Leigh Larson visited Walnut Hill Cemetery on September 17, 2008. Both sides of the same gravestone are shown.

Walnut Hill Cemetery (Baraboo Cemetery)
Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wisconsin

 Samuel Luther "Charley" Griswold, (1828 - 1912), Section E

Clarissa H. "Clara" (Armstrong) Griswold, (1838 - 1917), Section E

Ellen O. Griswold, (1857 - 1857), South Division, Block 78, Lot 3, Grave 2.

According to Kay Koslan, this gravesite (plot) belonged to Samuel Luther "Charley" Griswold. Both Samuel Luther "Charley" Griswold's daughter (Ellen O. Griswold), and his brother-in-law (Samuel Bolton "Sam" Armstrong), are buried in the same plot, but without a grave marker for Samuel Bolton Armstrong. Samuel Bolton Armstrong is a brother of Clarissa H. (Armstrong) Griswold.

Luther Stephen "Louis" Griswold, (1867 - 1929), Section E

Cora Adella "Della" (Weigel) Griswold, (1876 - 1902), Section E

Anna Emma "Annie" (Mahler) (Doro) Griswold, (1881 - 1924), Section E

           

Four Armstrong relatives, left to right: Clarissa H. "Clara" (Armstrong) Griswold, Samuel Bolton "Sam" Armstrong, George Wood Armstrong, and Samuel Luther "Charley" Griswold. Taken before 1917. Photo courtesy of Kay Koslan, who found this photo among the effects of her great-grandmother, Cora Adella (Armstrong) (Abbey) Thompson.

Four Armstrong relatives: back row, left to right: Clarissa H. "Clara" (Armstrong) Griswold, and Samuel Luther "Charley" Griswold. Front row: Samuel Bolton "Sam" Armstrong. Taken before 1917. Photo courtesy of Kay Koslan, who found this photo among the effects of her great-grandmother, Cora Adella (Armstrong) (Abbey) Thompson.

   

Above are two biographical articles about Florentine Armstrong Hotchkiss, the son of Willis Hotchkiss and Samantha Mallory. Click on above images to get the PDF files.

The U. S. Civil War Draft Registration Report dated June, 1863, shows Luther Griswold (age 34) born in New York, is a married Farmer living in Baraboo Twp, and is listed on those subject to do military duty.

The Baraboo News, Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, Thursday, March 10, 1910

SUDDEN DEATH AT ABLEMAN

Julius Doro Expires After a Sudden Illness - A Family is Left.

From Tuesday's Daily

While working at cutting wood this morning, Julius Doro at Ableman fell unconscious. He was taken home and died this afternoon, aged about 46. He leaves a wife, one son and three daughters. Funeral at the Lutheran church.

The Baraboo Weekly News, Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, Thursday, November 3, 1910

Auction Sale.

On Friday, Nov. 18, L. Griswold will hold a public sale at his farm west of town. The sale will begin at 1 o'clock and stock, hogs, farm machinery and other property will be sold. J. P. Sprecher will be the auctioneer. Mr. Griswold has resided here since before the war and has decided that he must give up some of his farm duties.

The Baraboo Republic, Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, Thursday, November 28, 1912

OLD SETTLER PASSES AWAY

(From Tuesday's Daily.)

Luther Griswold died this morning at 7:30 at his home about a mile west of this city. The cause of his death was old age and a paralytic stroke that he had several years ago. Mr. Griswold was born Nov. 2, 1827, in York state. In 1848 he moved to Portage and lived there until 1852 when he came to Baraboo and settled on a farm about one and a quarter miles west of the city. For twenty-six years he made brick on his farm which was the only brick that could be had very near the town. After closing out his brick business he gave all of his attention to farming. He leaves to mourn his death besides wife, one son, L. Griswold, and two daughters, Mrs. Dora Ellis, and Mrs. F. E. Hewitt, all of Baraboo, and a sister, Mrs. S. N. Burdick, of North Yakima, Wash. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon ay 2 o'clock.

Leigh Larson note: Stephen McIntyre Burdick was born in 1820, and died November 16, 1906, at the home of his son, Charles, in Baraboo, at age 86. Sarah Amanda (Roberts) Burdick was born April 21, 1840, in New York, and died March 15, 1925, at Monterey Apartments, Yakima, Yakima Co., WA, at age 84. Buried in Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima, Yakima Co., WA. Married November 18, 1864, in Columbia Co., WI. Her parents are James Monroe Roberts Jr. of Pendleton, Anderson Co., SC, and Sarah Mason of Laurens Co., SC. In 1860, Amanda Roberts was unmarried, and living in the Stephen M. Burdick household in Kingston, Sauk Co., WI. Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" (Caldwell) Burdick died December 29, 1863, in Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, at about age 85.

The Baraboo Weekly News, Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, Thursday, November 28, 1912

AGED RESIDENT DIES

(From Tuesday's Daily.)

This morning Luther Griswold passed away at his home west of this city at 7:30. Mr. Griswold was born in New York state in 1827 and has resided in this city for a number of years. He suffered a third stroke of paralysis this fall and never fully recovered. He leaves a wife besides one son, Luther, and two daughters, Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Arthur Hewitt, all of this city. Funeral Friday.

The Baraboo Weekly News, Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, Thursday, April 12, 1917

TO TAKE CLAIM AT NINETY-FOUR

Samuel Armstrong, according to a letter received at this office from Superior, has gone to the western country with his daughter, Mrs. C. Abbey. They expect to reside in the west. Mr. Armstrong thinks he is old enough to take a claim, being ninety-four. Mrs. Abbey will visit her daughter at Beulah, N. D., on their way to Wyoming.

Sarah Amanda (Roberts) Burdick Death Certificate.

The Baraboo Weekly News, Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, Thursday, May 17, 1917

Obituary

Mrs. Clarissa Griswold

Mrs. Clarissa Armstrong Griswold, wife of the late Luther Griswold, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Albert B. Ellis, on the South Side. Deceased was born in Canada 78 years ago. She leaves two daughters and one son: Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. Arthur Hewitt and L. Griswold, all of Baraboo, and two brothers, George Armstrong of Packwaukee and Samuel Armstrong of Superior. Funeral services Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the Ellis home and a 2 o'clock at the Seventh Day Adventist church.

The Baraboo Weekly News, Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, Thursday, May 31, 1917

Mrs. Clarissa Griswold

Mrs. Clarissa Armstrong Griswold was born in Lambsdown, Ontario, Canada, July 22, 1838. When still a small child she moved with her parents to Ostego, N. Y. After the death of her father she came to Portage with her uncle, Colonel Hotchkiss, to live. She was married to Luther Griswold at Portage in 1855. Then came to Baraboo, making her home on a farm west of the city. She was a member of the Baptist church for years. In late years she had attended the Seventh Day Adventist church. After a long illness of three months she passed away on May 13 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Albert Ellis. Her granddaughter, Erna Ellis, a trained nurse, was with her during her illness. She leaves two daughters and one son, Mrs. Albert Ellis, Mrs. Arthur Hewitt and L. Griswold; three brothers, Samuel Armstrong, Superior, George of Packwaukee, and James of Menetto, N. Y.; twenty two grandchildren and twenty-eight great grandchildren.

The Baraboo Weekly News, Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI, Thursday, June 14, 1917

KIRKWOOD

Samuel Armstrong, now in his nineties, visited Thursday at the Robert Koenig home. He came from Superior, to attend the funeral of a sister, Mrs. Griswold, and will soon return to that place.

The Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Dane Co., WI, Wednesday, September 23, 1936

Albert Ellis, 80, Baraboo, Dies

BARABOO - Albert B. Ellis, 80, died Monday at St. Mary's-Ringling hospital after a brief illness. Mr. Ellis had lived in the same house on Ellis ave. since he was an 11-year-old boy. His marriage to Adora Josephine Griswold took place Nov. 8, 1875, and she died in August, 1927. Surviving are two sons and four daughters, Mrs. Laverne A. Brown, Baraboo; Mrs. Paul Smith, Madison; Paul Ellis and Bert Ellis, both of Govert, S. D.; Mrs. Paul Hill and Mrs. Elmer Voss; Hanford, Cal., and 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Pioneer Times in Baraboo: Coroner George B. Gibbons Recalls Early Day Incidents

The News, June 4, 1909 

Twenty dollar gold pieces were more of a rarity sixty years ago than they are today.  Mr. George B. Gibbons while in reminiscent mood recalls some incidents of pioneer days that aptly illustrate the changes that have taken place since Baraboo was a frontier village.

Baraboo was mostly woods in those days.  It was about 1850 when James Maxwell was the proprietor of a little store located on the corner where the First National bank now stands; Timothy and Noble Kirk occupied a one story building on the present site of the Bank of Baraboo.  Here the two firms dealt out tea and coffee and other commodities to the little circle to whom Baraboo was home, and between whiles when trade was dull, swapped experiences with their competitors. 

Mr. Chapman occupied the corner now dignified by the building known as the Corner Drug store.  At this time the principal portion of Baraboo was under the hill but the center of population was gradually changing.  Upon the lot now occupied by Kasiska’s tailoring establishment, Mr. Gibbons, then quite a young man, opened a wagon and repair shop adjoining the blacksmith shop of his brother-in-law, Mr. Truax.  Money was scarce in those days and farmers, more often than otherwise, offered produce in exchange for wagons or repair work.  Many times it happened that Mr. Gibbons would receive oats in payment and frequently his storehouse held a hundred dollars worth of this grain which was valued at fifteen cents per bushel.

On the morning of his wedding day Mr. Gibbons and his brother-in-law received an order from a farmer in Dellona for a large breaking plow, Mr. Truax furnished the iron portions while Mr. Gibbons supplied the wood work.  This wood work consisted of a beam twelve feet long and about eight by twelve inches thick and was made from white oak hewn out.  The plow needed six or eight yoke of oxen to draw it and would cut roots as big as a man’s arm.  Mr. Gibbons remembers that they began the manufacture of the plow in the morning before sunrise and that it was completed and safely in the farmer’s wagon at sunset.  Mr. Truax received $36 for his part of the work while Mr. Gibbons was content with the sum of four dollars.  The latter was paid in four franc pieces which were common in Wisconsin at the time.  As these made only the sum of $3.80 a silver quarter was added for good measure.

The matter of ready cash had troubled the mind of Mr. Gibbons somewhat during the day but the payment of the farmer adjusted matters most satisfactorily and the young man was under no pecuniary embarrassment on the occasion of his wedding.  The marriage of Mr. Gibbons and his bride, Miss Mary Pointon, was celebrated in the old Penfield residence on the corner of Third avenue and Center streets.

At this time Mr. Warner kept a grocery which was located where C.E. Ryan’s jewelry store stands.  Wishing some change one morning, he decided to ask Mr. Truax to accommodate him.  When he entered the blacksmith’s shop he found a curious crowd of his friends there viewing the twenty dollar gold piece which had been part of the payment received for the giant plow.  One had to do something in those days to get a twenty dollar gold piece and in honor of the blacksmith’s achievement, the crowd declared that he should treat.  With many a jest they all repaired to the establishment of French Pete across the way and properly celebrated the occasion. 

Some years later a twenty dollar gold piece again figured as a source of difficulty.  The members of the sixth regiment had just received their pay in Madison and Mr. Gibbons, being desirous of changing a twenty that had fallen to him went to a bank for the purpose.  He was informed that it would be impossible to accommodate him, as the bank’s supply of small change was entirely exhausted.  A similar answer was returned to his request at other establishments and the puzzled, young man stood on a corner wondering what means he could use to possess himself of the desired change.  At this moment a seedy-looking individual, who was passing, observed him.  “What be you looking for, boy?” he inquired with ready curiosity.  Upon being informed by Mr. Gibbons of his dilemma the fellow proceeded to draw from his unpromising looking pockets the desired amount in small change and sent the young man on his way rejoicing. 

The stage, which made regular trips between Baraboo and Sauk, charged one dollar fare each way in those days.  This did not, however, include transportation over the bluffs; that portion of the journey the luckless traveler was expected to perform on foot, the fascinating view obtained, being considered sufficient compensation for the imposed exertion.

Mr. Gibbons claims the famous county of Kent, England, as his birthplace.  He came to America when a child, with his parents, the family living for a time in New York and later, about 1845 coming to Wisconsin.  He was about 15 years of age when the journey from the home in Log City, now known as East Eaton, New York, was begun.  He recalls the trip by teams to the Erie canal and the long wearisome days on the canal boat.  Between Rochester and Lockport his mother complained of this slow mode of travel.  His father to cheer her remarked that they would transfer to the lake boat shortly when they would make better time.  But it happened that they were detained on the canal boat some ten days in consequence of a break in the lock, making the journey still longer.  They crossed lake Erie to Cleveland in the Joseph Ward, a sailing vessel.  From Cleveland they went up the Detroit river to Detroit and into lake Huron.  Here in a severe storm a large amount of furniture and some twenty five sheep were lost.  

A steamboat towed the sailing vessel into a harbor at Beaver Island.  When they reached Milwaukee one of the first persons with whom they became acquainted was Solomon Juneau.  He was engaged in selling root beer, conveying it from house to house in a hand cart similar to the ones used at the present time by paper hangers and painters.  The principal street in Milwaukee at that time was Water street.

About 1846 Mr. Gibbons was in Chicago.  It seemed to him at that time to be a city of about 15,000 inhabitants.  The streets were very marshy and none of them were paved.  In a restaurant where Mr. Gibbons and a friend took breakfast they saw women dipping up water, pail full by pail full, from a basement and pouring it into tubs which were emptied into the lake.  There were no street cars then but one morning while Mr. Gibbons and his friend were strolling about they saw two women leisurely driving into the city in a wobbly wheeled cart drawn by oxen.  One could scarcely get through the streets with a horse and wagon on account of the mud.  The stores had no awnings and most of the merchandise seemed to be displayed outside.  After the large stores of Utica and New York City they looked small and insignificant.

Proceedings of Administration, Chautauqua County, vol. 3, 1851-1865, Family History Library microfilm 588092

Probate court proceedings for estates of deceased persons who did not leave wills.

p. 536, Victoria E. Ellis, resident of of Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin, died 25 Nov 1864 [sic] in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin

Petitioner: Electa E. Ellis of Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin, mother

Court 27 Sep 1864, value of estate $721.36

Heirs and next of kin: Mother Electa E. Ellis, whole-blood brother Albert B. Ellis, half-blood brother Elish [sic] W. Ellis of Baraboo, Samuel G. Ellis of Lima, NY, David E. Ellis of Belvidere, Illinois also half-blood brother, and half-blood sister Louisa Smith of Stocton [sic] NY

Administrator: Electa E. Ellis and Emory F. Warren

Appraisers: None named

George B. Gibbons, carpenter, contractor and builder; was born in Kent Co., England, Feb. 20, 1828; came to America in 1832 with his parents; they located in Madison Co., N.Y.; came to Racine, Wis., May 9, 1845, and to Baraboo in April, 1850; he enlisted on Dec. 19, 1861, in Co. A. 19th W.V.I., and was promoted to Commissary Sergeant; was discharged Aug. 29, 1862, on account of disability; then enlisted in 3d U.S. Cavalry, February, 1863, and was discharged Sept. 9, 1865 on account of disability. He has served as Under Sheriff for two years and Constable about twelve years. He was married, March 29, 1862, to Miss Mary Pointon; she was born in Staffordshire, England; they have six children - Lavina G., Francila, Philip H., Charles L., Ida and George P. In politics, Mr. Gibbons is a Democrat.