THE BOOK OF DETROITERS

A Biographical Dictionary of

Leading Living Men of the City of Detroit

Edited by Albert Nelson Marquis

Chicago

A. N. Marquis & Company

1908

Copyright, 1908 by Albert Nelson Marquis

Pages 198 - 200

waynebod1.jpg (17577 bytes)

Special Thanks to Marge Hall of China, Michigan, for transcribing these pages.

wayneline1.jpg (1778 bytes)

Page 198

GREEN, William S., trustee William B. Wesson estate; 2d vice president Wayne County Savings Bank. Office: Penobscot Bldg. Residence: 29 Delaware Av.

GREENWOOD, William T., insurance; born, Geneva, N.Y., Mar. 9, 1872; son of Robert and Emma (Smith) Greenwood; educated in public and high schools of Rochester; unmarried. Began active career as clerk in bank at Rochester, continuing for 5 years; was in grain and produce business in Boston 5 years; entered fire insurance business, 1899, came to Detroit, 1901, and since 1904 has been vice president James A. Jones Agency, general agents Granite State Fire Insurance Co., Portsmouth, N.H., for Michigan and Ohio. Was member 1st Separate Co., New York N.G. for 5 years. Republican. Catholic. Recreation: Driving. Office: 507 Union Trust Bldg. Residence: 732 Trumbull Av.

GREGG, James H., hardware merchant; born, Browning, Mo., Aug. 8, 1866; son of George and Mary (Steele) Gregg; educated in public schools; married at Carrollton, O., Jan. 8, 1888, Dora Gantz. Was employed as clerk in wholesale hardware houses, Cleveland, O., until 1888, when he removed to Detroit as department manager for Buhl Sons Co., wholesale hardware; organized the Gregg Hardware Co., retail hardware and builders’ supplies, 1905, of which he is secretary and treasurer; vice president Detroit Wire and Iron Works. Republican. Congregationalist. Member Ohio Society, Board of Commerce. Mason (32º), Shriner. Office: 48 Cadillac Sq. Residence: 30 Leicester Court.

wayneline1.jpg (1778 bytes)

GREUSEL, Francis H., dentist; born, Detroit, Oct. 11, 1871; son of Joseph and Margaret (DeMass) Greusel; A.B., Detroit College, 1889, A.M., 1892; D.D.S., Philadelphia Dental College, 1892; married at Detroit, Mar. 31, 1902, Daisy MacClean. Has practiced in Detroit since 1892. Director choir of Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, Young People’s Choral Society and Boylston Club. Member First District Dental Society. Club: Detroit Boat. Recreation: Music. Office: 270 Woodward Av. Residence: 29 Bethune Av., E.

GRIFFITH, Armond Harold, director Museum of Art; born, Knightstown, Ind., June 11, 1860; son of Collins W. and Katherine (Conway) Griffith; educated at home by his father. Has been director of the Detroit Museum of Art since Jan. 1, 1890. Member Detroit Scientific Association, Society of Western Artists, Société des Sauveteurs du Dernier Adieu, of France (decorated by same). Hon. Member Detroit Post, G.A.R. Club: Salmagundi. Has lectured extensively. Office: Detroit Museum of Art. Residence: 52 Ferry Av., W.

GRIFFITHS, John E., railway official; born, Battle Creek, Mich., Apr. 8, 1844; son of John J. and Charlotte (Kewney) Griffiths; educated in public schools of Battle Creek; married at Detroit, July 31, 1868, Ella Granger. Began active career as messenger in telegraph office of Michigan Central R.R. Co., at Battle Creek, 1860, and later had charge of telegraph offices at Battle Creek and Detroit; transferred to freight department and was promoted consecutively to private secretary to general superintendent, private secretary to James F. Fay, president, cashier, and has been local treasurer Michigan Central R.R. Co. since Oct., 1895. Also local treasurer Canada Southern Ry., Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Ry., Detroit River Tunnel Co.; treasurer Detroit & Charlevoix Ry., Railroad Y.M.C.A.; cashier Jackson, Lansing, & Saginaw Ry. Land Department; director Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw Ry., Buchanan & St. Joseph R.R. Co. Republican. Episcopalian. Member Corinthian Lodge No. 241, A.F.&A.M. Office: Michigan Central R.R. Residence: 36 Stimson Pl.

wayneline1.jpg (1778 bytes)

Page 199

GRIGGS, Chauncey C., railway official; born, Detroit; son of Theodore D. and Mary A. (Kenyon) Griggs; educated in public and high schools of Detroit; unmarried. Entered railway service as clerk in office of Michigan Central fast freight lines, 1885; became chief clerk and was appointed state agent fast freight lines and commercial agent Michigan Central road, 1897; has been assistant general freight agent same road since May 1, 1907. Congregationalist. Clubs: Country, Detroit Boat, Commercial. Recreations: Golf, tennis, boating, automobiling, fishing. Office: 51 M.C.R.R. Depot. Residence: 1095 Woodward Av.

GRINDLEY, Robert M., chairman and general manager City and Suburban Homes Co., Ltd. Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Office: 35-37 State St. Residence: 100 Forest Av., W.

GRINNELL, Clayton A., piano manufacturer and general music dealer; born near Albion, N.Y., Dec. 2, 1859; son of Ira and Betsy A. (Balcome) Grinnell; educated in district schools of Orleans Co., N.Y., and at University of Michigan, graduating, 1879; married at Detroit, May 21, 1904, Miss Myrta Gay. Began in music business at Ann Arbor, Mich., with brother, Ira L., under title of Grinnell Bros., 1880; firm located in Detroit, 1882, and began manufacture of pianos, 1901; firm now has 16 stores in operation in United States and Canada. Member National Association of Piano Dealers of America (first vice president, elected June, 1907), Detroit Board of Commerce. Republican as to politics. Methodist in church affiliation. Member Masonic order, K.O.T.M., Loyal Guards. Recreations: Hunting, fishing and travel. Office: 241-243 Woodward Av. Residence: 1695 Woodward Av.

wayneline1.jpg (1778 bytes)

GRINNELL, Ira L., manufacturer of pianos and general music dealer; born, Niagara Co., N.Y., Mar. 1, 1848; son of Ira and Betsy (Balcom) Grinnell; educated at academy, Albion, N.Y. and at Manchester, Mich.; married, 1st, Ann Arbor, Mich., Ellen Park (now deceased); 2nd, Detroit, Sept., 1892, Miss Emily Lightfoot. Engaged in sewing machine business at Ann Arbor and Detroit, 1866-82; entered music business with his brother, Clayton A. Grinnell, 1882, and has since been senior partner of the firm of Grinnell Bros., manufacturers, music dealers and jobbers of talking machines, with piano factory and headquarters in Detroit and branches in the principal cities of Michigan. Member Detroit Board of Commerce, Municipal League. Republican. Member O.E.S. Office: 243-247 Woodward Av. Residence: 61 Peterboro St.

Page 200

GRISWOLD, Stewart Curtis, lawyer; born, Pontiac, Mich., Mar. 17, 1877; son of Ahira and Cora Cornelia (Stewart) Griswold; educated in public schools of Detroit; Detroit College of Law, one year; Columbian University (now George Washington University), Washington, D.C., 4 years, LL.B., 1899, LL.M., 1900; unmarried. Page to Lieutenant Governor Giddings, session of Michigan State Legislature, 1893; private secretary for 2 years to Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Greene, War Department, Washington, D.C.; in practice of law at Detroit since 1902. Republican. Member Phi Delta Phi, B.P.O.E., Knights of Pythias. Club: Fellowcraft. Recreation: Outdoor sports. Office: 816 Hammond Bldg. Residence: 55 Milbourne Av.

GROSFIELD, Anthony, real estate and insurance; born, Westphalia, Germany, July 4, 1843; son of Theodore and Francisca (Grobbel) Grosfield; educated in private schools of Westphalia, 1850-56, and college, Westphalia, 1856-59; married at Detroit, Nov. 14, 1871, Elizabeth Vogt. Began active career as clerk in general mercantile store, Westphalia, continuing 1860-63; came to United States, 1863, and located at Cold Spring, N.Y.; employed in armament department of U.S. government, 1863-64; learned trade of polishing and grinding edge tools, at Collinsville, Conn., 1864-66, and came to Detroit and began in business for himself as grocer, in which he continued, 1861-81, when he sold out and engaged in hardware business, 1881-87; began in real estate business while handling hardware and has confined himself to real estate and insurance since 1877; member firm of Grosfield & Scanlon since 1892. Member Real Estate Board. Democrat. Alderman 12th ward, 1874-75; member Board of Estimates, 1876-77; member Board of Education, 1882-86; state senator 3rd district, 1889-90. Catholic. Member Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. Club: Harmonie. Recreation: Travel. Office: 983 Michigan Av. Residence: 819 W. Grand Blvd.

GRYLLS, Humphry John Maxwell, architect; born, England, Mar. 8, 1865; son of Humphry Millett and Henrietta Elizabeth (Fox) Grylls; educated in private school in England, 1873-75, Truro Grammar School, 1875-77, Crewkerne Grammar School, 1877-81; came to America, 1881; married, Detroit, 1893, Mary Field. Began active career in employ of W. E. Brown, architect, Detroit, in May, 1883, continuing until 1885; was for a short time in office of Donaldson & Meier, architects, Detroit, and in latter part of 1885 became connected with William Scott & Co., and was admitted to the firm in 1889, when the title was changed to John Scott & Co.; entered business independently in Detroit in 1903, under name of H. J. Maxwell Grylls; title became Grylls & Gies in 1905; in Feb., 1907, assisted in organizing corporation of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, of which is vice president. Fellow American Institute of Architects; president Michigan Chapter American Institute of Architects; member Detroit Architectural Club. Clubs: Detroit, Detroit Country, Detroit Athletic, Witenagemote. Office: 710 Washington Arcade. Residence: 478 Field Av.

wayneline1.jpg (1778 bytes)

HTML by Debbie Axtman

This page was last updated on Thursday, March 30, 2000. 20:51:15 PDT

Be sure to Visit Pam Rietsch's Memorial Online Library

Graphics were made specifically for "The Detroiters" by Tammy Acker

Return to Wayne County LHN