1. JOHN¹ ROYSTON. He married REBECCA.

Children of John Royston and Rebecca are:

2. ELI² ROYSTON (JOHN¹) was born June 14, 1806 in England, and died November 14, 1870 in Eaton County MI. He married ELIZABETH "BETSY" PRATT.

Notes
Eli died in Eaton county, Michigan, of a "spinal affection". He was a farmer at the time of his death. Both his parents were deceased at the time of Eli's death.

Children of Eli Royston and Elizabeth Pratt are:

Notes
I have been unable to confirm that John W. Royston was the son of Rebecca and John Royston. I am only going on information provided by Genevieve (Gruesbeck) Zeitz that the children of John W. were cousins to Genevieve. The family names given to John W's children would strengthen an argument for the same ancestor.

John died at 82 years of age.

The family came from Senecca County, New York in 1842. ("Past and Present of the City of Lansing and Ingham County", Albert E. Cowles, Michigan Historical Publishing Association, page 392)

Children of John Royston and Jane Long are:

4. JOHN³ ROYSTON (ELI², JOHN¹) was born March 24, 1831 in Orleans County, NY. He married (1) JANE "ELIZA" BOOTH. He married (2) MARGARET MURRAY 1870.

Children of John Royston and Jane Booth are:

Notes
George died of "Cirossis of Liver." He was a farmer in Eaton Rapids Township, Eaton County, MI.

George came to Michigan with his parents when he was 13. He returned to NY and married Rosetta.

Children of George Royston and Rosetta Alderson are:

Notes
William and Marion resided in Missouri.

Child of Marion Royston and William Boody is:

Notes
Thomas and Sarah were married by Justice of the Peace, William Southworth in the presence of Eli Royston and Beunona Booth. Thomas died of unknown causes.

Child of Thomas Royston and Sarah Miller is:

Notes
Cornelius died of "chronic intertit nepluritis". He was a farmer. He and Elizabeth were married at the home of Eli Royston, by Justice of the Peace, William Southworth.

Children of Cornelius Royston and Elizabeth Klingersmith are:

9. CHARLES M.⁴ ROYSTON (JOHN³, ELI², JOHN¹) was born Abt 1868. He married IDA MAY GRIFFEN May 02, 1891 in Charlotte, Eaton County, MI, daughter of Sheldon Griffen.

Notes
Another source gives Charles birth date to be in 1869. He died at age 86. He and Ida were married by Minister of Gospel, C.D. Jarvis in Charlotte, Eaton County, MI. Charles was a farmer.

His obituary must have listed "survived by" Mrs. Howard Cleves of Charlotte,

Mrs. Paul Clements of Charlotte and Mrs. Henry Knapp of Lyons. Mrs. Knapp was Marjorie. unknown what the daughter's name is that married Howard Cleves.

Children of Charles Royston and Ida Griffen are:

Children of John Royston and unk Royston are:

Children of William Royston and Sylvia Rudesill are:

Notes
Eli's occupation at the time of marriage to Atta was farmer.

Child of Eli Royston and Atta Hicks is:

Notes
I also have a birth date of December 10, 1872.

Children of Anna Royston and James Gruesbeck are:

Notes
Esther's cause of death was given as "evidently endocarditis aggravated by La Grippe."

Children of Esther Boody and George Gruesbeck are:

Notes
Fred was a farmer at the time of his marriage to Lillia.

Children of Fred Royston and Lillia Young are:

Notes
Samuel and Martha were married by W.D. Stratton in Eaton Rapids.

Child of Samuel Royston and Martha Martin is:

17. LEO SHELDON⁵ ROYSTON (CHARLES M.⁴, JOHN³, ELI², JOHN¹) was born May 30, 1895 in Eaton County MI, and died December 06, 1989 in Lansing, Ingham County, MI, buried in Deepdale Memorial Cemetery, Lansing, MI. He married FREDA I. SAWDY February 20, 1916 in Woodland.

Notes
A 1966 (unknown) newspaper article reads:

Celebration Planned for Leo Roystons

Vermontville - Mr. and Mrs. Leo Royston of rural Vermontville will observe their 50th anniversary at an open house from 1 to 5 pm on Sunday in the 4-H building at the Charlotte fairgrounds.

Hosting the celebration will be their five sons and daughters in law, the Gerald Roystons and Donald Roystons of Charlotte, Mr. and Mrs. Rex Royston and the Lyle Roystons of Vermontville and the Loren Roystons of Lansing, and sons-in-law and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Durfey of Webberville and the Robert Yoders of Grayling.

The senior Roystons were married in Woodland on Feb. 20, 1916. They have 23 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Their winter home is in Bradenton, FL.

Leo's obituary notice reads:

Leo S. Royston
Leo Sheldon Royston, 94, Lansing, a former resident of Charlotte, died Dec. 6, 1989, following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Royston was born in Eaton County, a son of Charles and Ida (Griffon) Royston, on May 30, 1895. He was a farmer until 1949 and was later employed by the Charlotte Livestock Commission as stockyard manager. He was groundskeeper at the Charlotte fairgrounds until his retirement at the age of 80. He was a former member of the United Brethren Church, Charlotte, past president of the Manatee Shuffle Club of Bradenton, Fla, and a former Eaton County 4-H leader.

He is survived by five sons, Lyle of Clarksville, Loren of DeWitt, Donald of Harrison, Rex of Vermontville and Gerald of Charlotte; one daughter, Fern (Mrs. LeROy Verplank) of New Richlin, Minn.; two sisters Marie Royston of Lyons and Mildred (Mrs. Paul) Clements of Charlotte; 29 grandchildren; 72 great-grandchildren; 18 gret-great grandchildren, and special companion Mildred Youngs and her son Darrell Youngs.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Freda, in 1969 and one daughter, Leah Yoder in 1974.

Services were held Dec 9 at the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with the Rev. Randy Royston officiating. Interment was in Deepdale memorial Park, Lansing.

Children of Leo Royston and Freda Sawdy are:

Notes

Resided in Charlotte, MI

Children of Howard Royston and Lelah Houghton are:

Notes
His obituary read:

Royston, Lester G.
Charlotte

Mr. Royston, age 75, died October 11, 1980 at a Lansing hospital. He was a lifetime resident of Eaton COunty and a retired farmer. He was a member of the Shepartd St. United Brethren Church. He is survived by his wife, Lena; 2 sons, Ernam of Charlotte and Vernon of Flusing; 3 daughters, Mrs. Elmer (anna Mae) Conley and Mrs. Murl (Sharon) Miller both of Charlotte, Mrs. Gilbert (Elaine) Gray of Ossain, Indiana; 2 step-daughters, Mrs. Lewis (Elsie) Love of Eaton Rapids, Mrs. Alex (Joyce) Weever of Charlotte; 2 step-sons, Edward Shamp of Charlotte and Donald Shamp of Midland; 2 brothers, Leo and Howard of Charlotte; 3 sisters, Marie Royston of Lyons, Mildred Clements and Melva Clever both of Charlotte; 17 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 14 step grandchildren. Funderal services will be held Tuesday, 2 pm at the Pray Funeral Home with the Rev Floyd Nagel and the Rev. Harold Cherry officiating. Interment in the Maple Hill Cemetery. There will be a memorial fund available at the funeral home.

Children of Lester Royston and Leta Parr are:

Children of Marjorie Royston and Henry Knapp are:

Notes
Melva's obituary notice from unknown newspaper reads:

Clever, Melva M.
Charlotte

Mrs. Clever, age 89, a lifelong resident of Eaton County, died Nov. 6, 1982. She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Darry (Delores) Wertz of Charlotte; daughter-in-law, Elsie Clever of Haslett; 5 grandchildren; 2 sisters, Marie Royston of Lyons, Mildred Clements of Charlotte; 2 brothers, Leo of FL and Howard Royston of Charlotte. Funeral services will be held Tuesday 11 am at the Pray Funeral Home with the Rev. Harold Cherry officiating. Interment in Maple Hill cemetery.

Children of Melva Royston and Howard Clever are:

Children of Emmet Royston and Georgia Cady are:

Notes
Grover's obituary reads:

Royston, Grover
2386 Spruce
R3 Eaton Rapids

Died suddenly at his home Feb. 12, 1972 at the age of 82. He was born in Eaton Rapids Township, July 9, 1889 and had been a resident of Windsor Township most of his life. He is survived by one son, Dean, at home; 1 brother, Milton Royston, Lansing. Funeral services will be held from the Beryle Field Funeral Home, Dimondale, Tuesday, Feb 15 at 3 pm with Rev Richard Youells of the Dimondale United Methodist Church officiating. Interment in Dimondale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Robert Barker, Andreau Kosta, Harold Nagy, Richard Royston, WIlliam Royston and Harold Tiedgen.

Child of Grover Royston is:

Notes
Milton obituary reads:

Age 86, died Sat., October 23, 1982 at a local nursing home. He was a resident of Lansing for the past 57 years coming from Eaton Rapids. Mr. Royston was a member of the Olds Quarter Century Club. He was employed at Oldsmobile for 28 years, retiring in 1964. Surviving are 3 sons, Milton, Jr. of Eaton Rapids, Richard of Aurelius and William of Lansing; 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the Palmer-Bush Funeral Home Monday & Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9 pm where services will be held Wewd., October 27 at 11 a.m. Rev Lloyd A. Phillips officiating. Interment to follow in Evergreen cemetery.

Children of Milton Royston are:

Notes
At the time of their marriage, Harlo of Eaton Rapids, was a farmer and Anne of Portland, a teacher. Witnesses to the marriage were Frank and Genevieve (Gruesbeck) Zeitz. Albert D. Worden, Minister of Gospel of Eaton Rapids was the clergyman.

Ann and Harlo lived on the farm Harmon Gruesbeck originally farmed on Island Road in Eaton County, Michigan.

The (unknown) newspaper article fortelling of an open house for Harlo and Anne reads as follows:

Open House to Honor Anniversary

Friends and relatives are invited to attend an open house SUnday June 25 from 3 o'clock in the afternoon to 8 in the evening for Mr. and Mrs. Harlo Gruesbeck to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. The event will be at their home on the Island road.

Hosting the affair will be their children, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Gruesbeck and Mr. and Mrs. Wayland Hartenburg.

The family requests "no gifts" please.

Harlo's obituary notice (unknown newspaper) reads as follows:

Harlo Gruesbeck
Eaton Rapids - Harlo Gruesbeck, 75, of 8924 Island Hwy, died Saturday in his home after a long illness.

He was a veteran of World War I, a member of the American Legion, Eaton Rapids Post, and he was a lifelong resident of the area, where he farmed for several years.

Survivors include his wife, Anne; a son, Leo of Perry; a daughter, Mrs. Leone Hartenburg of Eaton Rapids; five grandchildren; and two sisters, Mrs. Frank Zeitz of Stockbridge and Mrs. Myrle Tilford of Jackson.

Services will be at 2 pm Tuesday in Skinner Chapel, with burial in Munger Cemetery here.

The funeral card lists pall bearers as Michael Cutler, Harvey Phelps, Vern Canedy, George Miller, Richard Miller and George Wilson.

Children of Harlo Gruesbeck and Anne Wilson are:

Notes
At the time of her marriage to Frank, Genevieve listed her occupation as domestic and her place of residence as Eaton Rapids Township.

During the Depression years Genevieve was employed at Reo of Lansing. She also took in washings and ironings to supplement the family income.

Children of Genevieve Gruesbeck and Frank Zeitz are:

Notes
Ellis listed his occupation as farmer on his marriage license.

His obituary (unknown paper) reads:
Ellis H. Gruesbeck

Ellis H. Gruesbeck, 85 years of age, was killed in an auto accident Friday, May 28th. The accident occurred at the corner of Canal and Island Roads near his residence. Mr. Gruesbeck was born December 19, 1890 in Eaton Rapids township and lived at 340 N. Gunnell Rd. He was a lifetime area resident and farmer, and was a member of the Eaton County Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his wife Jennie (Smith) with whom he was married for sixty-five years. Also one daughter, Mrs. Letha Hare of Dowling, Michigan, two grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 1st from the Skinner Chapel with Rev. Maurice Glasgow officiating and interment was in the Rosehill Cemetery. Casket bearers were Byron Frees, Claire Brunton, Vern Halifax, John Garity, Lawrence McKishnie and Jospeh Gould.

Another article (unknown newspaper) told of the accident:

Eaton Rapids man killed in car crash

Eaton Rapids - An elderly Eaton Rapids man was killed when his car collided with another on Island Highway Friday morning, state police said.

Ellis Gruesbeck, 85 of rural Eaton Rapids, was killed in the 11am accident at Island Highway and Canal Road in Eaton County.

A state trooper said the driver of the other car, Michael Dye, 20, of Bellevue, was given a ticket for failure to stop at a stop sign. Dye suffered only minor injuries in the accident.

Child of Ellis Gruesbeck and Jennie Smith is:

Notes
Claude's occupation at the time of his marriage to Johanna was farmer.

Children of Claude Royston and Johanna Klump are:

29. WILLIAM A.⁶ ROYSTON (MILTON⁵, WILLIAM⁴, GEORGE H.³, ELI², JOHN¹) died October 24, 1987 in Lansing, Ingham County, MI. He married MARCIE A.

Notes
William's obituary notice in an unknown paper reads:

Royston, William A.
Lansing

Age 58, died Saturday, October 24, 1987 at his residence. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a veteran of World War II serving with the U.S. Navy. He was employed with Michigan State University for the past 34 years and he was also employed part-time with the Michigan State Police, East Lansing Post, for the past 19 years. Surviving are his wife, Marcie A; 1 son and daughter-in-law, Staff Sergeant Rory A. and Veva A. Royston of Cherry Point, NC; 1 daughter, Leanne M. Royston of Lansing; 2 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Milton Royston Jr. of Eaton Rapids and Richard Royston of Mason; nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, 1 pm at the Chapel in the Pines Funeral Home with Rev. North Sherrill of Trinity Lutheran officiating. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to Hospice of Lansing. There will be no visitation at the Funeral Home.

Children of William Royston and Marcie A are:

Children of Leo Gruesbeck and Virginia Grimes are:

Children of Leona Gruesbeck and Wayland Hartenburg are:

Notes
James attended Lansing Public Schools, graduating from Eastern Hight School in January 1943. He had prepared himself for a future of farming. His part-time jobs included driving a beer truck and working on various neighboring dairy farms. At the time he married Edith, he was working for Waldo May, who lived approximately 8 miles from Charlotte, Michigan. Soon after the couple were married, James moved his wife to the farm of Curtis Smith, just east of Eaton Rapids, where the faily lived until 1953 when they purchased a farm of their own in Stockbridge, Ingham County, Michigan.

In addition to operating his newly acquired 192 acres, James worked a 40 hour week as a roofer in lansing with his father at various roofing firms until his son married and the two began a larger, full time farm operation.

Jim and Edith were married at the Robbins Church by the Rev. Lawson. Edith's sister, Elizabeth Klink was maid of honor. Leo Baumer stood up with Jim as best man.

Children of James Zeitz and Edith Klink are:

Children of Letha Gruesbeck and Gerald Hare are:

34. NANCY RUTH⁷ ZEITZ (JAMES WILLIAM⁶, GENEVIEVE⁵ GRUESBECK, ANNA NELLIE⁴ ROYSTON, GEORGE H.³, ELI², JOHN¹) was born October 29, 1948 in Eaton Rapids, Eaton County, MI. She married JOHN GUTIERREZ March 30, 1968 in Lansing, Ingham County, MI, son of Jose Gutierrez and Antonia Cantu.

Children of Nancy Zeitz and John Gutierrez are:

Children of Henry Zeitz and Kaye Randolph are:

Children of Peggy Zeitz and Gregory McCann are:

1. Eaton Rapids Journal, February 29, 1924