GEMINI AI says:
Griswold Street in Grand Rapids is named for Lester Griswold (1803-1891), an early and prominent settler of Grand Rapids.
Here's what I found about him:
- Early Arrival: Lester Griswold was among the very early white settlers in Grand Rapids, arriving in the area in 1833 (or possibly 1834, sources vary slightly on the exact year). This was even before Grand Rapids was officially incorporated.
- Surveyor and Landowner: He was a surveyor by profession and played a significant role in mapping out the burgeoning settlement. He purchased extensive tracts of land, including property where the street now bears his name.
- Prominent Citizen: Griswold was involved in various aspects of the nascent community. His contributions as a landowner and surveyor were crucial to the city's early development.
- Family Connection: He was married to Harriet Griswold.
Given his early arrival, profession as a surveyor, and significant landholdings in the area, it is clear that Griswold Street was named in his honor.
ChatGPT says :
It appears there's no direct evidence that Griswold Street in Grand Rapids, MI was named for a local individual. However, there is a strong possibility it was named after Stanley Griswold (1763–1818):
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Stanley Griswold was appointed in 1805 as the first Secretary of Michigan Territory by President Thomas Jefferson. He briefly served as acting Territorial Governor in 1806 during Governor Hull's absence realtor.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3stevemorse.org+3.
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His contributions to the early governance of Michigan—helping establish territorial administration—led to streets in Michigan cities being named in his honor (notably, Griswold Street in Detroit) .
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While Grand Rapids didn't exist as a major city until later, it was common to adopt street names from prominent territorial leaders during mid‑19th century urban planning.
