Griggs Family

Griggs Family Photos and Info

*** Folks, send me info (dates and so on) about these pictures, and send me more pictures to post! ***

My father, Donn Calvert Griggs, was born in Chariton, Iowa, on December 29, 1912. He was actually named Donald Boynton Griggs at birth, but it was later changed (and recorded the new way in the county courthouse after a fire years later). He was the first child of Sidney W. and Helene B. (nee Helen Boynton) Griggs.
The family moved in 1913, when Donn was just two months old, to California. They built a house at 1740 Granada Ave., San Diego, at the same time as Sidney's parents, John R. and Mary A. (nee Mary Atkins) Griggs, built one next-door at 1744 Granada. Both even used the same builder, John Lowerison (who in 1930 was the contractor in charge of the restoration of the San Diego Mission.) John R. Griggs was a Civil War veteran, born in 1843, who was born and grew up in Worcester, NY (near Cooperstown). After the War, he moved west to Logansport, IN, where Sidney was born, then on to Lawrence, KS, where Sidney graduated from Kansas University around 1901, before coming out to San Diego.
Donn's brother Bob, Robert Atkins Griggs, was born in San Diego on September 23, 1914. Sometime later, the family moved up to Sacramento, and after that back down to Glendale. Third brother Alan Hunter Griggs (Hunter was the maiden name of Helene's mother, Fannie) was born in June, 1921. The fourth child, Helen Louise Griggs, was born in Glendale on May 8, 1924. This was shortly after Sidney died from heart disease. John R. Griggs died later in 1924 in San Diego. His wife, Mary, sold the house at 1744 Granada to move up to L.A. (Topanga), to be with Sidney's sister, Adessa, who had lived for awhile with John and Mary in San Diego. Mary died in 1936. Helene became a music teacher in Glendale high schools (Hoover?) and lived many years with Helen. Helene died in July, 1967.
Family of four on steps of 1744 Granada Ave., labelled "June, 1917" shows Sidney, Bob, Helene, Donn. (Taken by John?)
Cute shot of Bob, est. age two (1916-1917), with 1744 Granada in the background, taken in front of 1740 Granada.
Amusing variant of last shot
Donn as soldier during WWI in San Diego in front of home at 1740 Granada. Caption "Little Soldier, June, 1917". Age about 4 1/2.
Bob in front of San Diego home--clearly taken in same session as previous photo, June, 1917. Age 2 1/2.
Baby photo of Donn 1913-14.
Caption is "Donald at 1 yr., 4 mo.", so would be around May, 1914. Balboa Park?
Studio Portrait of Donn, ca. 1915.
Written on photo is "Bobbie at 8 mo. May 1915". Where is this?
Boy holding chicken. Years ago I wrote "Donn" on the back. If so, it is probably in San Diego around 1916.
Donn and Bob feeding pigeons. In San Diego at the Panama-California Exposition?
Donn and Bob? San Diego?
Donn and Bob on a porch, Shingle siding below the window, and a small cross, like a Red Cross symbol on the window.
Bob and Donn in sailor suits for a studio portrait (Hartsook Studios). Sacramento?
Bob and Donn, 1918-1919? Guessing this is in Sacramento, judging by background.
Sidney with sons, Donn and Bob. I was told this was at their home, 2708 21st St., Sacramento.
The three boys, with caption (by Sidney), "Jan. 1, 1923". Sacramento.
Caption is "Donald Griggs, Jan. 1, 1923".
Boys in swimsuits of the day. Donn and Bob in back row, right. Sacramento?
Which house? Sacramento?
A picture of Donn. Sacramento?
Group photo, which my parents said was taken in Balboa Park, San Diego. Judging by Alan's size, it should be from early 1922. The adults, I was told by my parents years ago (and wrote on the edge of the photo), are the McCarthy's, Sidney and Helene Griggs, and Dr. Frank Boynton. Mrs. McCarthy was Helene's sister, Marea. Doesn't Mr. McCarthy look Irish? Anyway, they settled in Lemon Grove, near San Diego, and their descendants may still be there. Dr. Boynton was the father of Helene and Marea. The children are Bob (age 8), two McCarthy children, Donn (age 10), and baby Alan. Was this taken by John R. Griggs? Perhaps by Fannie Hunter Boynton, Frank's husband. Maybe it is really John R. Griggs in the picture?
"Alan Hunter Griggs. 2 yrs. 3mo." is the caption. This makes it around Sept., 1923. On the back is written "S. W. Griggs, 438 West Vine Street, Glendale", which I added to the front. It looks like Sidney's writing.
Large group photo. It includes Bob, an older couple, then a younger couple holding Alan--in same outfit as previous photo-- Sidney, and Donn, circa 1923 (guessing by how old the kids look). It is likely in Glendale. Did Helene take the photo? I suspect the young couple is Adessa, Sidney's sister, with her husband. ("Aunt Dess" to the kids). The older man seems to match the San Diego group shot, so they could be Frank and Fannie Boynton. I'm leaning toward John and Mary Griggs.
The wedding reception invitation of Dr. Frank Boynton and Fannie Hunter from 1888 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Somehow also surviving to this date is a photo of
the home of Dr. Drake in Chariton, Iowa. Apparently the wedding reception was held here. The back of this large photo is stamped "Saul. Humboldt, Iowa."
This appears to be the
high school photo of Donn C. Griggs. He graduated from Hoover High School in Glendale, CA, in 1931. Also of
Donn, probably at home when he was in high school. He is presumably standing by the chimney, made of river stones, at his home. He has on a pinstripe suit (stripes not visible here). Marked on the back of this group photo is
Hoover High Penman Club , and this photo does indeed appear in the 1931 Scroll yearbook.
Marriage certificate of Donn and Elenore, 1938. Wedding held in Santa Ana, outside LA County, to escape press listing that would cause Elenore to lose her secretarial job. The dinner following was held at Knott's Berry Place (later changed to Farm and famous now for its rides). Here is their
menu .
Helen with a dog, around 1931.
Helen with the dog again and Alan?
Donn and Elenore, 1937, in San Gabriel Canyon (they married in 1938).
Howlett Studios, Glendale, portrait of Elenore Ruth Robinson (for high school? ca. 1934)
Elenore walking down the street in Los Angeles, ca. 1938. I believe Donn took this as she walked to her job?
A tiny photo of Elenore in front of an auto, ca. 1938? Probably in Glendale.
A group of girls, including Elenore and her sister, Merle, in Spokane, ca. 1924.
Small studio portrait, very old, of "Fannie C. Boynton", Helene's mother.
Profile portrait photo of Helene (?) wearing a hat.
Baby Sidney W. Griggs (written on the back) with some color? At least the cheeks are pink. Thick, small studio portrait.
Studio photo of Helene as a little girl , her hand on a dog, in Chariton, Iowa. On the back is written "Helen", her original name.
A closeup of Helene as a little girl in a sharp studio portrait from Chariton. Nicely written on the back is "Happy New Year, Yours Truly, Helen Boynton, For Grand Pa & Grand Ma", probably by Fannie Boynton. Large portrait photo of
Helene as a young woman, all dressed up, studio portrait photo.
Kansas University fraternity football team photo .
Reverse side says "Foot Ball Team of Alpha Nu Chapter of Beta Theta Pi--1898--Dec. 3rd, B.Th.Pi. 6, Phi Kappa Psi 0." It then lists the players, including Griggs as Center. I believe he is just to the left of the ball, with arms on both shoulders, as this one looks like his son, Donn.
Certificate of marriage of Sidney and Helene from 1911.
John Rue Griggs in uniform, circa 1861, from Sharyn.
Marriages from Bible of John Rue Griggs and Mary Atkins Griggs, now with Bruce Griggs.
Births from Bible of John Rue Griggs and Mary Atkins Griggs.
Deaths from Bible of John Rue Griggs and Mary Atkins Griggs.
Griggs cousins John Wesley (son of Bruce), Bruce, Jerry (second cousin of Bruce and Art), and Art (Arthur Leonard, brother of Bruce), in the shop at Griggs Racing at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA in March, 2007.
Griggs Racing , shop entrance.
Mustang prepared for racing by Griggs Racing.