Elsworth Criss, Sr. was one of 4 children born to Allen and Eleanore Criss. He never went past the third grade because his help was needed on the small family farm. When Elsworth was a boy, his grandmother Juliette came to live with the family after her husband died about 1877. Elsworth was the only person who got along with her. He would take her meals to her in her room on a tray, and also clean her pipe (!).
When he was a young man, Elsworth hopped a train and rode north to Linden, Indiana. He liked the looks of the area, so he got off and eventually purchased an 80-acre farm near Clarks Hill.
When he was 35, he married Bertha Riley, in Darlington, Indiana. They had 3 children: Mary Lorraine, Margaret Ann (Ann), and Elsworth Jr., always called Criss.
Elsworth and Bertha were able to keep their farm going, even during the Depression. They raised cattle, hogs (Elsworth's favorite), corn and chickens.
Elsworth was a voracious reader in spite of his limited formal education, and he could discuss politics with anybody.
He was a long-time member of the Clarks Hill Christian Church, and he chewed tobacco nearly every day of his life, but never inside the house.
Elsworth thought that Harry S. Truman was the greatest American who ever drew a breath, and they died in 1972, within days of each other. Elsworth was 91 and still possessed of a sharp mind...his body just wore out.
Elsworth Criss, Sr., a kind and gentle man, was my Grandpa, and he is greatly missed.
When he was a young man, Elsworth hopped a train and rode north to Linden, Indiana. He liked the looks of the area, so he got off and eventually purchased an 80-acre farm near Clarks Hill.
When he was 35, he married Bertha Riley, in Darlington, Indiana. They had 3 children: Mary Lorraine, Margaret Ann (Ann), and Elsworth Jr., always called Criss.
Elsworth and Bertha were able to keep their farm going, even during the Depression. They raised cattle, hogs (Elsworth's favorite), corn and chickens.
Elsworth was a voracious reader in spite of his limited formal education, and he could discuss politics with anybody.
He was a long-time member of the Clarks Hill Christian Church, and he chewed tobacco nearly every day of his life, but never inside the house.
Elsworth thought that Harry S. Truman was the greatest American who ever drew a breath, and they died in 1972, within days of each other. Elsworth was 91 and still possessed of a sharp mind...his body just wore out.
Elsworth Criss, Sr., a kind and gentle man, was my Grandpa, and he is greatly missed.
Elsworth Criss, Sr. was one of 4 children born to Allen and Eleanore Criss. He never went past the third grade because his help was needed on the small family farm. When Elsworth was a boy, his grandmother Juliette came to live with the family after her husband died about 1877. Elsworth was the only person who got along with her. He would take her meals to her in her room on a tray, and also clean her pipe (!).
When he was a young man, Elsworth hopped a train and rode north to Linden, Indiana. He liked the looks of the area, so he got off and eventually purchased an 80-acre farm near Clarks Hill.
When he was 35, he married Bertha Riley, in Darlington, Indiana. They had 3 children: Mary Lorraine, Margaret Ann (Ann), and Elsworth Jr., always called Criss.
Elsworth and Bertha were able to keep their farm going, even during the Depression. They raised cattle, hogs (Elsworth's favorite), corn and chickens.
Elsworth was a voracious reader in spite of his limited formal education, and he could discuss politics with anybody.
He was a long-time member of the Clarks Hill Christian Church, and he chewed tobacco nearly every day of his life, but never inside the house.
Elsworth thought that Harry S. Truman was the greatest American who ever drew a breath, and they died in 1972, within days of each other. Elsworth was 91 and still possessed of a sharp mind...his body just wore out.
Elsworth Criss, Sr., a kind and gentle man, was my Grandpa, and he is greatly missed.
When he was a young man, Elsworth hopped a train and rode north to Linden, Indiana. He liked the looks of the area, so he got off and eventually purchased an 80-acre farm near Clarks Hill.
When he was 35, he married Bertha Riley, in Darlington, Indiana. They had 3 children: Mary Lorraine, Margaret Ann (Ann), and Elsworth Jr., always called Criss.
Elsworth and Bertha were able to keep their farm going, even during the Depression. They raised cattle, hogs (Elsworth's favorite), corn and chickens.
Elsworth was a voracious reader in spite of his limited formal education, and he could discuss politics with anybody.
He was a long-time member of the Clarks Hill Christian Church, and he chewed tobacco nearly every day of his life, but never inside the house.
Elsworth thought that Harry S. Truman was the greatest American who ever drew a breath, and they died in 1972, within days of each other. Elsworth was 91 and still possessed of a sharp mind...his body just wore out.
Elsworth Criss, Sr., a kind and gentle man, was my Grandpa, and he is greatly missed.
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