"Rev. Gannis Laid To Rest Beside Wife--Funeral services for the late Rev. George Washington Grannis were held at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon with Rev. Fred C. Taylor, pastor, and Dr. D.H. Leach, district superintendent, in charge, assisted by members of the G.A.R. Interment was in the Jason Lee cemetery. Rev. Grannis died at his home in Turlock, Calif., Friday night and was laid to rest beside his first wife.
Rev. Grannis was born at Hannahs-town, Butler county, Penn., August 24, 1947 and enlisted with Company E. 193rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry when he was only 16 years old, being mustered out of service at Pittsburgh in November, 1864. Shortly after he moved to Missouri with his parents and was licensed to preach and later ordained by the St. Louis conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1872 he went to Arkansas and in 1874 was transferred to the Pacific northwest, became pastor of the Methodist church at Walla Walla, Wash., spending 14 years in eastern Washington, including four years as presiding elder and pastor at Boise City and Canyon City, Idaho. He was transferred to the Oregon conference in 1888, serving for 13 years as pastor in Astoria, Salem and Portland. For two years he was field agent for Willamette university and in recognition of his services, was awarded the title of Doctor of Divinity.
Seeking a change for his health, he returned to the Pittsburgh conference in 1901, holding several pastorates and building two churches in addition to taking a leading part in industrial work in which he was engaged when the slogan "safety first" first came into existence. He led the fight for one day's rest in seven for postal employees while prominently engaged in the work of the Alleghany Sunday rest association, becoming general field secretary for the Lord's Day Alliance.
In 1910 he married Katherine S. Stannard, of Columbus, Ohio, one son being born, Frank L. Grannis, graduate of Willamette university and at present principal of the Cottage Grove high school. While in Turlock he served as department commander for California and Nevada from 1924 to 1925 and was commander of the Long Beach G.A.R. for two years. He was recently appointed assistant adjutant general, national office of the G.A.R. and commander of the Turlock post. Civic activities also interested him and he served as president of the Turlock high school board and held membership in the chamber of commerce of that city. He affiliated with the Masonic order while in Oregon in 1876 and served as chaplain of the Turlock lodge for several years. Services at Turlock Sunday were in charge of the Masonic lodge of that city. Besides his widow and son he is survived by two brothers, Samuel Grannis, of Swissvale, Penn., and William Grannis, of Los Angeles and two sisters, Mrs. G.G. Brewer, Long Beach, Calif., and Mrs. Ira Baker of Inglewood, Calif." CJ Nov 23, 1927 7:4