Freestone County, Texas
Biographies 

Memorial and biographical history of Ellis county, Texas; Page: 562


WALTER H. GRIZZARD, son of Henry P. and Martha (Fitz) Grizzard, was born in 
Madison county, Alabama, June 6, 1854. He was next to the youngest of a family 
of nine children, five of whom are now living: Mary C., the oldest, has been 
married twice, her present husband being D. M. Jones; they reside in Coke county, 
Texas; William H., married and resides in Alabama; Charles P., married and lives 
in Freestone county, Texas; his wealth is estimated at about $35,000; the subject 
of this sketch was the next child; the youngest, Mattie E., was married to D. H. 
Wade, and resides at Ennis, Ellis county. The paternal grandfather lived in 
Nashville, Tennessee, and died there in 1885, at the age of 104 years; his 
father was a planter, and previous 

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to the war was a large slave-holder; his eldest brother was a Confederate 
soldier, and served with distinction in many a hard-fought battle under the 
command of the Confederate General, Bedford Forrest. Walter H. received a very 
meager education, in fact, he says he does not think he had ten days' schooling 
in his life. Notwithstanding that lack of opportunity, he is a fine penman, and 
by his own efforts made up for the advantages now offered the youth of this 
country. He removed from Alabama to Freestone county, Texas, arriving there 
December 24, 1868; he came to Ellis county in 1872, and located at Bristol; he 
lived there one year, and moved to Colorado county, where he resided two years; 
at the end of this time he went to Lavaca county, where he remained three years;
next he went to Fayette county, where he was elected deputy sheriff, and served 
the county in that capacity one year; he then returned to Ellis county where he 
was elected deputy Sheriff and Jailer,which position he has held with honor up 
to the present time. 
  Mr. Grizzard was married in Ennis, Ellis county, to Miss Hattie G. Yourie, of 
that place. Mrs. Grizzard is closely connected with some of the first families 
of the South, being a niece of the celebrated General, Bedford Forrest. Two 
children are the fruits of this union: Mabel, aged seven years, and Eva Francis, 
aged three years.
  During his term of service as deputy sheriff of Ellis county, Mr. Grizzard has 
had several severe struggles with desperate criminals, and has been obliged to 
call into use his weapon of defense, the ever-ready revolver.  He has also had 
the honor of arresting several desperadoes for whom large rewards have been 
offered. In fact, he does not know what fear is. The prisoners who are at present
under his charge in the county jail, all like him, and are very obedient to his 
orders.  Mr. Grizzard is a stanch Democrat, and sticks closely to the doctrines 
of his party.