The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 867 

HENRY W. GRISSOM.

Henry W. Grissom, who is engaged in the cultivation of about eighty acres of
land on the Ahtanum, was born in Jefferson county. Iowa. September 25, 1866, a
son of John M. and Elizabeth (Minner) Grissom. The father was a native of Ohio,
while the mother was born in Indiana, and they became pioneer settlers of Iowa,
where Mr. Grissom continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits until
1882. He then left the Mississippi valley for the far west, making his way to
Kittitas county, Washington, where he purchased a homestead right. He then began
farming in the northwest but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for
his death occurred in 1883. His widow afterward sold the farm and resided in
Ellensburg, Washington, until she was called to her final rest twenty years
later, passing away in June, 1903.

Henry W. Grissom pursued his education in the public schools of Iowa and from
the age of sixteen years worked for wages. While thus employed he carefully
saved his earnings until his industry and perseverance had brought to him
sufficient capital to enable him to start in business on his own account. It was
in 1891 that he rented land in Kittitas county, cultivating that place for four
years. In 1895 he removed to Yakima county, where he again rented land until
1911, at which time he purchased twenty acres on the Ahtanum. He rents about
sixty acres more, so that he is now cultivating eighty acres, devoted to the
raising of hay and other crops. He has large hop vineyards and he is also
devoting some time to stock raising, having good grades of live stock upon his
place.

On the 22d of November, 1893, Mr. Grissom was united in marriage to Miss Emma C.
Hansen, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa, a daughter of Ole and Bertha Hansen,
who were pioneer people of Kittitas county and were natives of Norway. To Mr.
and Mrs. Grissom were born six children: George D., who is now with the United
States troops in England, having enlisted in the navy; Chester, who died at the
age of seven years; Edith Pearl, at home; Bertha May; Walter, who has also
passed away; and Allen, who completes the family.

Mr. Grissom has been a member of the Woodmen of the World for the past twenty
years. He attends the Christian church and he gives his political support to the
republican party. He has served on the school board and is interested in the
cause of education and in all matters of local progress and improvements,
cooperating heartily in all movements for the general good. He is truly a
self-made man. He was only about sixteen years of age at the time of his
father's death and since then he has been dependent entirely upon his own
resources. He started out in the business world empty-handed and all that he
possesses and has enjoyed has been won through his earnest effort and laudable
ambition. He is today the owner of a good ranch property and his life is another
proof of the fact that industry is the basis of all honorable success.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.