Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Griggs, Siegle A January 25, 1863 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 8:04 am

Author: History of Grundy County 1914

Griggs, Siegle A. - One of the old and honored families of Grundy County, is 
that bearing the name of Griggs, members of which have occupied important 
positions in various walks of life in this section for many years.  A worthy 
representative of the name is found in the person of Siegle A. Griggs, whose 
pleasant country home is situated on Morris Rural Route No. 2, and who is 
extensively engaged in general farming operations in Saratoga Township.  He 
was born at Morris, January 25, 1863, and is a son of Jacob M. and Emma 
(Cocheram) Griggs, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New 
York, and both of whom came to Illinois as young people.  The paternal 
grandparents of Mr. Griggs, Peter and Catherine (Page) Griggs, native of the 
Keystone State, migrated to Illinois in 1839 and located in Grundy County.  
Mr. Griggs securing land from the Government in Morris and Nettle Creek 
townships, there spending the balance of his life in tilling the soil.  The 
maternal grandparents were Samuel and Hannah Cocheram, who came to Morris in 
1856, Mr. Cocheram taking up the vocation of shoemaker and being the 
proprietor of a shoe store in that city for many years.  Jacob M. Griggs, the 
father of Siegle A. Griggs, passed the greater part of his life in 
agricultural pursuits, being the owner of a valuable farm at the city limits 
of Morris, although he was also engaged extensively with his son in excavating 
cellars, and in furnishing brick for various buildings, including the Central 
High School, and sand from his sand and gravel pit.  He was successful in his 
ventures, and at the time of his death, April 5, 1904, was known as one of his 
community's substantial men.  The mother survives him and lives in Morris, 
having had eight children - namely:  Siegle A.; Henry, who resides with his 
mother; Ellen, who is now Mrs. Al Mitting, of Holland, Mich.; Mary, who 
married John Wendell, of Des Moines, Ia.; Burt, who is also of that city; Ray, 
of Muscatine, Ia.; Grace, who is now Mrs. Melvin Mattison, of Morris; and 
Mabel, who is Mrs. Cliff Burnham, of Morris.

The early education of Siegle A. Griggs was secured in the public schools, 
following which he spent two years in the Morris Normal school.  Until his 
marriage he remained with his father, whose partner he was in a number of 
ventures, including the furnishing of the brick, sand and stone for the 
Central High School, which he served in the capacity of janitor for eight 
years.  After his marriage he became proprietor of the tile yard at Morris, 
which he conducted for ten years, and then sold to Mr. Buck and engaged in a 
grocery business, which occupied his attention for four years.  Following 
this, he began operating the old homestead, which he and his brother bought in 
March, 1905, and since this time Mr. Griggs has been engaged in general 
farming operations, renting 296 acres in Saratoga Township from J. A. Wilson.  
He is an excellent man of business, and in his various transactions has met 
with well-deserved success through the practice of industry, good management, 
and in taking advantage of legitimate opportunities.  He is the owner of a 
large brick building of two stories, located on Liberty Street, Morris, and 
has evidenced his faith in the future development of the city by making 
various other realty investments there.
 
On February 22, 1886, Mr. Griggs was married to Miss Euphemia Blair, who was 
born in Scotland, a daughter of George R. Blair.  Two children have been born 
to this union, namely:  Mohr, who is of Morris, Ill.; and George, who is 
residing at home.  With his family, Mr. Griggs attends the Methodist Episcopal 
Church.  He has always been a Republican, and has served as a member of the 
Board of School Directors for six years.  His fraternal connection is with the 
Knights of Pythias, and he numbers many friends among its members.

Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914, p820-21

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