sons, Glen L. and Elmer of Aledo; Lewis of Muscatine and Joseph of New Boston; 22 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She has six grandsons in the service.
Last of Family
A daughter a son preceded her in death. Nellie E., Dec. 21, 1902 and Clarence, Feb. 23, 1936. Mrs. Gritton was the last of a family of six children.
Funeral services were held this afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Latter day Saints church at Joy and burial was in Millersburg cemetery.
Pallbearers were six nephews, Lyle Minteer, Joe and Fred Garmer, Harlie Brown and Marion and Charles Pearson. Mrs. Lavella Minteer sand, accompanied by Mrs. Marjorie Holmes. In charge of flowers were Mrs. Lillian Morrow and Mrs. Bessie Retherford.

Name:
daughter of Joseph Minteer and Elizabeth Teal

Census:
In the 1940 US census, Sarah Gritton, widow, age 70, is in the household of her widowed daughter Bertha Dorset, age 55, and Bertha's daughter Lillian, age 18.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16238806/sarah-caroline-gritton

Also known as Millersburg Cemetery

Children:

1. Bertha Gritton was born on 22 Apr 1884 in Petersville, Mercer County, Illinois; died on 6 Apr 1970 in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois; was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Duncan Township, Mercer County, Illinois.
Glen Leslie Gritton was born on 19 Jan 1886 in Eliza Township, Mercer County, Illinois; died on 8 Apr 1963 in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa; was buried in Aledo Cemetery, Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois.
Clarence Gritton was born on 2 Mar 1888 in Eliza Township, Mercer County, Illinois; died on 23 Feb 1936 in Edgington, Rock Island County, Illinois; was buried on 25 Feb 1936 in Edgington Cemetery, Edgington, Rock Island County, Illinois.
Elmer "Jack" Gritton was born on 5 Jan 1891 in Mercer County, Illinois; died on 16 Sep 1981 in Mercer County, Illinois; was buried in Aledo Cemetery, Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois.
Lewis Gritton was born on 7 Oct 1893 in West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa; died on 2 Apr 1972 in Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa; was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa.
Joseph L. Gritton was born on 18 Apr 1896 in Duncan Township, Mercer County, Illinois; died on 15 Apr 1974 in Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois; was buried in Aledo Cemetery, Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois.
Nellie E. Gritton was born in May 1899 in Illinois; died in 1902; was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Duncan Township, Mercer County, Illinois.

Generation: 3

Levi Gritton was born in 1826 in Mercer County, Kentucky (son of Levi Pete Gritton and Anna Myers); died on 26 Mar 1896 in Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa; was buried in Hebron Cemetery, Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa.

Other Events:

Census: 1860, Washington, Linn County, Iowa
Census: 1880, Sugar Creek, Cedar County, Iowa
Census: 1885, Sugar Creek, Cedar County, Iowa

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26544465/levi-gritton

Levi married Elizabeth R. Durdin on 5 Mar 1854 in Knox County, Illinois. Elizabeth was born about 1834 in Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth R. Durdin was born about 1834 in Kentucky.

Notes:

Birth:
In the 1850 census, Elizabeth Durdin is 16 years old and on a farm not too farm from where I believe her parent lived. I believe she is the daughter of Alexander and Jerusha Durbin, and the younger sister of Lucy Ann Durbin, Levi's first wife.

Children:

Merriman Gritton was born in Feb 1855 in Illinois; died in 1914 in Linn County, Iowa.
James H. Gritton was born about 1856 in Knox County, Illinois.
2. Edward Preston Gritton was born on 20 Apr 1858 in Marion, Linn County, Iowa; died on 14 Aug 1939 in Joy, Mercer County, Illinois; was buried on 16 Aug 1939 in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Duncan Township, Mercer County, Illinois.
Arminta J. Gritton was born in 1860 in Iowa.
Isaac N. Gritton was born in 1864 in Cedar County, Iowa; died in 1890; was buried in Hebron Cemetery, Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa.

Generation: 4

Levi Pete Gritton was born in 1790 in Mercer County, Kentucky (son of John Gritton and Elizabeth Hoagland); died in 1845 in Washington Township, Linn County, Iowa.

Notes:

I believe that following news article referes to Levi Pete Gritton as he is the only Levi Gritton who matches dates and locations of the story.

Louisville Daily Democrat. 4 December 1845. Page 3
New Harmony, Indiana, Sept. 10th, 1842.
Sir: - Your kind invitation on behalf of the State Central committee of Pennsylvania, to unite with our fellow citizens throughout the Union, in the approaching celebration at Danville, of the anniversary of the memorable battle of the Thames, has been duly received. I deeply regret that my duty as Trustee of the State University of Indiana, which imperatively requires my attendance at Bloomington, during commencement week, (five days only previous to your celebration,) compels me to forego the gratification I should have experience in meeting, on such an occasion, the disingnished [sic] men who will assemble, amonst [sic]whom is our valued fried, Co. R. M. Johnson.
Since I have alluded to the death of Tecumsah by Col Johnson's hand, I may be pardoned on this occasion, for alluding, in proof of a fact which nothing but party jealousy ever disputed, to evidence of the most direct character, which chance enabled me to procure, and which was never before, as I know of, laid before the public.
Levi Gritton, an humble farmer, now living about three miles east of Evansville, in this state, was present, then quite a youth, at Winchester's defeat; was taken prisoner and carried to Malden and had there frequent opportunities of seeing Tecumseh, and of receiving at his hands, a degree of kindness, not imitated by those who called themselves the civilized allies of the Indian chief. Tecumseh's appearance then, was stamped upon Mr. Gritton's recollection, by that which is never forgotten, kind deeds to a captive in a strange land. After a time, an oath was tendered to the prisoners at Malden, not to serve again. Gritton and two others, who refused to take it, were hurried to Montreal and sold to a French trader there; but after five or six weeks captivity, Gritton seized a skiff, descended the St. Lawrence, and returned by way of Buffalo, after enduring many hardships, to his home in Mercer county, Kentucky.
Then he enlisted as one of McAffee's company, and was afterwards present at the battle of the Thames. These particulars, and those I am about to relate, I had from his own lips, noting them down at the time; and after reading them to Gritton, causing him to append to them his signature.
The young soldier, then not yet twenty-one was elected as one of the forlorn hope which, as every one knows, was led up against the Indians, in advance of the mounted men by Col. Johnson in person. Next to Col. Johnson, rode Col. Whitley, and immediately behind him Levi Gritton. Whitley as is well know, fell dead at the first fire; and it was Gritton who afterwards carried home to his widow the rifle and shot pouch of the fallen soldier. The same fire which killed Whitley, brought to the ground every man of the forlorn hope, Col. Johnson, and one other excepted. Gritton received a wound in the left leg, and had his horse shot from under him. When Col. Johnson turned round and saw the forlorn hope down, he called out to the rest of his men, to dismount and fight the Indians after their own fashion. Each who was not disabled then took to a tree; and a desultory combat was kept up for some quarter of an hour; Johnson's men still advancing from tree to tree upon the Indians. About that time it was, that Gritton who had taken his station behind a beech, saw col. Johnson ride round the top of a fallen tree about ten or twelve yards in advance of him, and perceived an Indian who he instantly recognized as Tecumseh, standing a few steps from the root of the same tree. He saw Tecumseh raise his tomahawk as in the act to throw, and at that moment Col. J. shot him with his own pistol. He saw Tecumseh fall and die on the same spot. Next morning Gritton's men, knowing that he was acquainted with Tecumseh, induced him to go with them about sunrise to the scene of the combat, and there they still found the body were it first lay. About the same time Anthony Shane, the half breed interpreter, who had known Tecumseh for years visited the body and recognized it instantly. I asked Gritton if he had ever heard it doubted in the army, that Tecumseh was the Indian shot by Col. J.

Levi married Anna Myers on 27 Dec 1813 in Mercer County, Kentucky. Anna was born about 1793; died before 1830 in Mercer County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna Myers was born about 1793; died before 1830 in Mercer County, Kentucky.

Children:

Jacob Gritton was born in 1814 in Mercer County, Kentucky; died on 6 Dec 1879 in Buchanan County, Iowa; was buried in Quasqueton Cemetery, Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa.
4. Levi Gritton was born in 1826 in Mercer County, Kentucky; died on 26 Mar 1896 in Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa; was buried in Hebron Cemetery, Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa.

Gritton and Cline Families

including Fox, Yeazel, Shumate and Wann

Bertha Gritton