Iowa Family Group Sheet for the Henry James Grannis Family
Submitted by: Erlene Bremmer-Best
HUSBAND: Henry James Grannis
Birth date: 18 July 1841
Birthplace: North Liberty, St Joseph County, Indiana
Death date: 13 Oct 1907
Place of death: Fayette County, Iowa
Burial date: Oct 1907
Burial place: Grandview Cemetery, Fayette, Iowa
Other Spouse:
Father: John Grannis
Mother: Rhoda Bennett
Marriage date: abt 1866
Marriage place: Iowa
WIFE: Abigail Caroline Hubbell
Birth date: 25 Jun 1842
Birthplace: New York
Death date: 20 May 1915
Place of death: Elkader, Clayton, Iowa
Burial date: May 1915
Burial place: Grandview Cemetery, Fayette, Iowa
Other Spouse:
Father: Mark Hubbell
Mother: Elizabeth Sherman
CHILDREN
Child No. 1: John Sherman Grannis
Sex: M
Birth date: 4 Aug 1867
Birthplace: Fayette County, Iowa
Death date:
Place of death:
Burial date:
Burial place:
Spouse's name: Louise Annie Page or Luck
Marriage date: 14 Nov 1896
Marriage place: New Hampton, Chickasaw, Iowa
Child No. 2: Harry Theodore Grannis
Sex: M
Birth date: 25 Jan 1869
Birthplace: Fayette County, Iowa
Death date: 13 Oct 1918
Place of death: Marysville, Washington
Burial date: Oct 1918
Burial place: Marysville Cemetery, Snohomish County, Washington
Spouse's name: Clara B Sherwood
Marriage date: 14 Nov 1895
Marriage place: Randalia, Fayette, Iowa
Child No. 3: Bessie Beulah Grannis
Sex: F
Birth date: 30 May 1873
Birthplace: Fayette County Iowa
Death date: 30 July 1893
Place of death: Fayette County, Iowa
Burial date: Aug 1893
Burial place: Grandview Cemetery, Fayette, Iowa
Spouse's name:
Marriage date:
Marriage place:
Child No. 4: Herbert Richard Grannis
Sex: M
Birth date: 22 Sept 1877
Birthplace: Fayette County, Iowa
Death date: 31 Jan 1966
Place of death: Oelwein, Iowa
Burial date: Feb 1966
Burial place: Greenwood Cemetery, Westgate, Fayette County, Iowa
Spouse's name: Rose Caroline "Rowana" Linstrum
Marriage date: 22 Jan 1903
Marriage place: Westgate, Iowa
Child No. 5: Abbie Helen Grannis
Sex: F
Birth date: 28 Dec 1883
Birthplace: Fayette County, Iowa
Death date: 18 Nov 1968
Place of death: Elkader, Clayton, Iowa
Burial date:
Burial place:
Spouse's name: Harry Llewellyn Griffith
Marriage date: 1 Jan 1907
Marriage place: Fayette County, Iowa
Documentation and Sources:
Death of H.A. Grannis
Henry A. Grannis, former county recorder, died Sunday morning (October 13, 1907. He had been
in poor health, for five or six years, failing greatly of late, and his death resulted from a
cancer which afflicked him for several months. Mr. Grannis was a long time resident of this
county. He was a color bearer of the 12th Iowa Infantry, having an excellent record as a soldier.
He was also an excellent man and citizen in all aspects. He had lived at Randalia and West Union
and on a farm in Smithfield township, but of late years spent most of his time at Fayette. He was
county recorder for one term about 15 years ago. Mr. Grannis was about 65 years of age. The
funeral was held Monday. Burial in Grandview Cemetery. --West Union Gazette, October 17, 1907
Henry Grannis
One of the bravest and at the same time most modest and unpretentious soldiers who attended the
recent encampment was Henry Grannis, of Fayette county, who was color sergeant of the Twelfth Iowa
Infantry during the war. He enlisted in Company "C"-----Col. Henderson's company----and during
the entire period of the war held aloft the colors of the regiment. What is surprising in his
record as a color sergeant is the fact that he was in seventeen battles and never received a
wound-----something unparalleled in the history of the great conflict. The writer of this knows,
being a member of his color guard that no man could exhibit more heroism than was exhibited by
Henry Grannis, the farmer boy of Fayette county. In one battle---Tupelo----when his entire
color-guard was either killed or wounded, he took up and held in the Southern breeze the State
banner and the United States flag.(from Dubuque Times) West Union Gazette, May 6, 1887
"Henry James Grannis, the efficient ex-Recorder of this county and a popular citizen of Randalia,
claims Indiana as the State of his nativity. He was born near North Liberty, St. Joseph County,
July 18, 1841, and is a son of John and Rhoda (Bennett) Grannis, who removed from New York
to Indiana. The year 1860 witnessed their arrival in Iowa, and in Fayette, where they located,
they spent their last days, the father dying in December, 1860, and the mother in June, 1869.
They were parents of four sons and a daughter who grew to maturity: Alonzo B. married Corrilla
Thompson and died in Nuckolls County, Neb.; Charles A. wedded Rhoda Grannis, a distant relative,
and both died in California; Joseph L. married Annie Brown and is living in Fayette, Iowa;
Samuel B. married Sarah E. High and is located in Elmer, Howard Co., Iowa; Henry J. is the next
younger; and Hammond, who completes the family, died in childhood. The eldest and youngest brothers
living raised a company for the late war for special service but it was not mustered in.
Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the Fayette High School and the Upper University
of Iowa. He enlisted for the late war on September 15, 1861, as a Sergeant of Company C, Twelfth
Iowa Infantry, and was color bearer of his regiment during the entire term of four years and four
months, except while a prisoner. He took part in the capture of Ft. Henry and was engaged in the
battles on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of February, 1862, which resulted in the capture of Ft. Donelson.
At Shiloh the Twelfth Regiment was brigaded with the Second, Seventh and Fourteenth Iowa Regiments
under the name of Iowa Brigade, which was commanded by Gen. Tuttle. The Twelfth after being under
fire from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m., was captured while supporting a battery in company with the Fourteenth,
after a desperate fight and being surrounded by the enemy. This was on Sunday evening, April 6, 1862.
Mr. Grannis was made prisoner with his comrades and taken to Montgomery, Ala., where he was held five
weeks and then transferred to Macon, GA., where he remained until October 18, 1862, when he was
paroled and exchanged November 10, following. He was robbed of his clothes and valuables and subjected
to much hardship and suffering. He rejoined his regiment in Davenport, Iowa, in December, 1862, and was
ordered to the front. He took part in the battle of Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863, and in the siege of
Vicksburg, participating in all the principal engagements during that siege until June 22, when the
regiment was sent to Black River to guard the rear from an attack by Johnson and was engaged in that
service when Vicksburg surrendered July 4, 1863. He took part in the battles of Tupelo, Miss., in July,
1864, and Nashville, Tenn; was in the expedition against Mobile and was with his regiment in the front
line in the siege of Spanish Fort, which was the last service rendered by the regiment. During his term
of service he was under fire one hundred and fifty days. Sergt. Grannis veteranized December 25, 1863,
was commissioned First Lieutenant November 22, 1865, and was mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., January
20, 1866.
On his return from the army Mr. Grannis was in the railway mail service for six months and then purchased
a farm in Illyria Township, this county and also operated a sawmill of which he was owner. The farm, which
is still in his possession, comprises one hundred and sixty acres. The year following his return, he was
married in Westfield Township, on April 5, 1866, to Miss Carrie A. Hubbell, daughter of Mark E. and
Elizabeth (Sherman) Hubbell. The lady is a native of New York City and came to Iowa with her parents in
March, 1860. Five children have been born unto them, three sons and two daughters - Harry Theodore, Bessie
Beulah, Herbert Richard, Abbie Helen and John Sherman, all of whom were born in Fayette County. The parents,
their eldest daughter and second son are members of the Baptist Church.
In politics Mr. Grannis is a staunch Republican. He was elected Recorder of Fayette County in November, 1888,
the following December removed to West Union, and on January 8, 1889, entered upon the duties of the office;
he was an efficient officer in every respect. Socially, Mr. Grannis is a member of West Union Lodge, No.
69, A. F. & A. M., and of Abernethy Post, No. 48, G. A. R. He was a charter member of Warner Post, No. 46,
G. A. R. of Fayette, from which he withdrew on removing to West Union. He has proved a capable and faithful
County Recorder, was a brave and patriotic soldier and enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow
citizens in a marked degree." -- Page 216 - 1891 Portrait and Biographical Album of Fayette Co., Iowa
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Copyright (c) 2010 by Erlene Bremmer-Best. All rights reserved.
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