l850, Feb. 7- William Grubb was born in Bristol, Sullivan Co., Tennessee.

1877, Oct. 3 - W. N. Grubb(age 27) marries Sarah F. Doyle (age 18) he is listed as from Sullivan Co., Tenn. and she is listed as from Smyth Co., Virginia. His parents are listed as Andrew and Nancy, her parents are listed as James and Caroline, W. N. Grubb's occupation is listed as "Carpenter." [marriage register of Smyth Co., Virginia, 1877]

According to a letter from Cora, William Nichols Grubb and Sarah may have been married in Glade Springs, VA and may have stayed with someone's sister Jane.

According to the census records, Sarah Freelove Doyle was born in the United States along with her mother.  However, we are fairly certain that she must come from some kind of Irish lineage.  James Doyle is for certain a Potato Famine immigrant.   Sarah seems to have picked up an Irish craft of "Irish crochet lace" either by association with the other Irish families or from her grandmother, Margaret "Mary Ann" Bishop.    In the photo above all the children seem to be wearing these elaborate crochet collars.  We thought at first they came from the Schock (Polish) family but their costumes don't match.  Cheryl inherited a box of these and tracking them down has been an interesting puzzle.  The "Irish crochet lace" was a skill developed by a convent in Ireland and spread to the population as a workshop skill that could be done piece meal and sold to wealthy clients to support their starving families.  The men had run out of work and options so the large families had to work together to support themselves.  Young girls were trained to do this very early and in the photo above all the teenage girls are probably wearing pieces that they made themselves.  Here are a few examples, most of which were designed for children not adults.  

	What we believe we can call "Irish crochet lace". all pieces in the collection of Cheryl Christenson, the model

1880 US Census, Saint Clair, Smyth County, Virginia

name	marital status	gender	race	age	birthplace	occupation	Father's birthplace	Mother's birthplace
William Grubb	married	Male	W	30	TN	Laborer	TN	TN
Sarah Grubb	married	Female	W	18	VA	Housekeeping	VA	VA
James Grubb	Single	Male	W	1	TN	Laborer	TN	VA
Mary Ann Grubb	Single	Female	W	5m	TN	Laborer	TN	VA

1890-1897 - William N. Grubb lived on the Beattie Farm along with the Doyle family. This farm was called Kilmackronan, was sold to Robert Beattie in 1837. Robert had moved from Seven Mile Ford in 1833. He enlarged the house and made it a combination house and stage coach tavern. The tavern apparently had quite a reputation in its day which still follows it. Robert Beattie's son became mayor of Chilhowie. [Smyth County History & Traditions, 1932] According to family tradition, William N. Grubb and James Doyle both work on the Beattie estate. William Nicols was a carpenter and James Doyle was a gardner.

1893 March 10 - Birth of George Grubb listed in Smyth Co., Virginia  to William and Sarah Grubb.  [Virginia birth, Smyth Co. VA, 1885-96.  page 315.]

1900- US Census, Powasheik Co., Grinnell, Iowa. enum. dist. 6, sheet 9.

1900- US Census,  Marion Dist., Smyth Co., Virginia, enum dist. 80, sheet 11B (This census was taken in June with Sarah dying in Sept., she had just had her last child in February of this same year. She had to have been a remarkable woman giving birth to 13 children with 10 surviving.

1910 - US Census, Grinnell, Ward 3, Poweshiek Co., Iowa.   enum. dist. 115, (by 1910 much of the family has moved to Grinnell, Iowa including William Nichols Grubb who is a widow in this census. It seems that at least one of the sons had moved to Grennel to work in the buggy works and William moves there as well.  The photo below has William in the top row(center of left two windows). The buggy works eventually starts manufacturing autos which continues through to 1920. )

"William Grubb born on Feb. 7 1850 in Tennessee departed this life with the dread disease pneumonia, May 30, 1917, being at the time of his death 67 years, 3 months and 27 days of age.

In early manhood he was united in marriage with Sarah Doyle at her Virginia home, where they lived until the family came to Grinnell about 16 years ago.

To this union, fourteen children were born, nine of whom, together with a host of friends, remain to mourn his loss.

His wife and five children have preceded him to eternity. For sixteen years, Grinnell has been home until his departure for Detroit about a month ago, where he died.

Mr. Grubb was a constant student of the bible, a member of the M.E. church, a kind and considerate father, good neighbor, and exemplary citizen.

The living children are: James, Henry, Robert and Mrs. Butcher(Burchard) (Nancy) of Detroit; George of Rock Island; Mrs.(Virginia) Sonnenberg of Chicago; Henry, Mrs Callie Mitchell and Mrs. Earl Haynes of Grinnell. "[Grinnell newspaper obituary]

Family of William Nichols Grubb  in Iowa about Summer 1920
(see the larger version with identity of individuals)

1920 - US Census, Grinnel, Ward 3, Poweshiek Co., Iowa.   enum. dist. 126,  sheet 6B,

1920 - US Census,  Detroit city, Wayne Co., Michigan. enum. dist. 175, sheet 15A

1920 - US Census, Des Moines City, Polk Co, Iowa. enum . dist. 126. sheet 5b

1920 - US Census, Seattle, King Co., WA. west Manning St. enum. dist. 331, sheet 6a
Grubb, Hazel G. (is placed out of order with an arrrowto indicate the wife of George)  This also indicates that the birth record is scrambled  for Hazel and George.

1925- Iowa State Census, Valley Junction, Polk Co., Iowa.  Earls mother is listed as Nettie Turner b. 1870.  father is Herbert Haynes. [Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925, Ancestry.com]

1930- US Census, Fort Collins, Larimer Co., Colorado.  enum dist. 35-48, sheet 6A

        US Census, Independence, Oakland, Michigan.  enum dist. 63-32, sheet 12B
            Grubb, William F. Grubb    head  owned       m w 31  mar 21    Iowa          Virginia        North Carolina     manager      paint store
                      ,   Mercedes M.         wife                    f  w  30  mar  26   Michigan   Michigan      Michigan
                        , Harold J.                son                     m  w  9  s             Michigan    Virginia       Michigan
                        , Ralph                    son                       m  w  7 s              Michigan    Virginia       Michigan
                        , Mary C.                 dau                      f   w  2   11/12  s  Michigan    Virginia       Michigan
            Mellon, Catherine     motherinlaw                 f  w  71 mar  21    Michigan    Germany     Germany
        (William F. Grubb, of this record, marries Hellen Beck 17 Mar 1920 in Michigan and has two sons listed here.  He eventually remarries to Mercedes Mellon on 24 July 1926 Detroit, has daughter Mary, and moves his family to Seattle to be near George Grubb by 1940.)[marriage records of Wayne Co., Michigan]

sources:

Grinnell newspaper obituary
Marriage Registration Book, Smyth Co., VA
Smyth County History & Traditions, 1932
US Census, Tenn. 1920

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All information and photos included within these pages are here for the express purpose of personal genealogical research and may not be included or used for any commercial purpose or included in any commercial site without the express permission of Cheryl and Elroy Christenson. Copyright Elroy Christenson 1998-2016.

web pages created by Elroy Christenson- elroy@next1000.com - last updated 2/15/18