Bio-Firestone, GrantLouisSr

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Grant Louis Firestone Sr.
(1866-1958)

Grant Louis Firestone Sr. -- a.k.a. "Grant M. Firestone" -- was born on Dec. 22, 1866 in Somerset County, PA, the son of Lewis and Sarah Ann (Rose) Firestone.

At a young age, Grant migrated with his parents to Fayette County, PA.

On April 1, 1891, the 24-year-old Grant married 17-year old Christena Kirkwood (1874-1966), the daughter of David and Christena Kirkwood of Pittsburgh, PA. The ceremony took place in New Haven (now West Connellsville), PA.

They had nine children – David Laurence Firestone, Albert J. Firestone, Ada Opperman Laws, Leroy Firestone, Ira R. Firestone, Grant L. Firestone Jr., Edna Auer, Huey W. Firestone and an unnamed son who died in infancy.

Grant was a lifelong farmer. They belonged to the Rich Hill Church of God.

Tragedy rocked the family when their 26-year-old son Huey was killed in an automobile accident in Wyandotte, MI in 1941.

Grant died at his home in Breakneck at age 92 on Dec. 21, 1958. At the time of death, he had 29 grandchildren and "many" great-grandchildren, said the Courier. He was buried at Mount Olive Cemetery.

The Firestones' grave at Mount Olive Cemetery in Bullskin Township

Christena outlived her husband by eight years. Said the Courier in 1966, "She had been an invalid for the past seven years, since breaking her hip in a fall." She lived with daughter Edna in her later years, and died at the Auer home at age 92 on Feb. 27, 1966.

~ Son Albert J. Firestone Sr. ~

Son Albert J. Firestone Sr. (1896-1973) married Pearl Leish ( ? - ? ). They resided in Marion, OH and had five children -- Nellie Firestone, A.J. Firestone Jr., Lynn Firestone, Mabel Brooks and Ruth Brooks. Pearl passed away before Albert. He retired from Bell Telephone Company. He died in Marion at the age of 76 on June 1, 1973.

Grandson Albert J. "A.J." Firestone Jr. (1921-1996) "was a self-employed building contractor for over 30 years," said the Courier. "He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army…" He married Elsie Firestone (1927-2008), the daughter of Jerry M. and Sarah (Murray) Firestone. They were members of the E.U.B. Church at Pleasant Hills, and attended the Church of the Open Door in Connellsville. Said the Courier, Elsie "retired from the Connellsville Area School District as a cafeteria manager. She worked for the school district for 40 years." Their three children were Linda Sue Williamson, Sandy Firestone and Alan "A.J." Firestone. Albert passed away in 1996. Elsie outlived him by a dozen years, and in later life attended the Indian Creek Baptist Church in Mill Run, where her husband's Minerd ancestors rest for eternity. Elsie died at the age of 81, on New Year's Eve 2008, "following a courageous battle with cancer," said the Courier. She joined Albert in quiet rest at the Normalville Cemetery.

Granddaughter Ruth Firestone ( ? - ? ) married James " Melvin" Brooks ( ? - ? ), the son of Samuel and Dollie (Eicher) Brooks. She was a Sunday School teacher and director of the Sunday School Department of Elk Ridge Baptist Church in Maryland. Melvin was "manager of Altman’s Feed Store in Connellsville, and also an employee of Railway Express which ran out of Connellsville," said the Uniontown Herald-Standard. They had five children -- Norma May, Blaine Brooks, Ronald Brooks, Samuel Brooks and Deborah Whaley. They are listed in the 1975 book, Brooks Family History.

Granddaughter Mabel Firestone ( ? - ? ) married Oscar O. Brooks (1915-2003), also a son of Samuel and Dollie (Eicher) Brooks. They lived in Connellsville where Oscar was a lineman for the West Penn Power Company. The Brookses had five children -- Wilma June Showman, Willis E. Brooks, Gene Brooks, Robert Brooks and Eileen Brooks. They also are mentioned in the Brooks history book. Oscar passed away on June 6, 2003.

~ Son David L. Firestone ~

Son David L. Firestone (1893-1966) married Gertrude Margaret Leach (1896-1967). They resided in the Connellsville area, and circa 1927 had a telephone in their home, with the number "4100-R-15." Said the Courier, "He was a retired lineman of West Penn Power Co., with 30 years of service." They had six children -- Howard A. Firestone, Harry L. Firestone, Elmer David Firestone, David L. Firestone Jr., Warren R. Firestone and Helen Buchholz. David passed away at home at the age of 73 on Dec. 6, 1966, "after a lingering illness." He was laid to rest in Mt. Olive Cemetery near Pennsville. At his death he was survived by 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Grandson Warren R. Firestone Sr. worked for "Anchor Hocking Closure Division as a lithographer with 38 years of service," said the Courier. (Anchor Hocking's Connellsville facility is seen at right.) "He was a member of The Graphic Arts International Union. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in Korea with Company G of the 7th Infantry Regiment."

Grandson David L. Firestone Jr. ( ? - ? ) married Norma Welsh. He "was the fourth generation in the Firestone family to work as a beekeeper and was an active member of the Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association," said the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. "He was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theatre. David was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained at Mindanao, Philippine Islands [and] a trustee of the Rich Hill Union Community Church and Cemetery."

Daughter Helen Firestone ( ? - ? ) married Karl F. Buchholz Sr. ( ? - ? ). Karl was a World War II veteran of the Navy, serving on "the USS Pennsylvania in the Asiatic-Pacific and Phillipine Liberation Campaigns," said the Courier. "He was a bus mechanic and driver for many years with the Kern School Buses and R.W. Beck School Buses."

Grandson Elmer David Firestone was a clerk with Oppman Auto Parts of Connellsville and "a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army Air Force in North Africa and England," the Courier said.

Daughter Ada Firestone (1901-1973) first married Arthur Opperman (1923?- ? ) in 1924. At the time of marriage, he was a laborer residing in Connellsville. Later, she married married James Laws (1896-1981). They lived on Breakneck Road near Connellsville. James served in France in World War I, and later was a longtime coal miner.

~ Son Ira Firestone ~

Son Ira Firestone ( ? - ? ) lived in Xenia, Greene County, OH circa 1958-1966.

~ Son Leroy Firestone ~

Son Leroy Firestone (1902-1982) worked for West Penn Power Company in Greensburg. He married Eleanor Jean Curry and had several children. One of their sons, Roy Eugene Firestone, died at age five months, 15 days on Jan. 21, 1928.

~ Son Grant Firestone Jr. ~

Son Grant Firestone Jr. (1909-1978) was married twice. His first wife was Eloise E. Brooks (1913- ? ), the daughter of Charles B. and Della Mae (Gallentine) Brooks. [Eloise's brother, William Curtis Brooks, married Grant's distant cousin, Blanche Pritts.] They lived in Connellsville and had four children -- Albert Firestone, Eva Jean O'Roark, Della Pearl Biler and Shirley Shallenberger. Grant and Eloise apparently divorced, as he later married Grace Huey (1909-2003), and Eloise went on to marry World War II veteran Eugene Thomas. This family also is listed in detail in the 1975 Brooks Family History (see above).

~ Daughter Edna (Firestone) Auer ~

Daughter Edna Firestone (1912-1990) married John L. Auer ( ? - ? ). They were married for 58 years.

Said the Courier, "She was a former employee of Anchor Hocking and of Meidel’s Restaurant. She was a member of Immaculate Conception RC Church, Connellsville." John was employed for 35 years at Robertshaw Fulton Controls Company in New Stanton, Westmoreland County, PA. The Robertshaw plant is seen at left in a rare old postcard photograph.

Edna died in 1990, at the age of 78.