Henry and Mary (Mann) Grimshaw
Immigrants to Wisconsin from Yorkshire in 1843
(Note: Webpage under construction)
Henry Grimshaw immigrated to Genessee, Wisconsin in the spring of 1843 and was followed by his wife (Mary) and son (John) in the fall of the same year. They settled on a farm and apparently had a second son, Henry, after arriving in Wisconsin. Henry and Mary were born in Yorkshire, where Henry was apparently a woolen manufacturer before emigrating to America. Henry (and presumably Mary) died and is buried in Genessee cemetery.
Henry and Mary Grimshaw’s two sons, John and Henry Grimshaw, settled ultimately in Elroy, Wisconsin, about 110 miles northwest of Genessee, where they operated a hardware store for more than 40 years. They were very active in the Masons and were members of the Ancient Order of Workmen (which was not very ancient). Both brothers were active in community affairs, and John Grimshaw served a term in the Wisconsin Legislature.
Contents
Descendant Chart for Henry and Mary
Wisconsin Census Records for John and Henry Grimshaw and Their Families
Expanded Descendant Chart Using Census Information
John Grimshaw, Son of Henry and Mary, and Prominent Wisconsin Freemason
Subsequent Freemason Obituary of John Grimshaw
Photo of John and Henry Grimshaw with Henry’s Wife, Blanche
The Grimshaw Brothers Hardware Store in Elroy, Wisconsin
Henry Grimshaw, Alderman, First (1885) Election in Elroy
John Grimshaw, Elected to Wisconsin State Assembly in 1886
Grimshaw Graduates from Elroy High School
Ancient Order of United Workmen
Biographical Information on Robert Bayard and Maud (Wright) Grimshaw
May F Grimshaw, Worthy Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star (Wisconsin Chapter)
Website Credits
Thanks go to Ed Grimshaw for providing the descendant information sent to him by one of Henry and Marys descendants, Sally Ruth Grimshaw. Thanks also to Bob Grimshaw for sharing the information on Henry and Marys son, John, that is published in a book on the history of Freemasonry in Wisconsin. The 1880 Census information is from the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Thanks to the Elroy, Wisconsin Public Library for making its family history room available for obtaining information on John and Henry Grimshaw, sons of Henry and Mary Grimshaw.
Descendant Chart for Henry and Mary
In 1980 Sally Ruth Grimshaw sent Ed Grimshaw an ancestor chart for her grandfather, William R. Grimshaw in response to a broad inquiry sent out by Ed on Grimshaw immigrants. (Eds inquiry, and associated responses, are a rich source of Grimshaw immigrant information and are provided on a companion webpage.)
The chart sent by Sally Grimshaw chart was prepared by her father, Robert B. Grimshaw, and included a notation that Williams father (Roberts grandfather), John Grimshaw, immigrated to America with his parents, Henry and Mary (Mann) Grimshaw in 1843. The information provided in William R. Grimshaws ancestor chart is summarized in the descendant diagram below. (Henry’s second son, Henry, was added to the chart based on the information provided below on this webpage.)
Henry Grimshaw (2 Feb 1815, Yorkshire – 26 Nov 1873, Genesee, WI) & Mary Mann (10 Jun 1815, Calvary, England – 6 Sep 1903) Married 14 Feb 1836.
|—John Grimshaw (8 May 1842, Farsley, England – 30 Nov 1917, Elroy, WI) & Jean Marr Robb (24 Feb 1847, Oakfield, NY – 28 Mar 1913, Elroy, WI) Married 14 Apr 1869.
|—|—William R Grimshaw (26 Jan 1870, North Prairie, WI – 14 May 1940, Elroy, WI) Married 18 Sep 1845.
|—|—|—Robert B Grimshaw (14 Jun 1900, Elroy, WI – ) & Maud M Wright Married 15 Sep 1923.
|—|—|—|—Robert Jared Grimshaw (28 Oct 1924, Sacramento, CA – )
|—|—|—|—Sally Ruth Grimshaw, M.D. (23 Sep 1928, Sacramento, CA – )
|—Henry Grimshaw
It seems likely that Henry Grimshaw was descended from the Edward and Dorothy (Raner) Grimshaw line (the “Yorkshire” Grimshaw line,) since Henry and his wife were both born in Yorkshire (Mary in Calvary,) and their son, John, was born in Farsley, Yorkshire. This line is described in a companion webpage. Unfortunately, however, Henry and his spouse, Mary, are not shown in the descendant charts on that webpage.
Wisconsin Census Records for Henry and Mary Grimshaw and Their Descendants
The 1850 U.S. Census for Waukesha, Wisconsin shows Henry and Mary Grimshaw and their children as shown below:
LN|DN|FN | FirstName | LastName | Age | S | Occupation | Real: | Birthplace |
13|513|522 | Henry | Grimshaw | 35 | M | Farmer | 1,500 | England |
14|513|522 | Mary | Grimshaw | 35 | F | England | ||
15|513|522 | Miram | Grimshaw | 12 | F | England | ||
16|513|522 | Sarah | Grimshaw | 10 | F | England | ||
17|513|522 | John | Grimshaw | 7 | M | England | ||
18|513|522 | Ann | Grimshaw | 5 | F | Wis | ||
19|513|522 | Henry | Grimshaw | 2 | M | Wis |
Source: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cenfiles/wi/waukesha/1850/pg0271a.txt
The 1850 U.S. Census of the family is shown below.
No | Last | First | Home in 1860 (City) | County | ST | Age in 1860 | Est Birth Yr | Birthplace | Gender |
283 |
Grimshaw |
Henry |
Mukwonago |
Waukesha |
WI |
45 |
1814 |
England |
M |
284 |
Grimshaw |
Mary |
Mukwonago |
Waukesha |
WI |
45 |
1814 |
England |
F |
285 |
Grimshaw |
Miriam |
Mukwonago |
Waukesha |
WI |
22 |
1837 |
England |
F |
286 |
Grimshaw |
Sarah |
Mukwonago |
Waukesha |
WI |
20 |
1839 |
England |
F |
287 |
Grimshaw |
John |
Mukwonago |
Waukesha |
WI |
18 |
1841 |
England |
M |
288 |
Grimshaw |
Ann |
Mukwonago |
Waukesha |
WI |
15 |
1844 |
Wisconsin |
F |
289 |
Grimshaw |
Henry |
Mukwonago |
Waukesha |
WI |
12 |
1847 |
Wisconsin |
M |
290 |
Grimshaw |
Mary |
Mukwonago |
Waukesha |
WI |
8 |
1851 |
Wisconsin |
F |
The 1870 U.S. Census shows Henry, Mary and Lillie living in Waukesha County:
No |
ST |
Last |
First |
Age |
Est Birth Year |
Birthplace |
Race |
Home in 1870 (City) |
County |
Gender |
423 | WI | Grimshaw | Henry | 55 | 1814 | England | White | Genesee | Waukesha | Male |
424 | WI | Grimshaw | Mary | 55 | 1814 | England | White | Genesee | Waukesha | Female |
425 | WI | Grimshaw | Lillie | 18 | 1851 | Wisconsin | White | Genesee | Waukesha | Female |
The 1880 census for Wisconsin contains records of two Grimshaw families that are apparently the two sons of Henry and Mary (Mann) Grimshaw, John and Henry. The census place for both families is Elroy, Juneau County, Wisconsin. Both John and Henry are shown as “hardware merchants.” The census records are summarized in a companion webpage on Grimshaws in Wisconsin as records WI-8 and WI-12.
Census Place: |
Elroy, Juneau, Wisconsin |
WI-8 | ||||
Source: |
FHL Film 1255431 National Archives Film T9-1431 Page 478A | |||||
Relation |
Sex |
Marr |
Race |
Age |
Birthplace | |
John GRIMSHAW |
Self |
M |
M |
W |
38 |
ENG |
Occ: |
Hardware Merchant |
Fa: ENG |
Mo: ENG | |||
J.M. GRIMSHAW |
Wife |
F |
M |
W |
32 |
NY |
Occ: |
Keeping House |
Fa: SCOT |
Mo: SCOT | |||
Willie R GRIMSHAW |
Son |
M |
S |
W |
10 |
WI |
Fa: ENG |
Mo: NY | |||||
Dora E. GRIMSHAW |
Dau |
F |
S |
W |
3 |
WI |
Fa: ENG |
Mo: NY | |||||
Ruth GRIMSHAW |
Dau |
F |
S |
W |
6M |
WI |
Fa: ENG |
Mo: NY | |||||
Annie GOLLICKSON |
Other |
F |
S |
W |
20 |
NOR |
Census Place: |
Elroy, Juneau, Wisconsin |
WI-12 | ||||
Source: |
FHL Film 1255431 National Archives Film T9-1431 Page 480A | |||||
Relation |
Sex |
Marr |
Race |
Age |
Birthplace | |
Henry GRIMSHAW |
Self |
M |
M |
W |
31 |
WI |
Occ: |
Hardware Merchant |
Fa: ENG |
Mo: ENG | |||
Blanch J. GRIMSHAW |
Wife |
F |
M |
W |
27 |
PA |
Occ: |
Keeping House |
Fa: CT |
Mo: PA | |||
Eva A. GRIMSHAW |
Dau |
F |
S |
W |
4 |
WI |
Fa: WI |
Mo: PA | |||||
Grac B. GRIMSHAW |
Dau |
F |
S |
W |
3 |
WI |
Fa: WI |
Mo: PA | |||||
Herbert F. GRIMSHAW |
Son |
M |
S |
W |
8M |
WI |
The record for Johns family (LDS Family History Library Film 1255431, National Archives Film T9-1431 Page 478A) shows 38-year-old John as having been born in England as were both his parents. His wife, J.M. (for Jean Marr) Grimshaw was a 32-year-old housekeeper who was born in New York. Her parents were born in Scotland. John and Jeans children included Willie R. (age 10), Dora E. (age 3), and Ruth (age 6 months) Grimshaw. All the children were born in Wisconsin. Annie Gollickson, 20 years old and born in Norway, was also living with the family.
The record for Henry and family (LDS Family History Library Film 1255431, National Archives Film T9-1431 Page 480A) shows that 31 year-old Henry was born in Wisconsin and that his parents were born in England. His wife, 27-year-old Blanch J. Grimshaw, was born in Pennsylvania as was her mother. Her father was born in Connecticut. Blanch was engaged in keeping house. Henry and Blanchs children included Eva (age 4), Grac B. (age 3) and Herbert F (age 8 mo) Grimshaw. All the children were born in Wisconsin.
Expanded Descendant Chart Using Census Information
The information in the 1880 Census, and obituaries for sons John and Henry and their spouses, provide the basis for expanding the descendant chart of Henry and Mary as shown below (some of the dates are approximate):
Henry Grimshaw (2 Feb 1815, Yorkshire – 26 Nov 1873, Genesee, WI) & Mary Mann (10 Jun 1815, Calvary, England – 6 Sep 1903) Married 14 Feb 1836.
|—Miriam Grimshaw (ca 1838 – ?)
|—Sarah Grimshaw (ca 1840 – ?)
|—S E Grimshaw & unknown Dickinson (probably Sarah, above)
|—John Grimshaw (8 May 1842, Farsley, England – 30 Nov 1917, Elroy, WI) & Jean Marr Robb (24 Feb 1847, Oakfield, NY – 28 Mar 1913, Elroy, WI) Married 14 Apr 1869.
|—|—Jennie M Grimshaw
|—|—William R Grimshaw (26 Jan 1870, North Prairie, WI – 14 May 1940, Elroy, WI) Married 18 Sep 1845.
|—|—|—Robert Bayard Grimshaw (14 Jun 1900, Elroy, WI – ) & Maud May Wright Married 15 Sep 1923.
|—|—|—|—Robert Jared Grimshaw (28 Oct 1924, Sacramento, CA – )
|—|—|—|—Sally Ruth Grimshaw, M.D. (23 Sep 1928, Sacramento, CA – )
|—|—Dora E. Grimshaw (1877, WI -)
|—|—Ruth Grimshaw (1879, WI -) & Clarence Vogel
|—Ann Grimshaw (ca 1845 – ?)
|—Henry Grimshaw (15 Jun 1849, WI -20 Jan 1922, Elroy, WI) & Blanch J. Gray (1853, PA – 30 Apr 1923, Elroy, WI) Married 1875.
|—|—Eva or Evelyn Grimshaw (1876, WI – ) & Adolph Locker or Locken
|—|—Grace B. Grimshaw (1877, WI – ) & J Aaron or Aaron A Crosby
|—|—Bonnie Grimshaw & Robert P Clark
|—|—unknown daughter Grimshaw & John L Kiefer
|—|—Herbert F. (“Bert”) Grimshaw (1879, WI -) & Ida Skailand
|—Mary (“Lillie”) Grimshaw (ca 1851)
John Grimshaw, Son of Henry and Mary, and Prominent Wisconsin Freemason
Henry and Marys oldest son, John, was very active in Freemasonry in Wisconsin, and most of his family were also deeply involved. Information on John Grimshaw and his family was discovered by Bob Grimshaw in the publication, “Freemasonry in Wisconsin1,” This information is shown below along with a photograph (Figure 1) that was also provided in the publication. This biography and subsequent obituary (see below) provide much of the available information on this Grimshaw family line.
Figure 1. Photo of John Grimshaw, from “Freemasonry in Wisconsin.”
GRIMSHAW, John, a successful merchant of Elroy, Juneau County, Wis., was born May 8, 1842, at Farsley, Yorkshire, England. His father was Henry Grimshaw, a woolen manufacturer, who came to America in the spring of 1843, and located on a farm in Genesee, Waukesha County, Wis., where he was joined by his wife and son in the fall of the same year. His mothers maiden name was Mary Mann. He received his education in the district schools of Genesee, while working on his fathers farm. In 1865 he secured employment with John Gill, at North Prairie, Waukesha County, in the hardware business, and also served as assistant postmaster. Two years thereafter, September 4, 1867, he removed to New Lisbon, Juneau County, Wis., and entered the hardware business with Mr. Gill, under the firm name of Gill & Co. In 1872 the firm took in his brother Henry as a third partner, and opened a branch store in Elroy, Juneau County, Wis., under the firm name of Gill & Grimshaw Bros. Mr. Grimshaw sold his interest in the New Lisbon Firm December 1, 1874, and purchased the interest of John Gill in the Elroy store, removing from New Lisbon to Elroy to conduct the business with his brother, as the firm of Grimshaw Bros., with which he is still actively connected. He has been vice-president of the Citizens Bank of Elroy since 1897. In politics, Mr. Grimshaw is a Democrat. He served as Supervisor for the Town of Plymouth, Juneau County, in 1876, and also represented his ward in Elroy as Supervisor from 1884 to 1880. He was elected a member of the Assembly from Juneau County for the years 1887 and 1888.
Mr. Grimshaw has a very creditable Masonic record. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Juneau Lodge, No. 103, at New Lisbon, Wis., February 14, 1870, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft March 17, 1870, and raised to the degree of Master Mason April 9 of the same year. He was elected Junior Deacon in 1873, and Junior Warden the following year. He demitted from Juneau Lodge September 6, 1875, and became a charter member of Elroy Lodge, No. 202, at Elroy, Wis. He served as Senior Deacon of the Lodge during the years 1875, 1876, 1880 and 1881. He was elected Senior Warden in 1877, and was a Steward in 1878. He was then elected Worshipful Master, and filled that office during the years 1879, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1888 and 1894. He has also been a Trustee of the Lodge. In March, 1893, the brethren of the Lodge presented him a Past Masters jewel, in recognition of his long and faithful service in the interest of the Masonic order. Mr. Grimshaw was elected Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin in June, 1894, and he has attended most of the sessions of the Grand lodge for the past twenty-five years. He was representative of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota near the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin from 1895 to 1900. The Capitular degrees were conferred upon him in Mauston Chapter, No. 33, at Mauston, Wis., in the years 1872 and 1873. He demitted from the Mauston Chapter March 15, 1895, and became a charter member of Elroy Chapter, No. 71, of which he was King during the years 1895, 1896 and 1897, and High Priest during the years 1898, 1899 and 1900. He was anointed to the order of High Priesthood in Milwaukee, Wis., February 16, 1898. The Cryptic degrees were conferred upon him in Mauston Council Royal and Select Masters, in 1878, and the orders of Knighthood in Fort Winnebago Commandery, No. 4, at Portage, Wis., May 12, 1881. He demitted from Fort Winnebago Commandery June 1, 1884, and affiliated with St. John Commandery, No. 21, at Reedsburg, Wis., August 14, 1889. He was elected Generalissimo of the Commandery in December 1889. In 1888 Mr. Grimshaw received the various degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, in Wisconsin Consistory at Milwaukee. He became a charter member of Plymouth Charter, No. 31, Order of the Eastern Star, in March, 1892, and his entire family are members. Mrs. Jennie M. Grimshaw was Treasurer of Plymouth Chapter during the years 1892 and 1893, Associate Matron during the year 1894, and Worthy Matron during the year 1897. She was appointed Grand Electa for the year 1899. Miss Dora E. Grimshaw held the office of Ruth in Plymouth Chapter for two years, and Miss Ruth Grimshaw was elected to the office of Associate Conductress for the year 1900. Mr. Grimshaw son, William R. Grimshaw, is a member of Elroy Lodge, No. 202. He received the Capitular degrees in Mauston Chapter, No. 33, and demitted in 1895 and affiliated with Elroy Chapter, No. 71.
Subsequent Freemason Obituary of John Grimshaw
Upon the death of John Grimshaw in 1917, an obituary was published2 by the Freemasons, which is shown below. Also included was a later photograph of John and a memorial page; these are shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Photo and Memorial of John Grimshaw Published by Freemasons in 1918
MEMORIAL TO PAST GRAND JUNIOR WARDEN JOHN GRIMSHAW [Prepared by Brother H. E. Neuman]
The mortal remains of our beloved Brother, John Grimshaw, have been returned to the earth from which they sprung and his immortal spirit has winged its flight, to the God who gave it.
Brother Grimshaw was an accomplished craftsman who believed in Freemasonry, because he loved its tenets, and at many Masonic gatherings, he voiced his heartfelt sentiments, admonishing the members of the Fraternity to remain true to the noblest human institution on earth.
He applied these tenets in civic life, always acting squarely and dealing honestly with his fellow-men.
Brother John Grimshaw was born May 8, 1842, at Farsley, Yorkshire, England, and died at his home in Elroy, Wisconsin, on Friday, November 30, 1917. Funeral services were held in the Congregational Church at Elroy, Sunday, December 2, 1917, under Masonic auspices, judge J. Briscoe of Baraboo officiating, and the following day his remains were taken to Waukesha and laid to rest by Waukesha Lodge No. 37, F. & A. M., in the family lot by the side of his estimable wife who had preceded him about four years, Brother W. W. Perry presiding.
Brother Grimshaw came to America with his parents in the autumn of 1843, and with them, for a number of years, resided near Genesee, Waukesha County, where he met and formed the acquaintance of Miss Jean Marr Robb, who on April 4, 1869, became his loving wife.
Early in life our brother decided to take up the hardware business for his vocation and from 1865 to 1874 was in this business at New Lisbon, Wisconsin, when he sold his interest to his partner and he with his brother Henry went to Elroy and established a hardware business under the firm name of “Grimshaw Brothers,” which they conducted with success until its sale in 1913.
In civic life he held many positions of trust and honor. He was a member of the County Board, for many years and in 1887 was elected to the Legislature.
Brother Grimshaw was an active Mason, he was a charter member of Elroy Lodge, No. 202, and served as its Worshipful Master for a number of years.
He received his Capitular Degrees in Mauston Chapter. In 1889 he affiliated with St. John’s Commandery, at Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
In 1888 he received the various Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites, in Wisconsin Consistory, at Milwaukee; in all these various bodies of Masonry he was an active member. In Grand Lodge he served on many important committees, and in 1894 was honored by the craft by being elected Grand junior Warden. He was present at nearly every annual communication of the Grand Lodge up to the time of his death.
This brief review by no means covers the field of our brother’s activities. In his home Lodge he was ever ready to give his services in any capacity where they were needed. In this respect his interest in Masonry continued unabated to the last.
There is no death. The stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore; And bright in Heaven’s jeweled crown,
They shine forevermore.
Photo of John and Henry Grimshaw with Henry’s Wife, Blanche
The Elroy Public Library has many photos and other records related to John and Henry Grimshaw, who operated a hardware store in Elroy for about 40 years. These files include and excellent photo of John and Henry, and Henry’s wife, Blanch (John’s wife, Jean, was apparently already deceased when the photo was taken). The photo and the description on the back of the photo are provided in Figure ___ below. Image is from “Elroy Historical Photos”3
Figure ___. John Grimshaw (left), Henry Grimshaw (right) and Blanche Grimshaw, Henry’s wife
The Grimshaw Brothers Hardware Store in Elroy, Wisconsin
John started store in about 1874, and the store was sold in 1913. Images from Image is from “Elroy Historical Photos”3 First Grimshaw Hardware Store, Before 1900
Grimshaw Hardware Store in Early 1900s.
Second Grimshaw Hardware Store. Note that the same sign was used. Are the two gents in and near the doorway John and Henry Grimshaw?
Building of Grimshaw Store Just Before World War II
View of Hardware Store Location in July, 2006
The Grimshaw Houses in Elroy
Image is from “Elroy Historical Photos”3 The first Grimshaw House
The Second Grimshaw House
Paper unknown. “The ____, January 17?, 1985?
Henry Grimshaw, Alderman, First (1885) Election in Elroy
John Grimshaw, Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
An entry in the Wisconsin “Blue Book”4 for 1887, John Grimshaw was elected as a Democrat to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1886 by a slim 34-vote margin – 1754 to 1730 (Figure ___). John apparently served only one term.
Figure ___). Entry in Wisconsin Blue Book (page 500) showing brief biography of Assembly member John Grimshaw.
Grimshaw Graduates from Elroy High School
Four Grimshaws are shown in records of graduates from Elroy High School. These records can be found on the following webpage: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wijuneau/schools.htm. The four graduates are as follows:
1895: Grace Grimshaw
1906: Bonnie Grimshaw
1916: Ruth Grimshaw
1918: Robert Grimshaw
Grace was no doubt the granddaughter of Henry and Mary (Mann) Grimshaw (daughter of Henry and Blanch Grimshaw.) Bonnie, Ruth, and Robert appear to be their great-grandchildren. Robert was undoubtedly the Robert B., born in 1900, shown in the descendant chart as the son of William R. Grimshaw.
Ancient Order of United Workmen
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wijuneau/photos.html
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN
Fraternalism and Fraternal Benefits Societies are based on the simple premise that every person is his or her “brothers keeper”, and therefore have a moral responsibility to each other. After the Civil War, the United States underwent a fundamental economic change, that also changed the “fabric” of society as well. As the railroads created the potential for national markets, factories – built to satisfy those markets – created opportunities that tempted many people to move away from the farms, villages, and hamlets to pursue their fortunes in the growing urban centers. But massive urbanization created a very real human need. Many found themselves lonely, alienated, and living on the financial brink. Most factory workers of the day worked long hours for meager wages, and had no form of insurance benefits to leave their dependents when they died. In the agrarian communities, the policies developed by the national governments to pay off the nations war debt were causing shortages in the supply of money and extremely high interest rates. As a result, farmers experiencing bad growing years were losing their farms in record numbers to satisfy their loans under the “crop-lien system.” People moving west along the Oregon trail were faced with virtually the same problems faced by the European settlers 200 years before them. In response to these difficulties faced by million of Americans, Fraternal Benefit Societies, Mutual Benefit Associations, and Self Help Groups developed in the United States during this time to provide members with financial protection, a collective voice, and fraternal brotherhood.
The American fraternal benefit network began with the organization the Ancient Order of United Workmen in Meadville, Pennsylvania on October 27, 1868. The AOUW was founded by John Jordan Upchurch, a Mason, with the aim of adjusting “all differences which may arise between employers and employees, and to labor for the development of a plan of action that may be beneficial to both parties, based on the eternal truth that the interests of labor and capitol are equal and should receive equal protection.” Each member paid $1 into the insurance fund to cover the sum of not less than $500 in benefits paid to a members dependents when he died. Each time a member died, $1 was due from the surviving members to reestablish the fund. Fraternal benefits societies soon became quite popular as a means of providing financial protection to working class people at an affordable rate. Additionally, Fraternal benefits societies typically maintained a lodge where members could meet together in a spirit of fraternalism and brotherhood. In at least one case – the Populist movement – the fraternity evolved into a powerful political organization providing a voice for their members.
Although John Upchurch did not intentionally seek to establish a new system of insurance, the seed of his original idea was in fact planted. The crux of Upchurch’s ideology was to “bring together then conflicting social interests, capitol and labor, to provide a means of arbitration with which to settle difficulties that were constantly arising.” However, that seed, once planted grew into the tree of mutual protection, “under whose shelter millions today rest in security from want and dependence.”
The emblems and symbols used by the AOUW are steeped in Masonic attributes, featuring the All-Seeing Eye, the Holy Bible, Anchor and Square and Compasses, over which the motto “Charity, Hope and Protection” are displayed. It even boasts of having three independent degrees as a rite of passage into the order. Its membership numbered in excess of 318,000 in 1895.
Quoted from an excerpt of a lecture given by Upchurch defining the AOUW, the pervasiveness of the tenets of Masonry are easily recognized, when he said, “Today we have members from the highest professions and the lowest grades of mechanical labor. We come into this organization on the same great level. It is not money, but it is purity of character and uprightness that brings us here, and we can take each brother by the hand as an equal. Brothers, in this organization we have done more to harmonize the human family, high and low, than all the other organizations that ever existed.”
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/fraternalism/aouw.htm
Biographical Information on Robert Bayard and Maud (Wright) Grimshaw
A family history for the Crum family6 (p. 252) provides the following limited information on Robert and Maud Grimshaw and their children:
MAUD MAY WRIGHT (2493), b. Mar. 4, 1901 in Stockton, Calif.; m. Robert Bayard Grimshaw. She is a pianist, and retired secretary of Senate, State of Calif. He was b. at Elroy, Wisc., June 14, 1900. He is a retired credit manager for the Standard Oil Co., of Calif., Sacramento Division. He belongs to various Masonic and business organizations.
Children: 3333
I Robert Jared (Grimshaw), b. Nov. 28, 1924 at Sacramento, Calif. 3334
II Sally Ruth (Grimshaw), b. Sept. 23, 1928 at Sacramento, Calif.
This information was found on the Heritage Quest database (entry 5 of “Grimshaw search”), which is found on a companion webpage.
The following images were subsequently found on HeritageQuest Online:
May F Grimshaw, Worthy Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star (Wisconsin Chapter)
Order of the Eastern Star Wisconsin Grand Chapter |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Twenty-Seventh Annual Session of The Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin October 2, 3 and 4, 1917 |
Worthy Grand Matron Worthy Grand Patron Associate Grand Matron Associate Grand Patron Grand Secretary Grand Treasurer Grand Conductress Associate Grand Conductress Grand Chaplain Grand Lecturer Grand Marshal Grand Organist Grand Ada Grand Ruth Grand Esther Grand Maratha Grand Electa Grand Warder Grand Sentinel |
Mrs. May F. Grimshaw Mr. William J. Paulsen Mrs. Abbie Carter Mr. E. W. Walker Mrs. Helen M. Laflin Mrs. Lucille W. Parker Mrs. Mattie Ash Mrs. Ella Spring Smith Mrs. Emma F. Hale Mrs. Ella S. Washburn Miss Ina J. Reid Miss Elizabeth Jenkins Mrs. Georgiana Hoskins Mrs. Elsie Joslyn Mrs. Hulda Frohmader Mrs. Martha B. Clark Mrs. Laine Hammil Mrs. Augusta Kruse Mr. John Cromwell |
||||||||
Twenty-Seventh Annual Session of The Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin October 2, 3 and 4, 1917 |
|||||||||||
Worthy Grand Matron Worthy Grand Patron Associate Grand Matron Associate Grand Patron Grand Secretary Grand Treasurer Grand Conductress Associate Grand Conductress Grand Chaplain Grand Lecturer Grand Marshal Grand Organist Grand Ada Grand Ruth Grand Esther Grand Maratha Grand Electa Grand Warder Grand Sentinel |
Mrs. May F. Grimshaw Mr. William J. Paulsen Mrs. Abbie Carter Mr. E. W. Walker Mrs. Helen M. Laflin Mrs. Lucille W. Parker Mrs. Mattie Ash Mrs. Ella Spring Smith Mrs. Emma F. Hale Mrs. Ella S. Washburn Miss Ina J. Reid Miss Elizabeth Jenkins Mrs. Georgiana Hoskins Mrs. Elsie Joslyn Mrs. Hulda Frohmader Mrs. Martha B. Clark Mrs. Laine Hammil Mrs. Augusta Kruse Mr. John Cromwell |
Henry Grimshaw’s Gravestone
Henry is buried in Genessee cemetery in Waukesha County; a photo of his gravestone is available on the internet and is shown below:
Source: http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/wisconsin/waukesha.htm
Obituaries of John and Jean Grimshaw and Henry and Blanch Grimshaw
John Grimshaw: Elroy Tribune, v 43, no 49 (December 6, 1917)
Jean (Marr) Grimshaw: The Elroy Tribune, v 39, No 18 (April 3, 1913)
Henry Grimshaw: The Elroy Leader, v 24, no 30 (January 26, 1922)
Blanch Grimshaw: The Elroy Leader, v 1, no. 43 (May 1, 1923)
Elroy Entrance Today
References
1Bleyer, Julius, 1900, Freemasonry in Wisconsin: biographical sketches of men who have been prominent in the various Masonic bodies in the state: Milwaukee, WI, Evening Wisconsin Print Co., 219 p.
2Author Unknown, 1918, Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Wisconsin, 1918, unk. p.
3Citizens for Waterfront Revitalization, 2001, Elroy Historical Photos: Printed by MSA Professional Services
4Timme, Ernest G., 1887, The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The Milwaukee Litho & _____ Co., p. 500.
5aCrum, Ferris B., A Crum Family in America: Historical Information, Genealogical Data, Coat of Arms, Biographies: typescript, 1965, 446 pgs. Typescript (duplicated copy); concerns genealogy of the Crum Family in America
5bCrum, Ferris B, ca 1900?, A Crum Family in America, Revised, Historical Information, Genealogical Data, Coat of Arms, Biographies: privately published, 464 p. Also available at LDS Family History Library, Film #896770, Item 4.
Webpage History
Webpage posted December 2001, updated January 2002. Updated May 2005 with addition of Henry Grimshaw gravestone image. Updated August 2006 with addition of photos of John, Henry and Blanche Grimshaw. Updated December 2006 with addition of image from Crum Family History. Updated December 2009 with addition of 1850 U.S. Census information.