The first members of the family to come to America were John and Edward Gresham. John arrived in Maryland in 1640 and Edward, his brother, arrived in Virginia in 1650. It is believed that all of the Grishams in America are descended from these two brothers. It appears that most of John's descendants went to Tennessee. Most of Edwards went to Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.

The first known member of our family line was Joseph W. Grisham, born April 15, 1829 in the state of Mississippi. His parents names are unknown, but Permelia J. Grisham, who is listed as living with him between 1860 and 1870, is believed to be his mother.

When Joseph was young, his family left Mississippi and settled in the area that is now Webster County, Kentucky. About 1848, Joseph married Nancy J. Stone. Nancy was born October 30, 1833 in Madison County, Kentucky, her parents names are also unknown.

In 1874, Joseph and Nancy sold their farm in Kentucky and traveled to Missouri. In November of 1874, they purchased a one hundred and fifty two acre farm in western Howell County, Missouri, near what was soon to become the town of Cureall. Less than a year after Joseph and Nancy's arrival in Missouri, a Dr. Dixon built a hotel and spa less then a half mile from their farm. Dixon began advertising the supposed healing waters that came out of the springs nearby, water that would "cure all" ailments. People soon swarmed to the area and within four years a town with a population of over two hundred and sprung up around the spa. Joseph and Nancy apparently felt a bit crowded by their neighbors and in November of 1878, they sold their farm to Joseph Bays for the sum of $250.

In May of 1879, Joseph purchased ninety acres of land in Ozark County, Missouri, north of the town of Gainsville. In 1882, Joseph and Nancy left this area and moved to a farm in southeast Ozark County near Elijah, on Bridges Creek. They lived here until the late 1890's when they moved to a farm in southern Texas County.

It was on this farm that Joseph died on April 22, 1901. He apparently suffered a heart attack while taking water to his son Jody, who was working in the fields. Nancy died later the same year on October 25. Both are buried in the Harlow Cemetery about one-quarter mile from their home.

Joseph W. and Nancy J. Stone Grisham were the parents of twelve children, but only four lived to adult hood. The oldest, William R. (Bill) Grisham was born January 26, 1856 in Dixon, Webster County, Kentucky. On September 5, 1875, he was married in Howell County to Sarah Louise Endecott. They were the parents of six children; James M., Nancy L., Elijah H., Claude, Robert Arthur, and William L. After Sarah's death, Bill married Louisa Alcorn on February 28, 1909. They were the parents on one child, Lucinda. Bill, a farmer and fur trader, lived near Bridges Creek in southern Ozark County from about 1880 until his death on April 22, 1912, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He is buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Ozark County.

The second child of Joseph and Nancy was Lucinda Ann Grisham, born June 6, 1862 in Dixon, Webster County, Kentucky. She was married on January 6, 1878 at Pottersville, Howell County, to Gabriel C.O. Endecott. Gabriel and Cindy were the parents of seven children; Samuel Monroe, Nancy Elizabeth, Rebecca Isabelle, Mary Lavada Angelina, Joseph Edmond, Raymond Gabriel, and Virgil Eprham. Gabriel and Cindy owned a store in Pottersville for many years. They later sold this store and moved to Springfield where they owned a store. Cindy died in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, and is buried there.

James Monroe (Jim) Grisham, was born February 28, 1866 in Webster County, Kentucky, and was the third child of Joseph and Nancy Grisham. He was married at Waterville, now Bakersfield, in Ozark County, on 29 January, 1884 to Permelia Angeline Dean. They were the parents of twelve children; John W., Jesse O., Addie, Joseph T., James Monroe, Jr., Jarit, Edward, Eva, Lester, Edgar and twin Daughters who died as infants. After Angeline's death in 1911, Jim married Mrs. Lillie May Rogers Lowe. James Monroe Grisham died November 1, 1925 and is buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Joseph Jacob (Jody) Grisham, the youngest child of Joseph and Nancy, was born September 14, 1873, in Webster County, Kentucky. He was married January 1, 1893 at Sharp, Ozark County, Missouri to Mary Caroline Sims. Jody and Caroline were the parents of five children; Herbert Alan, Edna, Ernest Albert (our direct line), Clyde Alfred, and Virgil Franklin. After Caroline's death in 1914. Jody married Bessie Mae Dougherty Grisham, the widow of Jody's nephew John W. Grisham. Bessie and John had three children; Charles Emery (Dick), Beulah, and James Joseph. Jody and Bessie were married November 9, 1917, and were the parents of six children; Nellie May, Edith, Helen Louise, John Raymond, Abbit Wayne, and Orvis Leon. Jody died December 22, 1945 and is buried in the Baptist Hill Cemetery. Bessie died January 18, 1967 and is also buried in the Baptist Hill Cemetery.

Joseph and Nancy had three other known children; Mary J. Grisham, born about 1850, she died sometime between 1870 and 1880. She may be buried in Howell or Ozark County. John T. was born in 1869 and died as a small child. Nancy A. was born in 1879. She died at the age of twelve and is buried in the Baptist Hill Cemetery. Nothing is known of the other five children.

Ernest Albert Grisham married Mary Hester Huse on April 4, 1920 in Bakersfield, Missouri by John Hayscock, Minister. They had eight children; Lena Delphia (born January 23, 1921), George Joseph (born Dec. 11, 1922), Claude Emory (born Dec. 26 1924), Therman Eugene (born May 9, 1927), Mearl Waymen (born Dec. 31, 1929), Mildred Irene (born June 3, 1933), Laura 'Carolyn' (born May 16, 1936), and Ernestine Louise (born September 21, 1940).

Lena Delphia married Sylvester Osborn in Ozark Co. Missouri April 28 1940, they had three children Eddie Wayne (born Nov. 3, 1941), Velta Virginia (born August 5, 1943) and Betty Sue (born Dec. 28, 1946 ). Ed married Charlene Orr in 1962 they had three children, Alan Wayne (born March 5, 1964), Gregory Orrin (born August 1, 1967) and Marsha Beth (born April 29, 1970). Alan married Terry (Cluck) they have one daughter, Emily Elizabeth born April 1995. Gregory has a son named Alexander Mitchell (born November, 1989). Marsha married Christopher Robinson on March 25, 1995. Velta married Robert Ashbrook in 1982 she has three step children; John, Rima, and Charlene. Sue married John Joseph Wagner in 1968, they have one daughter Stacy Michelle born Sept. 23, 1971.

George Joseph Grisham married Margaret Josephine (Rogers) Schuster on October 12, 1944 in Bremmerton Washington. They had two daughters; Ann Marie (born July 17, 1945) and Kathryn Mary (born May 9, 1953). Ann Marie Grisham married Edward William Beyer on September 3, 1966 and had three children; Edward James (born May 23, 1967), Michael Lewis (born May 13, 1969) and Margaret Ann (born October 9, 1974). They were divorced in November 1982. Edward James Beyer married Cherilynn Palmer on July 20, 1991 and their daughter Katelin Elizabeth was born January 10, 1993. They have a second daughter Marisa Gabrielle born on September 12, 1996 both girls were born in McMinnville, Oregon. Michael Lewis married Laurel Scott in April 1995. Kathryn married Larry Dean Gray in 1972, they were divorced in 1983. Kathryn then married Bradford Christman in September 7, 1990 they live in Newport Beach California.

Claude married Wilma Shacklford, they had four children Pamela Ann Card (born June 7, 1958), James Thomas Grisham (born August 13, 1962), Carolyn Lynn Hilton, (born July 30, 1965) and Martha Ann McGuire (born July 14, 1966). On August 1979, Pamela Ann married James Barnes and they were divorced in 1986. Pamela then married Allan Byard Card (born August 6, 1954)and they have four children, Eric Scott Barnes (born September 26, 1981), Jeremy Allan Barnes (born September 24, 1983), Eugene Allan Card (born 1973) and Kinna Marie Card (born July 28, 1989). On December 1, 1990, Carolyn (Beth) married Kevin Hilton (born November 11, 1959) and they had two children, Seth (born November 5, 1996) and Hannah (born March 25, 1998). On May 3, 1985, Martha Ann married Kenneth Patrick McGuire (born January 24, 1967) and they had two children, Gregory Alan (born May 20, 1985) and Alicia Nichole (born September 21, 1986). After Wilma's passing, Claude married Ruby Bridges they live in West Plains Missouri.

Therman married Helen Gardner May 10, 1947, they had one daughter Connie Sue (born October 12, 1950) she married Tom Wright (1969), they had three children; Eric (born December 4, 1970), Eric married Carrie _____ July 1996, Katie (born May 23, 1973) she has a daughter Taisha (born April 17, 1991) and a son named Keggan (born October 1996), Matthew (born January 6, 1977) married Sara ____ April 5, 1977. (born__).

Mearl married Bobby Kesner, they had one son Donald Eugene (born September 3, 1963). Divorced 1974. Married Bessie Lee (Johnson) Jones May 5, 1978, who has one son Maurice Johnson (born March 16, 1956). Donald married Kristina Homer February 27, 1988, they have two daughters Lindsay Marie (born January 25, 1992) and Sydney Elizabeth (born October 5, 1995).

Mildred married James Edward Hayter on ________, they have two daughters Debbie Lynn (born__) and Donna Lee (born__). Debbie married Kenneth Hart they had one daughter, Rebecca Lynn (born__). After Kenneth's death Debbie married Charles Goodwin they have two sones Tyler (born ___) and Benjamin (born___). Donna married Randy Miles (Joe Gaddy's nephew) they have a son Brenton (born ____) and a daughter Emma (born_____).

Laura 'Carolyn' married Jerry Lee Ford (born December 6, 1934), they had six children, Stephen Lee (born May 28, 1956), Terry Wayne (born December 25, 1957), David Lynn (born November 5, 1959) Timothy Allen (born February 21, 1962), Vicky Ann (born December 11, 1965), Cheri Ann (born December 7, 1968). They were divorced in 1982. In 1987 Carolyn married O.G. 'Doc' Walters, they live in West Plains, Missouri. Stephen married Gloria 'Patricia' Castillo (born October 18, 1962) in July 1987 and they had one child, Christian Lee (born June 3, 1990). They were divorced in 1995. Timothy married Lareciea Lewis (born___) in 1985 and they had two children, Skyler Timothy (born December 6, 1986) and Mariah Larae (born February 24, 1995), they live in West Plains, Missouri. Vicky married David Evans in 1984, they had two children, Jacob Farris (born August 18, 1985) and Nathan David (born June 9, 1987). They divorced. Vicky married John Dancer and they had one child, Katrina Lea (born April 29, 1992). Cheri married Jason Brown in February 1989 and they had two children, Tabitha Christen (born June 19, 1990) and Jason 'Zachery' (born June 28, 1993).

Ernestine married William Joseph Gaddy (born__), they had three daughters, Trina (born 1960, died 1961) Tammy (born__) and Teresa (born__). Tammy married Paul Childress (born__) on _____, they have one daughter Lauren (born__) and a son Nathan (born__). Teresa married Lee Bridges they have four children: Amanda (born__), Zachery(born__), Austin (born__), and Carolyn (?) (born__).

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