Grissell, Alonzo W.

GRISSELL, YOCKEY

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/21/2006 at 21:58:17

GRISELL, ALONZO W.

Alonzo W. Grisell, long a prominent figure in educational matters in Lyon county, and for several terms county superintendent, now a resident of Rock Rapids, was born in Ohio, March 13, 1852, a son of Simeon and Rebecca Grisell. The father was a cabinet maker, and followed the ministry of the Methodist church. He died March 8, 1903, in Nebraska, aged seventy-six years. He was a son of Thomas Grisell, who was a blacksmith in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and died at the age of seventy-two years. Edward Grisell, the great-grandfather of Alonzo W., was in the Revolutionary war. He was captured and sentenced to be hung as a spy, but was reprieved. The grandmother of Mr. Grisell was closely connected with the Penn family.

Alonzo W. Grisell was educated mainly in the local schools before he was seventeen years of age, and became a teacher, following this calling until about 1874, when he attended the Normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, for several years.

Mr. Grisell came west and in 1888 was elected county superintendent of Sioux county, Iowa, a position he held for two terms, after which he was engaged in the hardware business for some three and a half years in the same county. In 1896 he returned to the school room, taking charge of the schools in Doon, and continued there as principal through 1897 and 1898. In the fall of 1899 he became county superintendent of Lyon county, a position to which he was elected by a majority of only eight votes. He was re-elected in 1901 by a majority of 450 votes. This was on the Republican ticket. He has always been a straightforward member of that party.

Mr. Grisell belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is connected with the Masonic body at Hull. For thirty-seven years he has been a member of the Methodist church, having united with it when he was only fourteen years old.

The wedding ceremonies of Mr. Grisell and Miss Lottie M. Yockey were celebrated April 7, 1878. She was a daughter of Charles and Belinda Yockey. Her father was a life-long cabinet maker, excepting the four years when he served his country as a member of the Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was at the front and saw much hard service. He was under General Sherman in his celebrated march to the sea, and was mustered out in 1865. He was born in Germany, and came to this country when only four years old. To this union were born three children: Edna Mabel, now deceased; Guy, also dead; and Vera Inez, now a student in the high school.
In another part of this volume will be found an article on the "Schools of Lyon County" written by Mr. Grisell.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson