Thirteenth Generation

888. Anna Bixby "Annie" GRIGGS was born on 17 March 1837 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.^{287,296,299,300,515} In the Vermont Historical Society library is a collection of letters from various Griggs family members. Letters from Anna describe her life as a farm wife in Fayston between 1865 and 1914. She wrote frequent letters to her uncle Roswell and his wife, who lived in Missouri, as well as to their son, Elton Lucius Griggs, and their daughter, Flora Alice Whitchurch, between 1865 and 1914.

Anna writes "candidly and poignantly of the events of her life," states LaRie Jensen, and the letters in the collection span her years as a young farm wife until she and her husband, Azro, are elderly. Always a student of history, Anna included a manuscript copy of Lydia Bixby Ward's History of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School in Waitsfield and Fayston in a February 1880 letter to her uncle (MSA 150, Folder 8). She appeared in the census in 1840 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.²⁹⁵ She appeared in the census in 1850 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.²⁹⁶ Annie appeared in the census in 1860 in Warren Township, Washington County, VT.²⁹⁷ She appeared in the census in 1870 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.³¹⁰ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.³⁷⁵ Annie appeared in the census in 1900 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.⁴²⁷ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.⁵¹⁶ She died on 13 May 1915 at the age of 78 in Barre, Washington County, VT.^{5,127,287,515} Anna's and her husband's parents were "pioneers" of Fayston, VT. Both families were strong and active in the Methodist faith, and Anna and Azro continued in that tradition as they raised their family of two daughters and two sons.

Anna's interest in her family and local history is evident from her authorship of the biography of her aunt, Susan Griggs, in Hemenway's Vermont Historical Gazatteer and her 1898 publication, Historical Address at the Centennial Celebration of the Town of Fayston (VHS 974.31 F296b).

From the "Descendants of Joseph Bixby: "In 1898, she compiled an interesting history of Fayston, which was published at the 'Centennial Celebration' of that town, and, for some years, she was the local correspondent of the Northfield News and the Burlington Free Press. She was intensely interested in the Bixby Genealogy, and was of great help to the compiler not only in completing the history of families which are her near relatives, but in any matters in her section where she could give assistance." Annie was buried in Irasville, Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.²⁸⁷ in the Irasville Cemetery, a few miles from her home on Bragg Hill.

Anna Bixby "Annie" GRIGGS and Azro Daniel BRAGG were married on 9 January 1855 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.²⁸⁷ Azro Daniel BRAGG, son of William BRAGG and Chloe BUCK, was born on 25 November 1833 in Warren, Washington County, VT.^27,287 (This is a picture of the barn on the Bragg family farm in Fayston Township, VT. In the background are Sugarbush and Mt. Ellen.) He appeared in the census in 1850 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.²⁷ He appeared in the census in 1860 in Warren Township, Washington County, VT.²⁹⁷ His household consisted of Azro; his wife, Anna; their children, Francis and Emily; his father, William; and two unknown children, Clifton Stearns, age 12; and Ann Stearns, age 10. Azro's occupation was listed as "Farmer." Azro appeared in the census in 1870 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.³¹⁰ His occupation was listed as "Farmer." He appeared in the census in 1880 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.³⁷⁵ His household consisted of Azro, his wife Anna, their three oldest children, his mother-in-law, Lydia Ward, and his wife's aunt, Sarah Griggs. His occupation was listed as "Farmer." He appeared in the census in 1900 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.⁴²⁷ Azro appeared in the census in 1910 in Fayston Township, Washington County, VT.⁵¹⁶ He and his wife were living with their son Frank and his family. He appeared in the census in January 1920 in Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.⁵¹⁷ (He was listed as a Widower and was living with his daughter-in-law, Marana.) He died on 18 April 1920 at the age of 86 in Orleans, Barton Township, Orleans County, VT.^5,27,287 Azro was buried in Irasville, Waitsfield Township, Washington County, VT.²⁸⁷ in the Irasville Cemetery, a few miles from his home on Bragg Hill.

Anna Bixby "Annie" GRIGGS and Azro Daniel BRAGG had the following children: