BIO:  William John Grissinger, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________ 

Part II, Biographical Sketches, Newberry Township, Pg 152

REV. WILLIAM JOHN GRISSINGER, resident pastor of the Bethel Church of God at 
Goldsboro, York Co., Penn., was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., January 16, 
1844, son of Samuel and Mary (McNeal) Grissinger, natives of York and Huntingdon 
Counties, and of German and Irish descent respectively.  They had three sons and 
six daughters.  William was the eldest of the family.  He remained on his 
father’s farm till he was fifteen years old, attending the public schools, and 
also for one term the Millersville Normal School.  He acquired a thorough English 
education, and at thirty years of age began studying for the ministry.  In 
October, 1876, he was licensed and ordained to preach, and at once went to 
Newport, Perry Co., Penn., where he preached two years.  His subsequent charges 
were Clearfield Mission at Clearfield, Penn., one year; Newville and Plainfield, 
Cumberland County, two years.  He then returned to Newport and thence to 
Goldsboro, in October, 1882.  Before studying for the ministry, he taught school 
for five terms.  He was married at Mt. Carrol, Ill., in 1865, to Catharine 
Chitty, of Illinois.  They have five children:  Samuel C., Benjamin F., Clarence 
Rudolph, Carrie A., Juanita and Oliver L.  Mr. Grissinger was brought up in the 
church of God, and became a member at the age of eighteen years.  At present he 
has charge of four congregations:  Goldsboro, Newberrytown, Yocumtown and 
Smoketown.  From 1869 to 1876 he was engaged in mercantile business at New 
Grenada, Penn.  His great-grandfather, John Grissinger, who came from Germany, 
located near Lewisberry, where he died in 1853, aged nearly ninety-eight years.  
He had 382 descendants:  123 grandchildren, 242 great-grandchildren, 3 great-
great-grandchildren and 14 children.