RICHARD ROBERT "DICK" GRISHAM, SR.BORN: 26 March, 1861, MS WELCH
(Click picture for larger view) 22. Richard Robert "Dick" GRISHAM, Sr. (4.Andrew2, 1.George1) married Phoebe Leander "Lee" WELCH on 28 November, 1885, in Fannin County, TX. Phoebe Leander "Lee" WELCH was born 5 February, 1869, Hardeman County, TN, to Marion Francis Welch and Emily Gee Welch. Lee died 17 October, 1965, TX. Dick died 18 August, 1925, and both were buried in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Wolfe City, Hunt County , TX. Dick was but a very small child when his parents died and it is possible that he was less than two years old when his parents died. Perhaps this contributed to some of the confusion about the identity of his parents. Dick's grandson, Noel Grisham, believed that his great-grandparents were Isaac Grisham or Isaac Ephraim Grisham and Sarah Gillie Olive. Isaac G. "Black Ike" Grisham and his wife Elizabeth Mason/Grisham Grisham might have been the first "parents" Dick could remember. The family of Ephraim Grisham and Sarah Choate Grisham bears a strong resemblance to the family Noel believed to be that of his great-grandparents. Noel's family research was also reflected in the Hattie Grisham's letter. In 1870 Dick lived in the home of his oldest brother, Eaf, along with the 3 brothers just older than he. In the 1880 US Census for Fannin Ca., TX, R. R. was a boarder in the home of T. J. and M. V. Savage. Dick accompanied his older sister, Rachel Ellen, and her husband, Hamilton Savage to Texas. From the birth dates of the Savage children in the 1880 Census, it appears that they came to Texas between 1870 and 1873. Noel Grisham, quoted his grandfather (Dick) saying, "I had to walk much of the way (from MS to TX) and I often wore a girl's dress due to a shortage of clothing." "Dick learned to work hard and to save money. He bought land and raised mules, utilizing both in his farming pursuits. Their grandson, Noel, noted in his book: 'Dick and Phoebe lost no time in acquiring two vast treasures--children and land and the challenges which offspring and Johnson grass evoke." Dick had only one year of schooling, yet his home was a showplace--similar to a small city with an electric generating plant. Lee's laundry was mechanized. The farm had metal shops, blacksmith shops, hog barns, cow barns--all lighted with electricity and connected by concrete sidewalks. In addition to the farm on which Dick and Lee lived, they had six farms in the Hickory Creek, Savage, Leonard, and Wolfe City area. Speaker of the House, Sam Raybourn was a neighbor who visited frequently. "Over the years Dick and Phoebe owned several good farms; and in time (1914) they acquired a big two-story home and modernized the place with many out-buildings, a network of connecting sidewalks, and a private electric lighting system. The Grisham farm was a showplace. The children--all eleven of them--were assigned chores as they grew up, worked toward adulthood, and took marriage vows. Forty grandchildren followed, and as of June, 2001, 26 of this generation were living. After Dick died in 1925, Phoebe operated the farming business through the Great Depression and World War II and beyond. Children: 65. i Opal GRISHAM born 3 April, 1887; died 2 May, 1921. 66. ii Lillie Gertrude GRISHAM born 24 February, 1889; died 13 December, 1963. 67. iii James Albert "Ab" GRISHAM born 4 October, 1891; died 27 July, 1980. 68. iv Marvin Henry GRISHAM born 6 April, 1895; died 21 March, 1954. 69. v Richard Raymond "Ray" GRISHAM, Jr. born 4 July, 1897; died 8 April, 1964. 70. vi Ruth Elsie GRISHAM, born 6 August, 1899; died. 21 March, 1953. 71. vii Lee Roy GRISHAM, born 28 April, 1902; died 22 April, 1935.
72. viii Clyde Harold "Ted" GRISHAM born 24 May, 1905; died. 25 December, 1976. 73. ix Gladys May GRISHAM born 28 July, 1907; died 2 November, 1994. 74. x Mildred Oleta GRISHAM born 15 August, 1911; died 2 June, 1999. 75. xi Frankie Lucille GRISHAM born 1 April, 1914.
1870 Census Records
Jackson (Andrew Jackson Grisham, Jr.), George (George
Washington Grisham) and Richard (Richard Robert Grisham) were
the younger orphaned brothers of Ephraim. 1880 CENSUS
1900 US CENSUS
SOURCES: Grisham, Noel Hodge, FLoy Crandall, "A History of Fannin County featuring Pioneer Families" 'Grisham,' Pioneer Publishers, P. O. Box 673, Herford, Texas Perry, Jane 1870 US Census, Prentiss County, MS 1880 US Census, Fannin County, TX 1900 US Census, Fannin County, TX Grisham, Otha Lee
ANDREW JACKSON GRISHAM & GILLIE OLIVE (MAS0N)
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