Lewis Grigsby

Lewis Eugene Grigsby was born June 22, 1867 in Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky.[1] He was a real estate investor, philanthropist and world traveler. He died in Los Angeles, California on February 4, 1932 at the age of 64.[2][3][4]

L. E. Grigsby
Black granite pyramid-shaped mausoleum of Lewis Eugene Grigsby and his wife Emma Alvina Miller Grigsby in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, California
Born
Lewis Eugene Grigsby

(1867-06-22)June 22, 1867
Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky, USA
DiedFebruary 4, 1932(1932-02-04) (aged 64)
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
OccupationReal Estate Investor
Years active1895-1920

Early life

Grigsby's parents were James Lewis Grigsby (1835-1892) and Louisa C Cravens (1836)[5].

Professional life

L. E. Grigsby as he was known professionally was a real estate investor in California[6]. He started a project to build the ten story Grigsby Grand Hotel on Ocean Boulevard and Locust Avenue in Long Beach, California [7]. He was one of the first few thousand people in California to get an automobile license in 1907[8]. He was a trustee for the city of Pomona in the California League of Municipalities in 1902[9]. He toured beach resorts as possible investment sites[10]. Grigsby was a councilman for the fifth ward of Pomona in 1901[11].

Personal life

Grigsby married Emma Alvina Miller (1868-1930)[12][13] in 1895[14]. They had one child who died very young before 1910[15]. They lived at 1473 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, California[16] in an 1895 Victorian home.

Emma's parents were Ohio lithographer Ewald Miller and Louise [17][18]. Emma was previously married to Bernard Hermann Gueterbock (1847-1893)[19]on September 27, 1877 in Hamilton, Ohio [20]. Gueterbock was the editor of the New York Staats Zeitung newspaper[21]. Gueterbock committed suicide May 1893[22]. Initially Emma was arrested and jailed along with her servant and a custom house broker without bond[23]. She was released when the coroner ruled it a suicide[24].

Together L. E. Grigsby and his wife Emma traveled the world visiting Egypt, The Holy Land, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Washington D.C., White Suplhur Springs, Virginia, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ohio, West Baden, Indiana[25], San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Alaska[26][27]. Grigsby was also a philanthropist donating the then $13,500 Chimes to the Wilshire Boulevard Christian Church[28][29] on Wilshire and Normandie. A bronze tablet was placed with the inscription "Those chimes dedicated to the glory of God" with the Grigsby name inscribed.

Grigsby was also a Saddle-Horse breeder while in Pomona. He bred "Rex Grigsby" a black stallion foaled May 30, 1899[30]. He was also a member of the Claremont Pomological Club-Citrus Growers Club in 1921[31] which frequently met at their home [32]. Grigsby started The Kingsley Tract Water Col, Limited corporation in Pomona[33].

L. E. Grigsby and his wife are buried in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, California in a black granite pyramid mausoleum[34][35].

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References
  1. 1870, 1880 United States Federal Census Kentucky
  2. California, Death Index, 1905-1939
  3. LA Times, February 6, 1932, Lewis Eugene Grigsby obituary
  4. Lewis Eugene Grigsby, Burial at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery
  5. 1870, 1880 United States Federal Census, Kentucky
  6. LA Times, January 1, 1914, Property for Sale to Build Skyscraper
  7. LA Times, April 22, 1923, Announce Building Date
  8. California Register of Motor Vehicles 1907
  9. League of California Municipalities 1902
  10. Los Angeles Herald, June 19, 1904, Business Men Visit Noted Beach Resorts
  11. LA Times, April 11, 1901
  12. California Death Index 1905-1939
  13. LA Times, October 10, 1930, Emma Alvina Grigsby, obituary
  14. 1910 United States Federal Census, Los Angeles, California
  15. 1920 United States Federal Census, Los Angeles, California
  16. Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1913
  17. The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 15, 1910, Wills Filed For Probate
  18. The Evening World, New York, New York, June 3, 1893, Threatened Suicide Before, Flourished a Revolver
  19. New York City, Deaths, 1892-1902
  20. Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993
  21. Akron Daily Democrat, Akron, Ohio, May 31, 2893
  22. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, June 2, 1893
  23. The Courier-News, Bridgewater, New Jersey, May 29, 1893, An Editor's Mysterious Death
  24. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, June 2, 1893
  25. LA Times, July 7, 1912, Trip Ended
  26. LA Times, January 28, 1909, Mr and Mrs. Grigsby are Leaving Tonight for a Trip Around the World
  27. LA Times, July 9, 1913 Remaining Months
  28. LA Times, May 21, 1927, Formal Dedication of Chimes
  29. LA Times, March 28, 1927, Twenty-Tone Chimes Given to New Church
  30. The Register of the American Saddle-Horse Breeders Association, Volume 2, 1909
  31. The California Citrograph, History of Claremont Pomological Club-Citrus Growers, January 1922
  32. California Cultivator and Livestock and Dairy Journal, Volumes 14-15, 1900
  33. The Engineering Record, Building Record and the Sanitary Engineer, Volume 42, 1900
  34. LA Times, October 10, 1930, Emma Alvina Grigsby obituary
  35. LA Times, February 6, 1932, Lewis Eugene Grigsby obituary
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