The name of Madison Grisso also appears in various records as Mathias, Matison, Mattison, and Matterson. In addition, the History of Roanoke County, Virginia lists a son of Jacob Grisso, Sr. named "Matthew", apparently referring to Madison. The spelling Madison is chosen for this database because that is how it is spelled in the settlement of his father-in-law's estate. The paper work was prepared by a prominent and well educated neighbor who knew the Grisso family well. According to Carridon Grisso, a well respected neighbor of Jacob Grisso was named Madison Pitzer, and it is likely that young Madison was named after him. As further corroboration of the spelling, note that Madison's younger brother John named his third son James Madison Grisso, and Madison's sister Sarah also named her first son James Madison, probably following the tradition of naming a son after one's two eldest brothers.

Madison left Virginia between 1838 and 1840, settling in Tennessee. He appears in the 1840 census of Hamilton Co., Tennessee as "Mathias". Around 1844/45 he moved on to Fulton County, Arkansas where he lived for the rest of his life. He is listed there in the 1850 and 1860 census, and his widow Sarah is listed there in 1870 and 1880.