Tift, Edward W.

TIFT, BLISS, PRICE, MCGREW

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2019 at 17:44:38

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 566:

"EDWARD W. TIFT has been a resident of Decatur County since 1875. He settled on section 5, Eden Township, November 14, 1877, where he purchased 120 acres of land, upon which he has made many improvements, including his fine residence. He now has 160 acres. When Mr. Tift came to this county he engaged in the mercantile trade at Leon, under the firm name of McGrew & Tift, where he remained eighteen months, then purchased his farm. He was born in Indiana in 1840, and was left an orphan before the age of ten years. His parents were James and Rosella Tift, who removed to Illinois when Edward was an infant. They left four children -- James A., now in Kansas; Frances Rosella, who, after the death of her parents, lived with her mother's sister, Mrs. Jacob Bliss, and afterward lived with another family who removed to Ohio, and all trace of her is lost; Edward W., our subject, and Sarah M., who married Ebenezer Price, now deceased. The family was left without means, and Mr. Tift was entirely dependent upon his own resources. He attended school several winter terms, doing chores for his board. August 11, 1862, he enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. He was in the battle of Corinth, under Rosecrans, and after the battle of Holly Springs, Mississippi, took part in the pursuit of the Confederates to Coffeeville. He was engaged in the Grierson raid, and was with General Thomas at Nashville when Sherman marched to the sea. He was never wounded, but his health was broken by exposure. His right arm became partially paralyzed and has never fully recovered. After the war he returned to his place of enlistment, and to where he has lived the most of his life. He was married September 14, 1865, to Martha E. McGrew. She was born near Livonia, Indiana, July 5, 1846, and removed in infancy with her parents, James and Martha McGrew, to Knoxville, Illinois; her parents are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Tift have two children -- James Edward, born March 28, 1875, and Mary Effie, born July 5, 1880. The three older ones died in infancy. After his marriage Mr. Tift lived one year in Illinois, and then moved to Missouri; living there until his removal to Decatur County."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)