15 Jan 2009 Descendants of: Alexander J. Grace 1 Alexander J. Grace b. 1833 PA, Ireland, ? d. 31 Jan 1897 Leavenworth, KS m. Mrs Ellen ? Simons m. 8 Mar 1866 Grant co., WI b. abt 1845 NY d. 15 Feb 1884 Twin Creek, KS m. Maria A. Janes m. 26 Jan 1893 Nelson, Nuckolls co., NE b. 1852 IL d. 1 Dec 1923 [daughter of John Janes and Susan Dary] Info from Ron Rittel: captured July 22 1864 Battle of Atlanta Info from Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: Grace, Alexander J. residence Boscobel date Oct 28 1861 remarks Vet., pris.July 22 1864 M.O. July 16 1865 12th Regiment Infantry, Co. K info from Dave Taft: Grace, Alexander J. married "Mrs." Ellen Simons, 8 Mar 1866, Grant Co., recorded in Book 4, Pg. 14. Alexander J.'s parents are recorded as James and Ann (Unknown) Grace. No parent are listed for Ellen, unfortunately. 1860 Census, Fennimore, Grant, WI, Pg. 166, 13 Jul 1860, Household 464: A. J. Grace, 26, Laborer, PA The A. J. is single, living in the household of Wesley and Fanny Crow. From the 1870 Census: 1870 Census, Mount Hope Twp., Grant, WI, Pg. 319, Household 88: James A. Grace, 33, Farming, PA Hellen L., 26, Keeping House, NY Ann E., 3, WI James L., 2/12 (2 months old), WI, Born in April Hellen M. Lurions, 7, At School, WI info from Kay Anderson: Grace Alexander J. K 12 Wisconsin Infantry. Private Private 000559 0011 00002359 info from Debbie Lubbs: Census Place: Jefferson, Fayette, Iowa 1880 Source: FHL Film 1254339 National Archives Film T9-0339 Page 149A Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Alexander GRACE Self M M W 45 PA Occ: Laborer Fa: EAST INDIA Mo: PA Ellen GRACE Wife F M W 35 NY Occ: Keeping House Fa: NY Mo: NY Ann GRACE Dau F S W 13 WI Occ: At Home Fa: PA Mo: NY James GRACE Son M S W 10 WI Fa: PA Mo: NY Theodosha GRACE Dau F S W 8 WI Fa: PA Mo: NY Alexander GRACE Son M S W 6 IA Fa: PA Mo: NY Fannie GRACE Dau F S W 4 IA Fa: PA Mo: NY info from Debbie Lubbs: Leavenworth, KS Veterans Center Death Register, 1886-1903: Grace, Alexander J. Death Date: January 31, 1897 Age: 64 Place of Death: O. M. B'dg Ward 3 Grave: 1217 Cause of Death: General Exhaustion Registration #: 4204 Organization: K, 12 Wis. Inf. Description: A recorded 2100 veterans died while residing at the Leavenworth Veterans Affairs Center between 1886 and 1903. This database is an extraction of the microfilmed center records which comprise nine books. This is book two, and is roughly alphabetical in order. Grace, Alexander J.Alexander J. Grace - {GRACE} Company: K Rank In: Private Rank Out: Private Roll-Box: 000559 Roll-Exct: 0011 Roll-Rec: 00002359 Allegiance: Union Misc: Unit: 12 Wisconsin Infantry. 1850 Census: Iowa, Clayton County, Millville Alexander Grace, 17, laborer, b. PA, living in household of James and Anne Peck. James Peck....age 68 b. CT, Anne Peck...age 53 b. PA image from Civil War Pension Index: name of soldier: Grace, Alexander J. name of dependant: (widow) Grace, Maria A. service: K 12 Wisc. Inf date of filing claim. application number certificate number state from which filed 1888 Nov 21 invalid 679664 569324 Kans 1898 Feb 1 widow 669985 Kans - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- the following information was obtained from VA National Archives, in reference to the Pension Files of Alexander J. Grace, Co. K, 12th WI Vol. Infantry. Memo from War Department, Washington D.C., dated July 19, 1889: "Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions. Alexander J. Grace, a private of Company K, 12th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, was enrolled on the 23 day of October, 1861, at Boscobel, 3 yrs, and is reported: present on Rolls from enrollment to June 30th, 1864 (Re-enlisted as Vet. Vol. Dec 24th, 1863) July & August, 64 absent missing in action July 22, 1864. (Co. was in action before Atlanta on that date) Subsequent Rolls to April 31 1865 report him absent prisoner of war since July 22, 1864. May and June 65 present M.O. with Co. at Louisville, Ky July 16th 1865" General Affidavit, related by Max Hasgall, a Notary Public from Scottsville, Mitchell Co, KS on 29 Sept 1898. He relates the story told by Eliza Horn, of Scottsville, KS: "That she was personally intimately aquainted with Alexander J. Grace during his lifetime. That when children they lived in the same neighborhood and went to school together. As she remembers his parents died when he was quite young and he lived around in the neighborhood a part of the time at the house of the father of affiant (Eliza Horn). That he remained in the neighborhood until he enlisted in Co.K, 12th Wisconsin Infy on or about the 23d day of October, 1861 at Boscobel, Wis. and that he served through the war in said Co. and Regt. and was discharged about July 16, 1865 at Louisville, Ky, and he then returned to his old house in Wisconsin. That he remained there in Wisconsin until about the year 1874, that afterwards he went to the State of Kansas and settled at or near Osborne, Ks. That she knows him in the State of Kansas for about twenty years, or up to the year 1894." Maria: image from Civil War Pension Index: name of soldier: Grace, Alexander J. name of dependant: (widow) Grace, Maria A. service: K 12 Wisc. Inf date of filing claim. application number certificate number state from which filed 1888 Nov 21 invalid 679664 569324 Kans 1898 Feb 1 widow 669985 Kans Groom: Frank, Jacob Bride: Grace, Maria A. Marriage Date: May 12, 1902 Book: K Page #: 475 FHL LCGS: 185431 / 104 info from Billie Otis: Marriage of M.A. Janes to A.A. Husted (m#1): Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900 Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900Name: Mariah A. Janes Gender: Female Spouse Name: Albert A. Husted Marriage Date: Apr 15, 1869 Marriage County: Fulton Comments: This record can be found at the County Court Records located at Lewistown, IL. Source Information: Jordan Dodd and Liahona Research, comp.. Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Index compiled from county marriage records on microfilm located at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah by Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research (P.O. Box 740, Orem, Utah 84059). Specific source information is listed with each entry. Description: This database is an index to approximately 707,000 individuals who were married in select areas of the State of Illinois, USA, between 1851 and 1900. Information that may be found in this database for each individual includes their name, gender, spouse's name, marriage date, location, and source information. ----------------------------------------------------- Just FYI info: 1885 KS State Census - Summit, Cloud, KS Maria A and Albert A Husted listed with 8 children, ages 15 to 3 weeks 1900 Federal Census - Leavenworth Ward 1, Leavenworth, KS Mary A. Grace listed with daughter Bertha Husted (13) and friend Eliza Crawford. Birthdate/place: May 1857, IL, widowed, 15 children born, 8 living. May 12,1902: Maria A. Grace married Jacob Frank (m#3), Leavenworth County, KS Marriage Records 1900-1920 (Book K, pg. 475). 2 Ann E. Grace b. abt 1867 WI 2 James L. Grace b. 8 Apr 1868 ? Boscobel, Grant co., WI d. 15 Nov 1941 Byron, WI m. Rhoda Lenora Spangler m. July 1896 b. Feb 1879 Floyd co., VA d. 26 Mar 1912 Nebraska City, Otoe co., NE [daughter of Harvey D. Spangler and Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Bowlen] info from death certificate, Fond du Lac County, WI: cause of death...auto-pedestrian accident: "skull fracture, chest injuries, fracture neck, & both legs." father listed as "Jake Grace, birthplace unknown" mother listed as "unknown" occupation listed as "carpenter" Informant listed as "Elihue Grace, Byron, WI" listed as "widowed", spouse (deceased) "Rohda" buried 11-18-41 Stiener Church Cemetery, Fond du Lac, WI date of birth: 4-8-1868 age: 73 years 7 months 7 days usual residence: State WI county Fond du Lac township Byron street No. Twn Byron info from 1900 Atchison Co MO census (village of Westboro) 287B3 91 Second Street . 65 66 Grace James L. Head W M Apr 1872 28 M 4 . . Wisconsin Ireland Germany . . . R.R. Laborer 6 . Yes Yes Yes R . H . . 287B3 92 Second Street . 65 66 Grace Rhoda R. Wife W F Feb 1878 22 M 4 3 2 Virginia Virginia Virginia . . . . . . Yes Yes Yes . . . . . 287B3 93 Second Street . 65 66 Grace Floyd E. Son W M Apr 1787 3 S . . . Missouri Wisconsin Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287B3 94 Second Street . 65 66 Grace Baby Son W M May 1900 0/12 S . . . Missouri Wisconsin Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info from Debbie Lubbs: CENSUS: 1920, Lincoln Co., NE, North Platte Prec., City of North Platte, 508 Front St., Dist. 195, sheet 16B, line 64 (image 32) GRACE, Floyd, lodger, 23, KS, f. WI/m.VA, laborer in ice plant " Mary, lodger, 23, IN, parents IN " Edith, lodger, 14, MO " James L., lodger, 47, wid., WI, f. Ireland/m.Germany, carpenter of houses They were enumerated as lodgers with the family of Albert Preitauer (line 58). 1930 Census IL, Stephenson Co, Harlem GRACE, James age 60 B. WI widower farm hand at home of Louie and Cora Foy Rhoda: Rhoda: info from Morton-James Library, Nebraska City, NE:"Mrs. Grace apparently died at the age of 33 of dropsey." info from Nebraska City News, Friday, Mar. 29 1912: "The funeral of Mrs. Rhoda Grace was held this afternoon from the family residence on North Sixteenth street and the interment was made at Wyuka cemetery." info from The Nebraska Press, Thursday Mar. 28 1912: "The funeral of Mrs. Rhoda Grace, whose death occurred late Tuesday night, will be held this afternoon from the family home on North Sixteenth street, and interment will take place at Wyuka cemetery." info from Wyuka Cemetery registry, page 89: "Grace, Mrs. Rhoda #5234 interred date 03/28/1912 info from Morton-James Library, Neb. City NE...buried section R, lot 67 3 Floyd Emery Grace b. 4 Apr 1897 Atchison co., MO d. Dec 1979 Conesus, NY m. Mary ? b. 1897 IN m. Bertha M. Tipton b. 1890 IA m. Willie Alice Parks info from form SS-5, application for Social Security Card: line 1 "Floyd. Emery. Grace" line 2 name under which you work "Floyd. .E. Grace" line 3 worker’s present address "Monarch., Arkansas" line 4 if married man, wife’s full name before marriage "Willie. Alice. Parks" line 5 business name or present employer "unemployd." line 6 business address of present employer line 7 age at last birthday "42" line 8 date of birth "April. 7th, 1897" line 9 place of birth (city) "Westburrow." (county) "Atchison." (state) "MO." line 10 father’s full name "James. ___ Grace" line 11 mother’s full name before marriage "Rhoda. ___ Spangler line 12 sex "male" line 13 race or color "white" line 14 have you ever filled out a card like this before? "no" line 15 date signed "3-9-40" line 16 signature signed Floyd .E Grace SSDI info: Name: FLOYD GRACE SSN: 430-24-2879 Last Residence: 14435 Conesus, Livingston, NY Born: 7 Apr 1897 Last Benefit: 14453 Fishers, Ontario, NY Died: Dec 1979 State (Year) SSN issued: AR (Before 1951 ) 1930 Census: MO Jackson Co, Kansas City GRACE, Floyd E. age 42? b. MO painting contractor Wife: Bertha M. age 40 b. IA stepdaughter Ann Tipton age 19 b.IA stepdaughter Ruth R. Tipton age 16 b.IA stepson Cecil R. Tipton age 14 b. IA son Floyd Grace Jr age 3 b. IA Mary: info from Debbie Lubbs: CENSUS: 1920, Lincoln Co., NE, North Platte Prec., City of North Platte, 508 Front St., Dist. 195, sheet 16B, line 64 (image 32) GRACE, Floyd, lodger, 23, KS, f. WI/m.VA, laborer in ice plant " Mary, lodger, 23, IN, parents IN " Edith, lodger, 14, MO " James L., lodger, 47, wid., WI, f. Ireland/m.Germany, carpenter of houses They were enumerated as lodgers with the family of Albert Preitauer (line 58). Bertha: 1930 Census: MO Jackson Co, Kansas City GRACE, Floyd E. age 42? b. MO painting contractor Wife: Bertha M. age 40 b. IA stepdaughter Ann Tipton age 19 b.IA stepdaughter Ruth R. Tipton age 16 b.IA stepson Cecil R. Tipton age 14 b. IA son Floyd Grace Jr age 3 b. IA 4 Floyd Grace, Jr. b. 20 Nov 1926 IA d. 19 Oct 1993 Kansas City, MO info from SSDI: Name: FLOYD GRACE SSN: 493-22-1576 Last Residence: 64034 Greenwood, Jackson, MO Born: 20 Nov 1926 Last Benefit: Died: 19 Oct 1993 State (Year) SSN issued: MO (Before 1951 ) 3 Elihu Golan Grace b. 24 May 1900 MO d. 31 May 1969 WI m. Lillie Belle Mayes m. 21 Apr 1935 b. 25 Aug 1910 d. 7 Dec 1997 Fond du Lac, WI 1920 US Census, Reno County, Kansas, Enterprise township ED #163 January 15th 1920 Grace, Elihu Golan age 19 single b. Missouri, father b. Indiana, mother b. unknown living in household of Fred Seitz, age 53, born Germany Lillie: Lillie: info from SSDI: Name: LILLIE B GRACE SSN: 391-34-1469 Last Residence: 53146 New Berlin, Waukesha, WI Born: 25 Aug 1910 Last Benefit: Died: 7 Dec 1997 State (Year) SSN issued: WI (1953 And 1954 ) 4 Helen Elizabeth Grace b. 24 Jun 1936 Polo, MO d. 22 Jul 2008 Fond du Lac, WI m. Bernard L. Wettstein m. 6 Oct 1956 b. 24 Sept 1935 d. 1 Feb 1998 Obituaries Helen E. Wettstein (June 24, 1936 - July 22, 2008) Helen E. Wettstein, 72, of 101 Western Avenue, Fond du Lac, died Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at St. Agnes Hospital. She was born on June 24, 1936, in Polo, Missouri, a daughter of Elihu Golan and Lillie Belle (nee Mayes) Grace. On October 6, 1956, Helen married Bernard L. Wettstein. She is survived by eight children: Charlene Megivern, Michael Wettstein, and Kenneth Wettstein(special friend, Sally), all of Fond du Lac, Viola (Robert) McNulty of Twin Lakes, Kathryn Wettstein (special friend, Jeff Christie), Debra (Ervin) Kurtz, Betty (Dale) VanBuren,all of Fond du Lac, and Mary (Timothy) Gallitz of Oakfield; 10 grandchildren; three sisters: Rhoda (James) Flagg of New Berlin, Lillie Viola (Carl) Boyke of Columbus, and Edith (George) Isele of Ballwin, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Alma Grace of Fond du Lac; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bernard Wettstein, on February 1, 1998; a son-in-law, John Megivern; and a brother, James Grace. The visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service on Friday, July 25, 2008, at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 31 E. Division Street, Fond du Lac. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory with Rev. Anthony Farina and Rev. Michael Kulow officiating. Entombment will follow at Ledgeview Memorial Park. (published online---- Mach Funeral Chapel http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=192672&fh_id=10969 ) 5 Charlene Wettstein (details excluded) m. John Megivern b. 2 Oct 1947 d. 19 Jan 2008 5 Michael E. Wettstein (details excluded) 5 Kenneth G. Wettstein (details excluded) 5 Viola T. Wettstein (details excluded) m. Bob McNulty 5 Katheryn B. Wettstein (details excluded) 5 Debra S. Wettstein (details excluded) m. Ervin Kurtz 6 Nathan Kurtz (details excluded) 6 Collin Kurtz (details excluded) 6 Hannah Kurtz (details excluded) 5 Betty Wettstein (details excluded) m. Dale Van Buren 5 Mary Wettstein (details excluded) m. Tim Gallitz (details excluded) 6 Tyler Gallitz (details excluded) 6 Eric Binder (details excluded) 6 Curtis Binder (details excluded) 6 Jacob Gallitz (details excluded) 6 Misty Rose Gallitz (details excluded) 4 Rhoda Lenora Grace (details excluded) m. James Flagg (details excluded) 5 Judy Ann Flagg (details excluded) m. Mark Menting 6 Justin Robert Menting (details excluded) 5 James John Flagg (details excluded) 6 LeAnn Flagg (details excluded) 5 Rhonda Lynn Flagg (details excluded) m. Armonda Romero (details excluded) 6 Viviana Romero (details excluded) 7 Damian Antonio Concepcion Romero (details excluded) 6 Julian Romero (details excluded) 6 Dante Romero (details excluded) 6 Arian Romero (details excluded) 5 Scott Donald Flagg (details excluded) 6 Jessica Flagg (details excluded) 4 Lillie Viola Grace (details excluded) m. Carl Boyke (details excluded) 5 Gerald Robert Boyke (details excluded) m. Lee ? 6 Gary Boyke (details excluded) 5 David Boyke (details excluded) m. Cherly Meinke d. 1981 m. Sue Schaefer (details excluded) [daughter of Jerome William Schaefer and Thelma Agnes Pfiefer] 6 Sadie Rose Boyke (details excluded) 6 Meghan Katherine Boyke (details excluded) 4 James Golan Grace b. 14 Oct 1940 d. 15 July 1990 m. Alma Cowles (details excluded) [daughter of Verne Cowles and Pearl A. Summers] 5 Steven Grace (details excluded) m. Amy Huff 6 Kaitlynn Jenae Grace (details excluded) 6 Christopher Thomas Lee Grace (details excluded) 5 Robert Grace (details excluded) m. Patricia E. Bussart 6 Jessica Ayleen Grace (details excluded) 6 Tevin James Grace (details excluded) 5 Roger Grace (details excluded) 5 Janet Grace (details excluded) m. Robert Forsman 6 Angela Marie Forsman (details excluded) 6 Brianna Rose Forsman (details excluded) 6 James Roy Daniel Forsman (details excluded) 4 Edith Grace (details excluded) m. George Isele 5 George Isele (details excluded) m. Colleen ? 6 Derek Isele 5 Elihu (Ely) Isele (details excluded) 5 Elizabeth Isele (details excluded) 3 Harvey Alexander Grace b. 7 Oct 1902 Denver, CO d. May 1972 Burlington Jct, Nodaway co, MO m. Mary Ellen McIntyre m. 3 Jan 1926 Clarinda, IA b. 23 April 1906 Nodaway co, MO d. 19 March 1997 Nodaway co, MO [daughter of Lawson William McIntyre and Armilda Evaline Bowman] info from ANI of Page and Taylor counties... Grace, Harvey A. 23 BJct wed Mary E. McIntyre 20 BJct; at Clar. CH 03 Jun 1926 1930 Census Missouri, Nodaway County, Lincoln township, Grace, Harvy head 25 Colorado U.S. Missouri Mary wife 24 Missouri Missouri Missouri Donald son 3 Missouri Darrell son 3 Missouri Welden son 6/12 Missouri 4 Darrell W. Grace b. 11 April 1927 Nodaway co, MO d. 22 Jan 2008 Nodaway co, MO m. Marilyn Williams m. 29 Aug 1948 Burlington Jct, MO Maryville Daily Forum Obituaries Wednesday, January 23, 2008 Darrell W. Grace Published: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:46 PM 1927-2008 Darrell W. Grace, 80, of Burlington Junction, Mo. died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 at St Francis Hospital, Maryville, Mo. Darrell was born April 11, 1927 in Burlington Junction, the son of Harvey and Mary (McIntyre) Grace. He was a 1945 graduate of Quitman High School, Quitman, Mo. and attended Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College, Maryville. He served in the US Army during WWII. On Aug. 29, 1948 he and Marilyn Anne Williams were married in Burlington Junction. Darrell was the president of Grace Construction Management and a member of the Burlington Junction United Methodist Church. He also belonged to the Rolla - Dicks American Legion Post #315, Burlington Junction; Seth Ray David Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #442, Maryville; the Nodaway Masonic Lodge #470 AF & AM, Maryville; the Scottish Rite Bodies and Moila Temple, St. Joseph, Mo. and a member of the Legion of Honor of Moila Temple; a lifetime member of the Burlington Junction Kiwanis Club. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: his twin, Donald L. Grace and William M. Grace. Survivors include his wife: Marilyn, of their home; two sons: Darrell Robert and his wife Deborah Grace, and William Richard Grace, all of Burlington Junction; a brother: Weldon Grace, Des Moines, Iowa and a sister: Arlene Prater, Hamburg, Iowa; three grandchildren: Darby Robert Grace, Melanie McDowell and Tiffany Grace Moody; three great-grandchildren: Logan McDowell, Dillon Dow and Ella Grace; several nieces and nephews. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 at Price Funeral Home, Maryville, with a Masonic Service conducted by Nodaway Masonic Lodge #470 AF & AM to follow at 8 p.m.. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 at the United Methodist Church, Burlington Junction. Burial is in Ohio Cemetery, Burlington Junction. Military services will be conducted at graveside under the direction of the Rolla - Dicks American Legion Post #315. Memorials may be made to the Nodaway County Chapter of the American Cancer Society in Mr. Grace's name. 5 Darrell Robert Grace m. Deborah Grace 6 Darby Robert Grace (details excluded) 6 Melanie Grace (details excluded) m. ? McDowell 5 William Richard Grace m. Dixie Lea Jones Dixie: info from ANI of Page and Taylor counties... Grace, William Richard wed Dixie Lea Jones; #927. M 15 Sep 1979 6 Tiffany Rose Grace (details excluded) m. ? Moody 4 Donald Grace b. 11 April 1927 Nodaway co, MO d. 26 Aug 1994 MO m. Betty ? 5 Charles Grace 5 Susan Grace 4 Weldon Wilbur Grace (details excluded) m. Jennie Lea Prater (details excluded) Fairfax, Atchison co., MO [daughter of Glen Wood Prater and Ethel Evelyn Wright] 5 James Weldon Grace (details excluded) m. Cynthia Diane Sotter (details excluded) Los Angeles, CA [daughter of Thomas Raymond Sotter and Rose Blount] m. Joan Marie (Bruch) Lewis (details excluded) Carroll, IA [daughter of Leo Julian Bruch and Betty Haverman] 6 Joshua James Grace (details excluded) 6 Jennilee Rose Grace (details excluded) m. Aaron Scott Anderson 7 Jackson Weldon Anderson (details excluded) 5 Jan Lawson Grace (details excluded) m. Phyllis Lloyd 6 Jeremy Grace (details excluded) m. Adrienne Wiebe 5 Pamela Sue Grace (details excluded) m. Dean Ague m. Tom Mehalovich m. Ed Tam 5 Patricia Lue Grace (details excluded) m. Randy Wilson m. Gary Adams m. Don Richards 6 Sarah Adams 6 Jacob Adams 5 Jon Richard Grace (details excluded) 4 William M. Grace b. 10 Sept 1934 Nodaway co, MO d. 25 Apr 2004 Houston, TX m. Ann Kathryn Thomas m. 28 July 1956 Maryville, MO d. 2005 From The Des Moines Register 04-27-2004: Osceola casino owner, developer Grace dies By WILLIAM PETROSKI REGISTER STAFF WRITER 04/27/2004 William M. Grace, the developer and majority owner of Osceola's Lakeside Casino Resort, has died after a long battle with leukemia. Grace, 69, died Sunday night at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, of complications from leukemia, his family said in a statement issued Monday. Funeral services are pending. Grace, a businessman from St. Joseph, Mo., headed the Southern Iowa Gaming Co., which constructed the $50 million Lakeside Casino Resort complex that opened in January 2000. Last year, the casino, which employs about 500 people, drew nearly 1 million customers and had casino revenue of about $55 million. Grace succeeded in winning approval for a casino license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in November 1997 after Illinois-based Argosy Gaming Co. twice had license applications rejected. Fred Wood of Osceola, president of Clarke County Development Corp., said Monday that Grace had the vision to develop a solid plan for a casino that would be endorsed by state regulators, including the construction of an interchange on Interstate Highway 35 at Osceola. "Bill's word was just like gold," Wood said. "If he told you he would do something, he did it." Osceola Mayor Fred Diehl said he was shocked to learn of Grace's death. He said he always had an open and forthright relationship with Grace. "I had a great deal of respect for him," Diehl said. Grace founded a company that developed and managed shopping centers, office buildings and other properties in western states. He also had business interests in casinos in St. Joseph and La Grange, Mo., and White Cloud, Kan., and in the Woodlands Race Track in Kansas City, Kan . Survivors include his wife, Kathy; two sons; a daughter; and six grandchildren ============================================================= From the St. Joseph Gazzette Tuesday, April 27, 2004 Casino owner Bill Grace dies By GREG KOZOL gregk@npgco.com Bill Grace posed in the current St. Jo Frontier Casino when it was being built. (St. Joseph News-Press file photo) Bill Grace may have been best-known as the casino owner in St. Joseph, but he was remembered for more than that Monday. Mr. Grace grew up on a farm during the Great Depression and built a business empire that included gambling operations in four states and retail, commercial and hotel developments from Alaska to Mexico. He built glitzy casinos but loved to watch the cattle on his farm in Gentry County. He was known as a hard-nosed businessman who sparred with public officials, but he quietly gave to 4-H programs, schools and the Special Olympics. Mr. Grace, 69, died Sunday night at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He had battled leukemia for several years. He's one of those unique individuals that the world is going to miss, said Bruce Schmitter, vice president of Grace's gambling operations in Missouri, Iowa and Kansas. You knew when Bill was in the room. He had a lot of character. Everybody is going to miss him. Mr. Grace was majority owner of the St. Jo Frontier Casino, which marks 10 years in business this year and was one of the first riverboat casinos in Missouri. The St. Joseph facility is one of the few locally owned, locally operated casinos in an industry dominated by Harrah's Entertainment, Ameristar Casinos and other conglomerates. Mr. Grace was a catalyst for bringing a casino to St. Joseph at a time when the city had just lost hundreds of jobs following the Flood of 1993 and the closing of Monfort Pork and Sherwood Medical. We needed an uplift, said Dick DeShon, a St. Joseph businessman and minority owner of the Frontier Casino. It created a lot of good jobs. Bill was a visionary and saw the opportunities. Mr. Grace's roots were closer to Great Depression hardship than slot machines and roulette wheels. He was born on a farm in Burlington Junction, Mo., on Sept. 10, 1934. My dad was basically a farmer at heart, said Howard Grace, one of three of Mr. Grace's children. You could never take the farm out of him. Others would golf. He liked going up to the farm and looking at cattle and crops. After a stint in the Army, Bill Grace received a bachelor's degree and an MBA from the University of Arizona. He taught economics at Arizona State University before realizing that there would be a better way to provide for his growing family. He and his wife, Kathryn, who is from Maryville, had three children: Howard Grace, Matthew Grace and Heather (Grace) Kaiser. In 1966, Mr. Grace moved to St. Joseph and started W.M. Grace Construction Co. The company expanded throughout the 70s and 80s into commercial construction, offices, public buildings, hotels and shopping centers. Offices were located in St. Joseph and Phoenix. He was an entrepreneur who wasn't afraid to take a risk, said Mr. Schmitter, who worked with Mr. Grace for 10 years. He created a lot of jobs for a lot of people and created a lot of infrastructure. Today, the companies that Mr. Grace started employ more than 2,200 people. His real-estate firm, W.M. Grace Development Co., built 350 shopping centers that encompass more than 30 million square feet of space. His business ventures include hotels in Arizona, Alaska, Iowa and Mexico. The expansion into casino gambling came in the late 1980s, when Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. He opened the first casino in Arizona and saw an opportunity as gambling laws were loosened across the country. Mr. Grace became majority owner of the Frontier Casino, the Woodlands racetrack in Kansas City, Kan., the Mark Twain Casino in LaGrange, Mo., and the Lakeside Casino in Osceola, Iowa. He also has an agreement to manage the American Indian casino in White Cloud, Kan. He was a very smart business person, said Larry Seckington of St. Joseph, general counsel for Mr. Grace's casino operations. He knew what he wanted to do and what it took to get it there. As casino owner, he sometimes butted heads with regulatory officials and elected leaders. He fought with the city over rights to riverfront land and got into a prolonged legal battle with the Missouri Gaming Commission and state Attorney General Jay Nixon over efforts to open an expanded riverboat facility. The new riverboat, located about a mile north of the downtown area, opened after a five-month delay in 1998. I couldn't say we always got along, said Tom Mann, the presiding commissioner for Buchanan County. That was Bill. That was the way Bill conducted his business. Bill was a tough businessman, but that was not all bad. I would say we were friends. He was a strong advocate for St. Joseph. Behind that toughness was a softness for schools, farms and 4-H programs. Until he developed his illness, Mr. Grace frequently visited his 4,000-acre farm and cattle operation in Gentry County. He really enjoyed coming to the farm and seeing his cattle, said Jerry Knight, who managed the Grace farm property in Gentry County. He liked to drive around and look at everything. He was the best guy I ever worked for. He mainly let you do whatever needed to be done. Mr. Knight said Mr. Grace donated money for a new football field and track at the high school in Albany. He also bought a grand-champion 4-H steer every year. In St. Joseph, Mr. Grace contributed $600,000 to the Miracle on 36th Street campaign at Bishop LeBlond High School and served as general chairman of the project, which resulted in a new chapel, gymnasium, classrooms and other improvements. Frank OMalley, chairman of the capital campaign, said the new gym will be dedicated to Mr. Grace in November. I never heard of anyone turned away after soliciting a donation from Bill Grace, Mr. OMalley said. He was a super guy. Howard Grace said his father will be buried in St. Joseph because he remained devoted to the Midwest all his life even though much of his business success came in the Southwest. Services are pending. St. Joseph was his town. He loved St. Joseph, Howard Grace said. He worked seven days a week his entire life. He only had one speed and that was go. ======================================== From the Kansas City Star 4-27-2004 Businessman with casino interests in four states dead at 69 Associated Press ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - William M. Grace, a self-made entrepreneur whose wide-ranging business operations included gambling casinos in four states, is dead of cancer at 69. Grace died Sunday at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he was undergoing treatment for leukemia, said Larry Seckington, corporate counsel for W. M. Grace Cos. Inc. of St. Joseph. Seckington said Grace had been there since January and was to have undergone a stem cell surgical procedure later this year. He suffered a heart attack on Friday and never regained consciousness, Seckington said. Casino interests of Grace's businesses include the St. Jo Frontier Casino in St. Joseph, The Woodlands pari-mutuel dog and horse racing complex in Kansas City, Kan., the Mark Twain Casino in LaGrange, Mo., and the Lakeside Casino and Resort in Osceola, Iowa. A Grace business also manages the Indian-owned Casino White Cloud in White Cloud, Kan., and he had opened the first casino in Arizona, where one of his companies operates a hotel linked with a tribal casino in Prescott. His St. Joseph casino was among the first riverboat casinos in Missouri and its opening following the catastrophic flooding of 1993 and the closing of a pork plant and medical business helped provide needed jobs for the area. "We needed an uplift," said Dick DeShon, a minority owner of the Frontier. "It created a lot of good jobs. Bill was a visionary and saw the opportunities." James B. Deutsch, a Jefferson City lawyer who has represented Grace's Missouri gambling operations, said his approach was what state lawmakers originally wanted from casinos. "He was exactly what the authors of the original legislation had in mind, not major gaming enterprises but hometown enterprises with cruising riverboats," Deutsch said. Deutsch called Grace "a tough businessman but an honest guy. He always delivered what he promised." "He was always the voice of the small gambling operator in Missouri," said Troy Stemming of the Ameristar Kansas City Casino and Hotel, president of the Missouri Riverboat Gaming Association. "He constantly reminded us that we needed to carefully evaluate the spending of his money on our joint ventures, contrary to the rest of us who were spending our companies' money." After buying The Woodlands out of bankruptcy in 1998, Grace sought time and again without success to get the Kansas Legislature to allow slot machines and other casino games at the race track, struggling financially ever since casino gambling came to Missouri. A farm boy from Burlington Junction, Mo., Grace served in the Army and earned bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Arizona, later teaching economics at Arizona State while working as a field service engineer for Reynolds Aluminum. He returned to Missouri in 1966, starting the W. M. Grace Construction Co. at St. Joseph. The company, which eventually had an office in Phoenix as well, expanded throughout the 1970s and 1980s, building offices, public buildings, hotels and shopping centers in a number of states. Today the companies Grace started employ more than 2,200 people. Before his death, Grace had designated Bruce Schmitter, a vice president, to lead the company's gambling operations. Schmitter said Monday that future plans are uncertain. Members of Grace's family have controlling interests in his various business ventures, and Schmitter said the family's plans for them are not known. "For the near term we'll do business as we've always done business," he said. But the long term, he said, "depends on what the family wants to do." Grace is survived by his wife, Kathy, sons Matt and Howard, daughter Heather Kaiser and six grandchildren. ============================= From the Kansas City Star 4-27-2004 Woodlands majority owner dies at 69 William M. Grace played vital role in Midwest gambling By RICK ALM The Kansas City Star William M. Grace, majority owner of The Woodlands race track and several Midwestern casinos, died Sunday at a Houston hospital where he was undergoing treatment for leukemia. He was 69. Larry Seckington, corporate counsel for W.M. Grace Cos. Inc., based in St. Joseph, said Grace suffered a heart attack Friday and never regained consciousness. Seckington said Grace had been an outpatient at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston since January and was preparing for a stem cell surgical procedure later this year. Unfortunately he never got to that point, he said. Before his death Seckington said Grace had designated Bruce Schmitter, a corporate vice president, to lead the company's gaming operations in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Arizona. Schmitter said Monday the future was uncertain. Grace family members now hold controlling interest in Grace's far-flung business enterprises, but Schmitter said the family's plans for those subsidiaries, partnerships and operating divisions were unknown at this point. For the near term we'll do business as we've always done business, said Schmitter. For the long term, It depends on what the family wants to do. Seckington called the plain-spoken and often gruff Grace one of a kind, who was boss, friend and teacher. He really knew how to run his companies, said Seckington. I learned more here in the last 10 years than all of my previous life. Affiliated companies include W.M. Grace Entertainment Inc., W.M. Grace Hospitality Inc., W.M. Grace Construction Inc. and W.M. Grace Development Inc. Through various groups, the Grace family holds controlling or partnership interests in The Woodlands pari-mutuel race track in Kansas City, Kan., the St. Jo Frontier Casino in St. Joseph, the Mark Twain Casino in LaGrange, Mo., and Lakeside Casino and Resort in Osceola, Iowa, and manages the tribal-owned Casino White Cloud, near White Cloud, Kan. Jefferson City lawyer James B. Deutsch, who has represented Grace's gambling interests in Missouri from the beginning, said Grace epitomized the local ownership of modest casino operations that Missouri lawmakers had in mind in 1992 when they first set legalized casino gambling in motion. He was exactly what the authors of the original legislation had in mind, said Deutsch, not major gaming enterprises, but hometown enterprises with cruising riverboats. Deutsch remembered Grace as a tough businessman but an honest guy. He always delivered what he promised. He was a shrewd businessman who knew his markets, added Deutsch. He was the most sensible guy you could imagine. When the Las Vegas-based casino owners finished their Missouri riverboat gambling palaces in marble, he finished his in Formica, said Deutsch. Troy Stremming, an executive at Ameristar Kansas City Casino and Hotel and president of the Missouri Riverboat Gaming Association, called Grace an original. He was always the voice of the small gambling operator in Missouri, said Stremming. He constantly reminded us that we needed to carefully evaluate the spending of his money on our joint ventures, contrary to the rest of us who were spending our companies' money. He was a hard worker and self-made businessman. He was a spectacular person. It's a sad day. Grace bought The Woodlands through a bankruptcy court sale in 1998 and sought unsuccessfully every year since then to persuade the Kansas Legislature to allow slot machines and other casino games to bolster the bottom line and keep the financially struggling track open. Other Grace interests include housing units for the elderly in Independence and Liberty, numerous commercial properties in St. Joseph and a 4,000-acre farm and cattle ranch near Albany, Mo. The privately held Grace group also has construction, development and real estate management interests in shopping centers, hotels and other properties in several states. The company also operates a hotel in cooperation with a tribal casino near Prescott, Ariz. Grace, born in Burlington Junction, Mo., earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Arizona after his military service. He later taught economics at Arizona State University while working as a field service engineer in Phoenix for Reynolds Aluminum. He returned to Missouri in 1966 and founded the first of his companies in St. Joseph, later expanding with various division headquarters and other offices in Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin and Colorado. The construction company built many public structures in the region, including on the campuses of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo., and Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph. Grace was active in Arizona economic and foreign trade development activities. He also was a board member for Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph, where he was a major contributor to a building fund and was establishing a scholarship program for underprivileged students at the time of his death. In Houston, Grace was a board member of the recently formed International Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research Institute. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, sons Matt and Howard, a daughter, Heather Kaiser, and six grandchildren. Arrangements were pending at the Meierhoffer Family Funeral Service in St. Joseph. ===================================================================== From the Des Moines Register 4-30-2004 W. M. Grace 1934-2004 Mr. W. M. "Bill" Grace, 69, of Houston, Texas and St. Joseph, Missouri, died Sunday, April 25, 2004 at a Houston, Texas hospital. William M. "Bill" Grace was born and raised on a farm in Burlington Junction, Missouri. After serving in the military, he attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, receiving his BS and later his MBA degree in 1959. He then taught Economics at Arizona State University while working as a field service engineer for Reynolds Aluminum in Phoenix. Bill Grace then returned to St. Joseph, Missouri and founded W. M. Grace Construction, Inc. in 1966 and closely thereafter W. M. Grace Development Co. The year 2004 celebrates the 38th anniversary of these companies that develop, design, build, manage, and lease shopping centers, office buildings, financial institutions, industrial complexes, housing units, hotels and vacation resorts and casinos. Operating over a multitude of states, the company moved a branch office back to Phoenix in 1970 and now maintains this office as their corporate headquarters for this portion of Mr. Grace's businesses. Bill has been active as a Director of the "Arizona Association of Economic Development", receiving the Developer of the Year award in 1987, serving as president of the AAED in 1992, and being honored again as the Small Business Member of the Year in 1994. Working with the AAED, Bill was instrumental in establishing Arizona Foreign Trade Offices in both Taipei and Tokyo. His development company has completed many major commercial devopment projects throughout the United States.The mojority of the projects have been convention hotels, industrial parks, shopping centers, and office buildings. One hotel is located on the Yavapai Indian Reservation where Bill Grace had the opportunity to work in partnership with the Yavapai Tribe and subsequently built the first casino in the State of Arizona. Since that time, he has become involved in the ownership, management, and construction of the St. Jo Frontier Casino in St. Joseph, Missouri; Casino White Cloud in White Cloud, Kansas; Lakeside Casino and Resort in Osceola, Iowa; Mark Twain Casino in La Grange, Missouri; as well as The Woodlands Race Track in Kansas City, Kansas. His casino management company, Grace Entertainment, Inc. has it's corporate headquarters in St Joseph, Missouri. Multi-faceted, Bill also owns a farm acreage near Albany, Missouri where he raises Simmental and Red Angus cattle, as well as corn and soybeans. Mr. Grace was currently serving as Vice President and on the Board of Directors for the International CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) Research Institute recently incorporated in Houston, Texas. Locally, Mr. Grace actively served on the Board of Directors for Bishop LeBlond High School and was the head of the Building/Construction Committee for the new expansion. He was as integral part of the Capital Campaign for this endeavor, as well as a generous contributor to the building fund. He was preceded in death by his father, Harvey A. Grace; and mother, Mary E. (McIntyre) Grace in March of 1997; and his brother, Donald L. Grace in 1995. Bill and his wife Ann Kathryn "Kathy", married since 1955, reside in Houston, Texas, St. Joseph, Missouri, and Phoenix, Arizona. They have been blessed with two sons and a daughter, Howard Thomas Grace and wife Barbara, Phoenix, Arizona and William Matthew "Matt" Grace and wife Cathy of Prescott Valley, Arizona; Ann: info from ANI of Page and Taylor counties... Thomas, Ann Kathryn of Mvle wed William Grace of BJct; 28 Jul at Mvle. B 02 Aug 1956 5 Howard Thomas Grace m. Barbara ? 6 Megan Grace 6 Thomas Grace 5 Heather Grace m. James Kaiser 6 Kathryn Kaiser 6 Elizabeth Kaiser 5 William Matthew "Matt" Grace m. Cathy ? 6 William Mack Grace II 6 Lily Grace 4 Arlene June Grace (details excluded) m. John Lewis "J.L." Prater b. 21 July 1938 Fillmore, MO d. 17 Apr 2008 Council Bluffs, IA [son of Glen Wood Prater and Ethel Evelyn Wright] 5 Gena Grace Prater (details excluded) 5 Jayson Lewis Prater (details excluded) 5 Jerald Harvey Prater 3 Edith Grace b. 18 Oct 1905 d. Oct 1995 m. Floyd Boggs m. John Comanita b. 22 June 1892 d. Oct 1967 info from SSDI: Name: EDITH E COMANITA SSN: 554-01-0515 Last Residence: 92021 El Cajon, San Diego, CA Born: 18 Oct 1905 Last Benefit: Died: Oct 1995 State (Year) SSN issued: CA (Before 1951 ) John: John: info from SSDI: Name: JOHN COMANITA SSN: 553-20-6287 Last Residence: 92021 El Cajon, San Diego, CA Born: 22 Jun 1892 Last Benefit: Died: Oct 1967 State (Year) SSN issued: CA (1952 ) 4 Bud Boggs 4 Wilma Boggs 3 Helen Lenora Grace b. 9 April 1908 d. Mar 1981 m. Aubrey C. Long m. 28 Sept 1926 m. ? Sloneker m. 30 Aug 1958 4 Grace (Eileen/Carol) Long (details excluded) m. David Brundage 4 James Carrol Long 2 Theodosha Grace b. abt 1872 WI 2 Alexander Grace b. abt 1874 IA 1930 Census Oklahoma County, OK Oklahoma City dist. 93: Grace, Alexander lodger male white age 54 divorced b. Iowa father b. N.Ireland mother b. Iowa salesman of elect. signs 2 Fannie Grace b. abt 1876 IA d. 12 May 1945 m. William Dennis b. 1856 MO d. Jan 1923 info from Debbie Lubbs: Jan.1920, Otoe Co., NE, 4th Ward, Nebraska City, 3rd Ave., line 3-7 DENNIS, William, head, own/mortg home, Mu (Mulatto),64, married, born MO, parents born MO, barber own shop DENNIS, Fanny, wife, Mu, 46, OH, f. WI/m. OH " Jerome, son, Mu, 14, NE, attend school w/in yr. " Josephine, dau, Mu, 9, NE " GRACE, Harvey, nephew, Mu, 18, CO, f.KS/m.IN, laborer in packing plant. info from http://www.rootsweb.com/~neotoe/wyuka/wyuka_d.htm William: info from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~neotoe/wyuka/wyuka_d.htm 3 Jerome Dennis b. 1906 NE m. Violet ? b. abt 1904 IA 1930 Census Adair County, Iowa Summerset township dist. 19: Dennis, Jerome G. age 24 born NE father b.MO mother OH Violet, age 26 born IA father b. IA, mother IA Robert E. son age 2 1/2 born NE Gerald E. son age 4/12 born IA Harris, Edmond D age 75 boarder born England 4 Robert E. Dennis (details excluded) 4 Gerald E. Dennis (details excluded) 3 Josephine Dennis b. 1911 NE 3 Rachel Elaine Dennis m. William Virgil Ethington 4 Rachel Elaine Ethington m. William Preston Nauslar 5 Billie Nauslar 5 ? Nauslar 2 Jerome Grace b. abt 1878 listed as a surviving brother in James L. Grace's obit in 1941, residing in Lawton, OK