The Grimes Group - Past & Present

Croy, Lewis Wellington (male)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	27 Apr 1860	OH, Morgan Co.
Death	11 Oct 1899	MO, Gentry Co., Stanberry
Lewis was killed on a railroad bridge under construction. He was walking on the ties and one was not fastened down. He fell off the bridge. he only lived about 2 hours after the accident. Neva Croy had his obituary and a picture of the bridge. According to information received from Neva Croy, Lewis went as a child to Andrew County, MO with his parents in 1865 for a year, returned to Nodaway County near Graham for two years, back to Andrew County for two years, then back to Nodaway County, living west of Maryville in the area of Wilcox until 1892, when he moved to Stanberry. However, Homer Croy wrote in his autobiography "Country Cured": "Grandfather Croy [William Croy] came and built a house half a mile away. Then Uncle Jim [James R. Croy] came and Uncle Al [Albert Finch Croy] and Uncle Dexter [Dexter G. Croy] and Uncle Purl [Percy Brown Croy]. It wasn't long before the Croys were as thick as Johnson grass." (Country Cured, p.5) This description seems to imply that Amos Joy Croy was the first in the Maryville area, although the Amos Croy farm wasn't settled until 1870, and Amos and his wife Susanna Sewell din't marry until the summer of 1870, although they met during the first winter in Missouri, when multiple wagon trains from Ohio camped together (Country Cured, p. 3). In reality, the timeline is confused at best, since no records have yet been found showing when any of the families went west to Missouri. About the only thing that can be reasonably assumed is that all the westward movement happened no earlier than 1865, since Dexter Croy and Amos J. Croy were both in the Civil War. Note that Lewis was not shown with his parents in the 1880 census index. However, an "L.W." (no last name listed in the index), age 20, is shown as being a farmhand on what would be his uncle Percy's farm and listed with that family. Homer Croy, the author, was a first cousin of Lewis (his father and Homer's father were brothers). For background on Homer, see story on Homer Croy, 6/26/1977 St. Joseph's, MO News-Press, p. 1B-2B. Homer Croy 1883-1965. Copy of story was in possession of Neva Croy.

Malone, Minnie Melvina (female)
Father	7 Nov 1825	Malone, George R.
Mother	22 Jul 1831	Caroline
Birth	27 Feb 1870	MO, Nodaway Co., Green Twp.
Death	8 Oct 1934	OH, Logan Co., Bellefontaine
Minnie died of stomach and liver cancer. Minnie was raised by _______ and ______ Lance after her mother Caroline died. Her father (George) wouldn't let Carrie (her little sister) go, but he did let Minnie go with the Lances. he said he "couldn't bear to part with Carrie", according to an interview with Neva Croy. Minnie Malone birth list was in possession of Neva Croy. According to Carolyn Croy, Minnie lived with her daughter Neva in Bellefontaine during the final years (or perhaps the final illness) of her life. Reportedly she was an excellent quilter. One of her quilts is in possession of Carolyn Croy, another (unfinished) is in the possession of Harold P. Grimes.

Family of Croy, Lewis Wellington & Malone, Minnie Melvina
Marriage	About 26 Jan 1890	Unknown
Girl	About 30 Mar 1891	Croy, Augusta Velma
Boy	16 Oct 1892	Croy, Cleo
Girl	22 Sep 1899	Croy, Neva M.
After Lewis died, Minnie moved to Ohio with Neva and Cleo to stay with her foster parents (Lance). Augusta stayed in MO (reportedly Neva Croy stated that Augusta refused to return with her mother) and lived with her aunt Ella Croy.

Croy, Augusta Velma (female)
Father	27 Apr 1860	Croy, Lewis Wellington
Mother	27 Feb 1870	Malone, Minnie Melvina
Birth	About 30 Mar 1891	MO, Gentry Co., Stanberry
Death	Est 1984	Unknown
Picture	Unknown	Croy, Augusta and Neva
Stayed in MO after father was killed. Raised by her aunt Ella Croy. She raised cousin Velma Croy for a while after her uncle Ed Croy's first wife passed away. Do not really know death date. Commonly known as "Gussie".

Living (male)

Croy, Cleo (male)
Father	27 Apr 1860	Croy, Lewis Wellington
Mother	27 Feb 1870	Malone, Minnie Melvina
Birth	16 Oct 1892	MO, Gentry Co., Stanberry
Death	28 Aug 1955	OH, Montgomery Co., Dayton
Picture	Unknown	Croy, Cleo
Cleo died in the Old Soldiers home in Dayton. He was a cook with the 38th Ohio Balloon Company in WW I. He was nicknamed "Chick" or "Chicken" because he liked to eat it a lot. He died of kidney failure after a stroke.

Friedly, Emma M. (female)
Father	1844	Friedly, Christian
Mother	1845	Scheidaker (?), Marguerite
Birth	1884	Unknown
Death	24 Jun 1929	OH, Franklin Co., Columbus
Died in childbirth of Carolyn June. Emma is buried with her first husband in Stukey Cemetery. Cleo was Emma's second husband. Her first husband was J.D. Barthlow, 1880-1919.

Family of Croy, Cleo & Friedly, Emma M.
Girl	23 Jun 1929	Croy, Carolyn June

Croy, Carolyn June (female)
Father	16 Oct 1892	Croy, Cleo
Mother	1884	Friedly, Emma M.
Birth	23 Jun 1929	OH, Franklin Co., Columbus (Old St. Ann's Hospital)
Picture	Unknown	Croy, Carolyn June and Patten, James Wellington
Picture	1939	Croy, Carolyn June

McGrail, Robert Skeen (male)
Birth	10 Aug 1925	OH, Franklin Co., Columbus

Family of Croy, Carolyn June & McGrail, Robert Skeen
Marriage	1 Apr 1950	OH, Franklin Co., Columbus
Boy		Living
Boy	30 Apr 1952	McGrail, Glenn Bernard
Boy		Living
Boy	27 Feb 1957	McGrail, Garry Hugh
Boy		Living
Boy		Living

Croy, Dexter G. (male)
Father	11 Sep 1813	Croy, William
Mother	2 Jan 1810	Joy, Statio Ann
Birth	23 Feb 1838	OH, Morgan Co.
Death	14 Mar 1916	MO, Gentry Co., Stanberry
Ohio National Guard muster roll describes him at 26 years old as being 5' 7", blue eyes, light hair, light complexion. Shown as a Sergeant in Company K of Ohio National Guard, for about 100 days during the summer of 1864. Dexter is mentioned as living in Stanberry by his nephew, Homer Croy in Corn Country. Homer said he had visited "Uncle Dexter" in Stanberry "many times". (Corn Country, p. 165). Dexter listed as age 40 and a farmer in 1880 census, age 22 and a farmer in 1860 census.

Tibbles, Melissa Margaret (female)
Father	Unknown	Tibbles, Jacob
Mother	13 Nov 1818	Bryson, Margaret
Birth	20 Aug 1838	OH, Athens Co.
Death	24 Dec 1937	MO, Gentry Co., Stanberry
Melissa had an autograph book that was given to her on her 18th birthday. It has the signatures of several family and friends. The original is presently in the possession of Marilyn Jean Carpenter. Mike Hill (Marilyn's son) provided copies of the pages to Phil Grimes, which are now in his files. Melissa died at the home of Ella and Augusta Croy. Listed as age 41 and a housewife in 1880 census.

Family of Croy, Dexter G. & Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Marriage	31 May 1859	OH, Morgan Co.
Boy	27 Apr 1860	Croy, Lewis Wellington
Boy	15 Aug 1862	Croy, Amos Barile
Girl	26 Jul 1864	Croy, Leola Arille
Girl	About 1867	Croy, Lucy O.
Boy	About 1869	Croy, Wallace Otis
Boy	20 Jan 1875	Croy, Edwin Winfred
Girl	About 1877	Croy, Ella E.
Boy		Living
According to Neva Croy, The children had a quartet where one played the organ and the other four sang. Ella in particular is reported to have had a beautiful clear voice. Mike Hill notes he has evidence that the family was living in Savannah, MO in Andrew County by January of 1866. According to Gladys Estella Croy, the Croys and the Tibbles travelled together by wagon train from Ohio to Missouri, and they homesteaded on the prairie in Missouri.

Croy, Leola Arille (female)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	26 Jul 1864	OH
Went west to live. Died out there. Known as "Ollie". However, Victoria Howard (LMarcT@aol.com) notes that Leola died in childhood. From Melissa Tibbles' autograph book, there is a cursive signature of a Leola Croy (middle initial somewhat obscured), marked as Savannah. This would be Savannah, MO, where the family appeared to have migrated to in early 1866. Therefore this would imply, if Leola did the signing, that she at least lived long enough to learn to write in cursive. Not listed with her family in the 1880 census.

Croy, Ella E. (female)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	About 1877	Unknown
Death	1952	MO, Gentry Co., Stanberry
Shown as age 3 and living with her family in 1880 census. Raised niece Augusta Velma Croy after brother Lewis was killed in railroad bridge construction accident. Lived in MO. Reportedly died of cancer in her 70's per Victoria Howard notes. Melissa Tibbles died in 1937 in Ella's house, and it was noted that Gussie was living there also at that time. Burial listing found on Gentry County website for USGenWeb. Buried next to brother Lewis Croy.

Croy, Edwin Winfred (male)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	20 Jan 1875	MO, Wilcox
Death	12 Nov 1950	MO, Nodaway Co., Maryville

Kyger, Minnie (female)
Father	30 May 1849	Kyger, Maximillian C.
Mother	29 Nov 1859	Brooks, Mary Jane
Birth	27 Apr 1879	MO, Guilford
Death	30 Aug 1916	MO, Carroll Co., Carrolton

Family of Croy, Edwin Winfred & Kyger, Minnie
Marriage	1898	MO, Gentry Co., Stanberry
Boy	8 Mar 1900	Croy, Chester Wallace
Girl	13 Sep 1903	Croy, Fern
Girl	10 Apr 1907	Croy, Gladys Estella
Boy	20 Jan 1909	Croy, John Harvey
Boy	7 Mar 1911	Croy, Charles Clifford
Girl	5 Jan 1914	Croy, Mildred Velma

Croy, Amos Barile (male)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	15 Aug 1862	OH
Death	1927	Unknown

Mary E. (female)
Birth	1870	per headstone inscription at High Ridge Cemetery
Death	1948	Unknown

Family of Croy, Amos Barile & Mary E.
Girl	About 1893	Croy, Hazel

Croy, Hazel (female)
Father	15 Aug 1862	Croy, Amos Barile
Mother	1870	Mary E.
Birth	About 1893	Unknown

Living (male)

Croy, Mildred Velma (female)
Father	20 Jan 1875	Croy, Edwin Winfred
Mother	27 Apr 1879	Kyger, Minnie
Birth	5 Jan 1914	Unknown
Picture	Unknown	Croy, Velma

Killen, William Marcus (male)
Birth	11 Apr 1915	Unknown

Family of Croy, Mildred Velma & Killen, William Marcus
Marriage	12 Apr 1936	Unknown
Girl		Living
Girl		Living
Boy		Living

Croy, Amos Barile (male)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	15 Aug 1862	OH
Death	1927	Unknown

Living (female)

Family of Croy, Amos Barile
Boy		Living

Croy, Homer (male)
Father	21 Aug 1840	Croy, Amos Joy
Mother	5 Aug 1845	Sewell, Susannah
Birth	11 Mar 1883	MO, Nodaway Co., Maryville
Death	24 May 1965	NY, New York City
Preliminary birth & death dates gotten from Library of Congress listings for books written by Homer Croy. Possibly in "Who's Who in America". Homer made a reference to it on p. 104 of Corn Country. Homer worked on the family farm until after he was 21 (Corn Country, p. 181). Homer was named for the township in Ohio where his father was from. He had no middle name. (Country Cured, p. 7)

Savell, Mae Belle (female)
Father	3 Mar 1859	Savell, John Henry
Mother	18 Jun 1859	Strickland, Rhoda Ann
Birth	26 Jul 1883	FL, Santa Rosa Co., Milton
Spouse name and preliminary birth date gotten from Library of Congress listings for books written by Mae Savell Croy (Mrs. Homer Croy).

Family of Croy, Homer & Savell, Mae Belle
Marriage	7 Feb 1915	NY, New York City
Boy	1 Feb 1916	Croy, Creighton
Boy	16 Aug 1921	Croy, Homer
Girl	5 Dec 1922	Croy, Carol

Croy, Lucy O. (female)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	About 1867	MO

Croy, Wallace Otis (male)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	About 1869	MO
Death	After 12 Dec 1886	per his mother's autograph book
Reportedly died as a young man, per Victoria Howard notes. However, there is a signature of him in Melissa Tibbles' autograph book dated 12 Dec 1886, so that would imply that he died after that date. Listed living with his family in 1880 census, shown as age 10. An Otis W. Croy is listed in Cain Cemetery dying in 1892, being born in1869. Wallace O. shown with family in 1870 census, but researcher neglected to copy age from document, but it was less than 3 years old.

Croy, Chester Wallace (male)
Father	20 Jan 1875	Croy, Edwin Winfred
Mother	27 Apr 1879	Kyger, Minnie
Birth	8 Mar 1900	Unknown
Death	12 Jan 1972	MO, Nodaway Co., Stanberry

Living (female)

Family of Croy, Chester Wallace
Boy		Living
Girl	14 Jun 1934	Croy, Miriam
Boy	24 Apr 1938	Croy, William Edwin

Croy, Miriam (female)
Father	8 Mar 1900	Croy, Chester Wallace
Mother	Unknown	Living
Birth	14 Jun 1934	MO, Nodaway Co., Maryville
Death	28 Nov 1995	CO, El Paso Co., Denver

Living (male)

Family of Croy, Miriam
Girl		Living
Boy		Living
Boy		Living
Girl		Living

Croy, William Edwin (male)
Father	8 Mar 1900	Croy, Chester Wallace
Mother	Unknown	Living
Birth	24 Apr 1938	Unknown
Death	23 Oct 1960	Unknown

Croy, Edwin Winfred (male)
Father	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Mother	20 Aug 1838	Tibbles, Melissa Margaret
Birth	20 Jan 1875	MO, Wilcox
Death	12 Nov 1950	MO, Nodaway Co., Maryville

Bruce, Polly Corintha (female)
Birth	22 Mar 1879	Unknown
Death	Oct 1977	MO, Livingston Co., Chillicothe

Family of Croy, Edwin Winfred & Bruce, Polly Corintha
Marriage	Aug 1920	Unknown

Croy, Fern (female)
Father	20 Jan 1875	Croy, Edwin Winfred
Mother	27 Apr 1879	Kyger, Minnie
Birth	13 Sep 1903	MO, Gentry Co., Stanberry
Death	Apr 1980	AR, Desha Co., Arkansas City

Neal, Gene Edwin (male)
Birth	22 Apr 1901	MO, Cainsville
Death	Oct 1972	AR, Desha Co., Arkansas City

Family of Croy, Fern & Neal, Gene Edwin
Marriage	22 May 1923	KS, Olathe
Boy	17 Apr 1924	Neal, William Howard

Croy, Gladys Estella (female)
Father	20 Jan 1875	Croy, Edwin Winfred
Mother	27 Apr 1879	Kyger, Minnie
Birth	10 Apr 1907	MO, Dawn
Death	23 Nov 1997	MO, Livingston Co., Chillicothe

Carpenter, Ray Vernon (male)
Birth	23 Jul 1907	IA, Percival
Death	14 Jun 1995	MO, Livingston Co., Chillicothe

Family of Croy, Gladys Estella & Carpenter, Ray Vernon
Marriage	25 May 1929	MO, Nodaway Co., Pickering
Girl	25 Nov 1929	Carpenter, Virginia Lee
Girl		Living

Croy, John Harvey (male)
Father	20 Jan 1875	Croy, Edwin Winfred
Mother	27 Apr 1879	Kyger, Minnie
Birth	20 Jan 1909	MO, Platte Co., Edgerton
Death	1 Apr 1990	MN, Blue Earth Co., Mankato

Living (female)

Family of Croy, John Harvey
Marriage	6 Jan 1934	MO, Caldwell Co., Kingston
Boy		Living
Girl		Living

Croy, Charles Clifford (male)
Father	20 Jan 1875	Croy, Edwin Winfred
Mother	27 Apr 1879	Kyger, Minnie
Birth	7 Mar 1911	Unknown

Huffman, Mary Alice (female)
Birth	16 Mar 1913	Unknown
Death	14 Apr 1993	MO, Knox City

Croy, William (male)
Father	About 1790	Croy, John
Mother	About 1792	Prudence
Birth	11 Sep 1813	OH, Coshocton Co.
Death	28 Jun 1905	Unknown
Picture	Unknown	Croy, William
William is listed in the 1880 census as age 66, living with his son Percy's family. NOTE: There is no mention of Stacy in the census for that family. William is also listed as widowed in the census. In the 1850 census, William is listed as head of household, but John Joy (father-in-law?) has the farm value listed. This might imply that William & family moved to Statio's parents' farm.

Joy, Statio Ann (female)
Father	Unknown	Joy, John
Birth	2 Jan 1810	OH, Guernsey Co.
Death	About 12 Oct 1887	Unknown
First name may be Stacia. Commonly called Stacy. Note from book in possession of Victoria Howard says Statio died "when she was 77". However, she is not listed in the 1880 census for Nodaway Co., MO with her husband William. He is shown living with his son, Percy, and she is not mentioned, and he is listed as widowed. Therefore it is possible to probable she died before the 1880 census. The 1850 census shows Samuel Croy, then a William Joy (probably Statia's brother), then William and Statia. This implies that all the farms were next to each other.

Family of Croy, William & Joy, Statio Ann
Marriage	17 Dec 1835	OH, Morgan Co. (Athens Co.?)
Girl	7 Dec 1836	Croy, Marinda
Boy	23 Feb 1838	Croy, Dexter G.
Boy	21 Aug 1840	Croy, Amos Joy
Girl	2 Feb 1843	Croy, Mary E.
Boy	11 Mar 1845	Croy, James R.
Girl	6 Jun 1847	Croy, Cynthia A.
Boy	12 Feb 1851	Croy, Oscar M.
Boy	12 Feb 1851	Croy, Oliver G.
Boy	12 Sep 1852	Croy, Percy Brown
Boy	26 Sep 1853	Croy, Albert Finch
Homer mentions another possible person, but is not specific about which side of the family (Croy or Sewell) she is from: "My Aunt Viola had just been married and had moved on a prairie claim." (Corn Country, p.66, referring to the 'grasshopper year' of 1874) Homer's "Uncle Jim" (James R. Croy) was married to a woman named Viola as of about 1885 according to the 1900 US census for Nodaway Co., MO. This might be to whom he is referring. However, the time line would not appear to be correct for that to be true. In addition, Susanna (his mother) had about seven brothers who could have married someone named Viola as well, and at least four of those were shown to have died in MO, CO, or KS, further adding to that possibility.

Croy, Albert Finch (male)
Father	11 Sep 1813	Croy, William
Mother	2 Jan 1810	Joy, Statio Ann
Birth	26 Sep 1853	OH
Death	24 Dec 1924	Unknown

Bailey, Sarah (female)
Birth	About 1857	OH

Family of Croy, Albert Finch & Bailey, Sarah
Girl	About Jul 1879	Croy, Flora

Croy, Percy Brown (male)
Father	11 Sep 1813	Croy, William
Mother	2 Jan 1810	Joy, Statio Ann
Birth	12 Sep 1852	OH
Death	16 Dec 1939	Unknown
First name may be Purley, or that may just be bad penmanship by the census enumerator for 1860. Listed in 1880 census with wife, father, daughter, and what appears to be Lewis Wellington Croy as a farmhand. Homer Croy also occasionally mentions an "Uncle Purl", which may be Percy.

Mary (female)
Birth	About 1852	OH

Family of Croy, Percy Brown & Mary
Girl	About Feb 1880	Croy, Elva

Croy, Cynthia A. (female)
Father	11 Sep 1813	Croy, William
Mother	2 Jan 1810	Joy, Statio Ann
Birth	6 Jun 1847	OH
Death	7 Sep 1917	Unknown

Croy, James R. (male)
Father	11 Sep 1813	Croy, William
Mother	2 Jan 1810	Joy, Statio Ann
Birth	11 Mar 1845	OH
Death	About Jun 1925	Unknown
Described by Homer Croy in Corn Country: "My Uncle Jim had been a hard-pan farmer but had 'cropped out' and had moved back to our section." (Corn Country, p.39) Another reference to Jim: "My Uncle Jim once moved to western Nebraska to get rich. Finally he wrote back, 'I find I'm in hardpan'. We read the letter aloud; an ominous silence settled over us. Uncle Jim lasted three years, then came back to God's country." (Corn Country, p.279) He is also mentioned elsewhere in the book: "Uncle Jim Croy (my favorite uncle who had shot Buffaloes and who almost said he had once scalped an Indian but never quite said it) was at work in the field with his team when he glanced up and, to the northwest, saw a cloud." (Corn Country, p.67, describing the start of the 'grasshopper year' of 1874) Further describing him, Homer says: "Uncle Jim might stretch things a bit, but my father always stuck pretty close to the truth." (Corn Country, p.68)

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