Vintage Photograph: Christian Gruissy

Vintage photographs are like little windows looking back in time.

A Window into the Past

 

Christian Gruissy

b 1811 Bern, Switzerland - 7 Jan 1907 Stark Co., OH

Son of Christian and Barbara Straum Gruissy

My 4x great grandfather

A few other Vintage Photographs:

• Alberta Joy Gardner Brown
• Elma Patrick
• Helen Coyle Gardner
• The Mark Family, 1930 OH
• Seth Benner Morrison
• 5 Morrison Sisters
• Phil Creasy's Grocery, OH
• Eldridge Morrison

Christian Gruissy Immigration 1835

Christian Gruissy

b c 1792 Switzerland

My 4th Great Grandfather

A Second Look

In 2011 I published a book, The Mark Family Story, that included my Gruissy roots. When I finished it I moved on to other branches of the family. Recently I have gone back to look at some of my Gruissy research notes & I did some searching on Ancestry. As we know, new records are always being added. I was happily surprised to find this record of Christian's arrival in the USA. Previously I had found him in Ohio in 1837. Now I know the he arrived two years before that. I wonder how they traveled from Switzerland to France; what led Christian to Ohio and how he traveled from New York to Ohio. Every discovery leads to more questions.

This record also shows two daughters I had not previously found, Elisabeth and Barbara.

Lesson to myself: Remember to go back and check for new information!

Ship: Rhode Island

Port of Departure, Le Harve, France

Arrival NY City 25 May 1835

Steerage Passengers:

Christian Gruissi          43        male     Laborer            Switzerland

Barbara                      44        female                          Switzerland

Christian                     23        male                             Switzerland

Elisabeth                     18        female                          Switzerland

Barbara                       13        female                          Switzerland

Rosina                         11        female                          Switzerland

John                             9        male                             Switzerland

Source: New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; 25 May 1835, the Rhode Island; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com: March 2018) Christian Grussi.

Related Posts:

• Christian Gruissy, Jr.
• Augustus Ceaser Gruissy

Christian Gruissy; Lived Close to a Century

Christian Gruissy

1811 Switzerland – 7 January 1907 OH

Son of Christian Gruissy & Barbara Straum

My 3x Great Grandfather

Christian Gruissy was the son of Christian Gruissy & Barbara Straum, both born in Switzerland.[1] John Gruissy & Rosanna Gruissy were his siblings. According to family stories and census records, Christian Gruissy, Jr. was born in Switzerland.  Viola (Mark) Nothstein told us Christian was a cheese maker. She said he settled in Gates Mills, which later became Beach City, Ohio.[2] 

In 1840 there were two Christian Gruissy families living in Sugar Creek, Stark County, Ohio.[3] The older Christian was employed in “manufacture or trade” and was between 40 and 50 years old. Five family members were shown, two men and three women. Next door, the younger Christian Gruissy was working on a farm. He was between 30 and 40 years old. A boy under the age of five was shown.  Two older children were also shown. Upon examining Stark County land records we discover a definite father and son relationship between the two Christian Gruissys. On 8 April 1837 Christian Greesey purchased sixty acres of land in Sugar Creek from Christian Haney for $700.[4] On 3 July 1840 he sold half of these same acres to his son, Christian Gruissy, Jr. for $1,000.[5] Therefore, we have the father and son living on adjacent farms.

At the time Christian Gruissy, Jr. settled in Stark County life was a little easier than it had been for the first settlers to the area. Farms had been cleared. There were both log hewed and framed houses. There were even some brick houses. Most farms had barns for their cattle, horses, sheep, hogs and poultry. Log schools and churches dotted the area.[6] 

Christian was married twice, to Mary Grorisclauss, with whom he had four children, & Mary Wise, with whom he had seven children.

On 2 May 1849 Christian Gruissy bought more land in Sugar Creek. He purchased 80 acres from Christian Bright for $1,000.[7]

In 1850 Christian Gruissy, Jr. had thirty acres of farm land and twenty nine acres of unimproved land. His livestock included: two horses, three milk cows, three other cattle, fourteen sheep and six swine. Besides caring for the livestock Christian also grew many things on his thirty acres of land. In 1850 he grew one hundred bushels of wheat, seventy bushels of Indian corn, fifty bushels of oats and twenty bushels of Irish potatoes. He grew four tons of hay. He made four hundred pounds of butter and thirty pounds of wool.[8]

Ten years later, in 1860 Christian Gruissy and family still in Sugar Creek.[9]  Now Christian and his son, Augustus, were coopers by occupation. A cooper is a craftsman who makes or repairs barrels or casks. These barrels held flour, gunpowder, tobacco, and other commodities. The barrels served as shipping containers. They were also used to store liquids such as wine or milk. There were eleven men involved in “cooperage” in Stark County that year.  There were 1,681 coopers in the state. 

Christian Gruissy, Jr. died in 1907. His obituary was printed on the front page of The Evening Independent newspaper in Massilon. The article was titled, Lived Close to a Century; Death of Christian Creassy [sic], Aged 95 Years; At Home Near Beach City. His longevity was headline news. The obituary read,

Christian Creassy, aged 95 years, a resident of Beach City for about seventy years, died at the home of his son–in–law, H. H. Kyle, Monday evening, from old age. He was one of the oldest residents and had lived in the county since coming to the United States from Switzerland at the age of 25 years. Mr. Creassy took up farm work as soon as he settled in the county and remained in that work until his age compelled him to give up active labor. For a number of years he lived on a small farm which he owned just outside Beach City. A few years ago he took up his residence with Mr. Kyle.

Mr. Creassy retained his faculties unimpaired to the last and only a few days before his death talked of the weather and farm work and recalled events in both his early and late life. During his long life Mr. Creassy never held public office, but remained steadfast to his early calling. When he came to the United States he did so at the solicitation of relatives who had settled in Stark County. Mr. Creassy was married twice, both wives preceding him in death. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon from the late home at 1 o’clock. Interment was made in the Beach City cemetery. The deceased is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Caroline Boernger, of Massillon; Mrs. John Knobloch, of Beach City, and Mrs. Fred Liese, of Concordia, Mo., and four sons, A. C. Creassy of Medina; Reuben Creassy of Ballinger, Tex.; Aaron and Philip Creassy of Beach City. F. L. Boerngen of Massillon, is a grandson.[10]

          No tombstone can be seen for Christian Gruissy in South Lawn Cemetery, Beach City. However, some of his children and grandchildren are there.

Related Posts:

• Augustus Ceaser Gruissy
• N Regina Gruissy Mark

---

[1] Diary and papers of Ivy Mark Brown with birth and death dates of family members.

[2] “Interviews with Viola (Mark) Nothstein”.

[3] 1840 US Census, Sugar Creek, Stark County, Ohio.  Christian Grusey families.

[4] Deed, land purchase from Christian Haney to Christian Greesey, 8 April 1837, Volume T, page 445, General Index to Deeds Microfilm Volume T, pages 445 & 446, Stark Co. District Library, 715 Market St., Canton.

[5] Deed, land purchase from Christian Greasy to Christian Greasy, Jr., 3 July 1840, Volume X, page 148, Index to Deeds Microfilm, Volume X, page 148, Stark Co. District Library, 715 Market St., Canton.

[6] Blue, Herbert T. O. History of Stark County Ohio: from the Age of Prehistoric Man to the Present Day. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1928.

[7] Deed, land purchase from Christian Bright to Christian Greszy, Sr, 2 May 1849, Volume 44, page 390, Index to Deeds Microfilm, Volume 44, page 493, Stark Co. District Library, 715 Market St., Canton.

[8] 1850 United States Agricultural Schedule, Sugar Creek  Township, Stark County, Ohio, Microfilm #T1159, Roll 9, Line 18; National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives Building, Washington, D. C. Farmer, Chris Creesy.

[9] 1860 US Census, Sugar Creek, Stark, Ohio; Page 5.  Christian “Greelys” family.

[10] "Lived Close to a Century." Evening Independent January 9, 1907 :

Augustus Ceaser Gruissy; Botanical Medicines for Sale

Augustus Ceaser Gruissy

16 May 1840 OH – 8 December 1915 OH

My Great Great Grandfather

Augustus C Gruissy, Esther B Wolf & grandson, Ray Nichols

AugustusCeaser Gruissy grew herbs, made herbal medicines, advertised in the newspaper and peddled his wares. One of his cures was called Queen Oil.

After many years’ experience and innumerable tests, I find this remedy will cure more cases of Sore Mouth, Sore Throat, Diphtheria, Quinsy, Pain in the Side, Breast, Back or Stomach, Cramp of Colic, than any other medicine in use. Will cure Neuralgia, Rheumatism, Croup, Asthma, Sprains, Toothache, Burns and Frosted Feet. It is mild and pleasant, and safe for either age or sex. DIRECTIONS, For sore throat, diphtheria and quinsy, take from 8 to 10 drops on sugar several times a day and keep the pains well bathed with the same; for cramp colic and other pains, take from 10 to 20 drops on sugar every half hour until relieved.  Sold by A. C. GRUISSY, West Lebanon, Ohio.  Price 50c & $1.00 a bottle.  Every bottle warranted.[1]  

Augustus was the son of Christian Gruissy & Mary Grorisclauss, both born in Switzerland. Christian married twice & was the father of 11 children. In 1840 & 1850 Christian and family were in Sugar Creek, Stark, OH.[2]^,[3]

Augustus was married three times. First he married Mary Ann Everett. They were married 21 Feb 1861 in OH.[4] They had four daughters. Family stories say this wife ran off with another man. His second wife was Esther Barbara Wolf, daughter of John Franklin Wolf & Elisabeth Burkholder. They were married 6 December 1868 in OH.[5]  They had five children, two of whom grew to adulthood. His third wife was Ellen, who had been married before. They were married c 1908 in OH. They had no children together.

The Gruissy name is very difficult to research because it is spelled differently in almost every record.

Augustus and family were in the Village of West Lebanon, Paint Twp., OH in the 1870 census[6]. Augustus was working as a carpenter. In 1880 the Gruissy family lived in Wadsworth Township.[7]  Augustus was a peddler. The census report indicated Esther was either “Maimed, Crippled, Bedridden, or otherwise Disabled.”  Five daughters were living at home. Esther died in 1906.

In 1910 Augustus was on Walnut Beach City Road in Sugar Creek, Stark County with his third wife, Ellen J. (Stoner) Gruissy. Augustus was 69 at that time.  He was in the “medicine” trade. He owned a farm. He and Ellen had been married about two years.[8] Augustus died in 1915. Family stories hint that he was killed by his third wife because he was going to change his will to omit her. He was found dead by the wood pile with a stack of wood on his head and back.

Augustus Ceaser Gruissy is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Medina with his second wife, Esther Barbara (Wolf) Gruissy.

 

Augustus C Gruissy & Esther B, his wife

Augustus & Family:

1 Augustus Ceaser Gruissy b: 16 May 1840 OH, d: 8 Dec 1915 Stark, OH

... + Mary Ann Everett m: 21 Feb 1861 Wayne, OH

......2 Margaret Jane Gruissy b: 26 Dec 1861 W Lebanon, OH, d: 8 Mar 1946  Wayne, OH

...... + Seth Benner Morrison b: 24 Mar 1861 Parker City, PA, m: 24 Oct 1880 in

Medina, Ohio, USA, d: 18 Apr 1952 Wooster, Wayne, OH

......2 Caroline Louise Gruissy b: 23 Oct 1863 Sugar Creek, Stark, OH, d: 15 Apr 1936 Seville, Medina, OH

...... + Peter Jonathan Moore b: 14 Mar 1857 OH, m: 30 Jul 1882 Medina, OH, d: Feb 1929 OH

......2 Mary Magdalene Gruissy b: 23 Nov 1865 Stark, OH, d: 10 Jul 1917 Findlay, Hancock, OH

...... + Albert F. Lutz b: Feb 1856 OH, m: 03 Jul 1889 OH, d: 1935

......2 Matilda Catherine Gruissy b: 26 Feb 1868

...... + Stanford

... + Esther Barbara Wolf b: 14 Jun 1836 Little York, York, PA, m: 6 Dec 1868 Stark, OH, d: 11 Aug 1906 Medina, OH

......2 Rephenia Cathern Gruissy b: 04 Apr 1870 OH, d: 17 Jan 1943 Muskegan, MI

...... + Willis L. Nichols b: Jan 1869 OH, m: Abt. 1891, d: 16 Aug 1940 MI

......2 Algedena Gruissy b: 17 Oct 1871 OH, d: 1871 OH

......2 John Andrew Gruissy b: 7 Sep 1872 OH, d: 1878 OH

......2 Sarah Barbara Gruissy b: 22 Jun 1874 OH, d: 22 Jun 1874 OH

......2 Nancy Regina Victoria Gruissy b: 31 Jan 1879 Sharon, Medina, OH, d: 24 May 1959 Wadsworth, Medina, OH

...... + Thomas Kenneth Mark b: 19 Jul 1879 Wooster, Wayne, OH, m: 28 Jan 1903 Medina, OH, d: 12 Feb 1975 Wadsworth, Medina OH

... + Ellen J. Gruissy b: Abt. 1848 OH, m: Abt. 1908 OH

---

[1] Newspaper clipping from unknown paper.  ‘Queen Oil made by A. C. Gruissy’ Given to Colleen B. Pasquale, February 1977, by Genevieve (Brown) Wieland Schaperjahn.

[2] 1840 US Census, Sugar Creek, Stark County, Ohio; Christian Gruissy.

[3] 1850 US Census, Sugar Creek, Stark County, Ohio; Christian Gruissy family.

[4] Wooster. Wayne County marriages; Augustus Gruessy and Mary Ann Everett; 21 Feb 1861  Volume 5 page 238.

[5] Marriage Record for Augustus Gruissy & Esther B Wolf;   Family History Center Microfilm #897630. Page 82. 1868 - 1872 Marriage Records in Stark County, Ohio.  Augustus Gruissy and Esther B. Wolf married on 6 December 1868.

[6] 1870 United States Census, Village of West Lebanon, Paint Township, Wayne County, Ohio, Line 27, Page 28. The August Gurnsey family.

[7] 1880 United States Census, Wadsworth Township, Medina County, Ohio, T767Roll48, Volume 44, E.D. 199, Sheet 41; Line 26; National Archives, Pittsfield Region, Mass. Augustus Gruissy family.

[8] 1910 United States Census, Sugar Creek, Stark County, Ohio, T1272 Roll135(Soundex) Roll 1232( Census, Volume 166, ED 240, National Archives, Pittsfield Region, Mass. Augustus Gruissy family.