GRUMMON, William A.

GRUMMON, QUACKENBOSS, MCEWEN, RHINEHART, BRUCE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/4/2014 at 12:10:28

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 775-76. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ WILLIAM A. GRUMMON

Among those citizens who play a live part and a useful one in the affairs of the town and county must assuredly be numbered William A. Grummon, postmaster since 1897, editor of the Rockwell Phonograph and one of the advisory editors of this volume. He belongs to the town by birth as well as by life long residence. He was born here June 2, 1868, his parents being Nelson J. and Romelia (Quackenboss) Grummon, a sketch of the former appearing in this history. He received his education in the Rockwell schools, finishing in the high school, and he devoted his youthful energies to the varied employments to be encountered upon his father’s farm. In 1890 he entered the office of the Rockwell Phonograph, and under the efficient tutelage of the editor, Mr. W. L. McEwen, learned the printer’s trade. On February 24, 1892, Mr. Grummon was united in marriage to the editor’s daughter, Miss Florence M. McEwen, who was born in Floyd county, Iowa, August 9, 1869. Her parents were W. L. and Harriet (Rhinehart) McEwen. Her parents were married in the east about the year 1854 and came to Floyd county in 1856, owning and operating a farm there in 1886, in which year Mr. McEwen disposed of his land and came to Rockwell. In partnership with his son, Elmer Ellsworth, he purchased the Rockwell Phonograph and continued to conduct that paper until his death in March 1904. The mother survived until the fall of 1909.

After his marriage Mr. Grummon purchased an interest in the paper, and owing to the poor health of Mr. McEwen he shortly after assumed its editorship. He has continued in that capacity until the present time, and has given great satisfaction to his readers, being a student of current matters and keeping abreast of the times. Mr. Grummon owns the Phonograph in partnership with E. E. McEwen. On July 1, 1897, Mr. Grummon was appointed postmaster, his commissions being issued by President McKinley and Roosevelt, and his present term of office to expire in the spring of 1912. He has always been active in his support of the Republican party. He and his wife belong to the Congregational church, and as to his fraternal connections he is a member of the I.O.O.F.

On October 31, 1903, the first Mrs. Grummon died, leaving besides her husband two young sons, Stuart N. and Paul W. On May 14, 1907, Mr. Grummon was married to Miss Mary E. Bruce, a daughter of Albert and Sarah (Blodgett) Bruce. Her father was a pioneer merchant of Rockwell, having established his first store here and serving on the county board of supervisors. They have one son, named Howard E.

NOTE: The Rockwell Phonograph was in publication from 1879 to 1917. The State Historical Society of Iowa Library, located in Des Moines IA, has issues of The Rockwell Phonograph on microfilm. ~ Chronicling America, Library of Congress

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014