Grinnell, Cleodora Hitchcock (Mrs. George P.)

GRINNELL, HITCHCOCK, TOPPING

Posted By: Don Wherry (email)
Date: 3/13/2013 at 13:04:39

MRS. GEORGE P. GRINNELL

Cleodora Hitchcock Grinnell was born near Morrison, Ill., Oct. 22, 1858. She is the daughter of Gad Walter Hitchcock and Harriett Emily Topping, both natives of New York state. Her grandfather, David Hitchcock, was one of the early supporters of Oberlin College. The Hitchcock family were pioneers in Illinois, coming there in the early 50's, when only villages and settlements stood where now stand the cities of Illinois. On April 2, 1884, in Morrison she was married to George P. Grinnell and came to Grinnell, Ia., which is still their home. In 1887 Mrs. Grinnell helped to form the Industrial School of Grinnell, a mission school in which many useful arts were taught. She was superintendent or teacher in it until May, 1913, when the school was closed because the public schools had introduced manual training, domestic science, sewing, etc., all of which had been taught in the Industrial School. This school was a practical institution and was one of the forerunners of manual training as a part of the public school course. Mrs. Grinnell is a member of the Grinnell Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and of the Woman's Relief Corps. She helped to organize the Priscilla Club which was the third club to be organized in Grinnell. Her husband is a nephew of J. B. Grinnell, one of the founders of the town which bears his name and one of the noblest men whom Iowa has yet produced.

- p. 94
The Blue Book of Iowa Women; A History of Contemporary Women
Edited and Compiled by Winona Evans Reeves
Press of the Missouri Printing and Publishing Company, Mexico, Mo., 1914