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Note: CENSUS: 1900 - U.S. Federal Census of Springfield Twp., Gallia Co., OH; shows Charles W. Grayum, Sep 1861 38 OH OH OH, wife Ora H. Jun 1865 35 OH OH OH m. 35 yrs, 4 ch., 4 lv., William H. Sep 1887 12 OH OH OH, Edna M. Aug 1889 10 OH OH OH, Eva H. Aug 1889 10 OH OH OH, Hazel A. Feb 1897 3 OH OH OH. 1920 - Soundex for Centralia, Lewis Co., WA; shows William H. Grayum 32 OH, wf Norma 29 OK, dau. Vena 2 1/12 WA, and ML Nanna Quein 57 KY. 1930 - Puyallup, Pierce Co., WA: shows William H. Grayum 42 M27 OH OH OH Supt. of Schools,, wife Norma V. 39 M24 OK GA KY, dau. Vena Q. 12 WA OH OK, son William C. 9 WA OH OK, son Gordon 6 WA OH OK, and ML Nannie Quien 68 Wd 24 KY KY KY. 1940 - U.S. Federal Census of Seattle, King Co., WA: shows William H. Grayum 53 5yrs coll OH textbook salesman, wife Norma 50 3yrs coll OK, son William C. 19 1yr coll WA, and son Gordon H. 16 WA. Buried Woodlawn Cemetery. Findagrave.com. SOURCE: Information from Luther W. English. Writings of Edna Grayum Koontz. Biography by Helen S. Grayum, revised by Vena Petitjean. History of Pierce County, Vol. III, Pioneer History Publishing Co., Chicago, 1927, pp 659-660. WW I draft registration: b. Gallipolis, OH, teacher, supporting wife and mother. William's childhood was spent on a farm in the beautiful hill country of southeastern Ohio, bordering the Ohio River. At age 14 he moved with his parents to Oklahoma Territory, settling at Jones, near Oklahoma City. Here the family experienced the rigors of pioneer life as they worked the cotton fields for a living. William attended the normal school in Edmond, OK, with his sisters. All his life it was taken for granted that William would go to college, and in 1912 he graduated from what is now Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, majoring in mathematics and education. He did graduate work at Washington University. During his college years he joined the National Guard. William's life was devoted to education. After five years in school administration at Marion and Neodosha, Kansas, he married Norma Vena Quein. The couple, responding to their love of nature and the allure of the mountains, rivers and forests of the Northwest, moved to Centralia, Washington, where William served as high school principal from 1915 to 1920. Their daughter Vena was born in Centralia. The family moved to Puyallup, Washington in 1920, where first he was principal of Puyallup High School. Then William became Superintendent of Schools for nine years. William, Gordon, and Lois were born in Puyallup. In 1924 William was elected President of the Washington Education Association at a critical time in its development as a professional organization of educators. In 1931, he undertook a new avenue of educational endeavor, becoming a textbook publisher's representative for the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. This work he followed for the remainder of his 45-year professional career. William's life was one of action, dedication to principle, devotion to family and the joy of living. Being in the Northwest brought to fruition the urge to explore and experience nature. For many years he was a mountaineer, and guided parties to the summit of Mt. Rainier. An expert woodsman, he shared his skills and enthusiasm with youth and adults alike. One of the highlights of his life was witnessing a total eclipse of the sun from the summit of Mt. St. Helens in the early twenties. After his retirement in 1958, and in keeping with his life-long interest in gardening, he developed the avocation of raising chrysanthemums, and the beautiful Grayum Gardens were well known in Seattle.
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