William Griffith

GRIFFITH, POND, HAZZARD, WHEELER, CRONE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/12/2011 at 11:01:10

WILLIAM GRIFFITH. Among the residents of Fairfield Township, Grundy County, who have successfully prosecuted agriculture for many years and have retired from the arduous labors of life is the gentleman above named. For many years one of the prominent farmers of this section, he has now divided his fine farm of three hundred acres among his children and is living on an eighty-acre tract.

Like many of the best residents of Grundy County, Mr. Griffith was born in Ohio, his birth occurring in Belmont County, October 23, 1816. He is the eldest son of Isaac and Ann Eliza (Pond) Griffith, natives of Maryland, where Grandfather Joseph Griffith located in an early day and engaged in farming. Mrs. Griffith was the daughter of Lambert and Deborah Pond, likewise natives of Maryland. There she received her education, and thence she accompanied her parents on their removal to Ohio in an early day. She was a member of the Christian Church, and at her death, which occurred in her forty-sixth year, left nine children, namely: our subject, Mary, Ann Eliza, Amy J., Isaac, Deborah, Ezekiel, Lambert and Catherine, the latter two of whom are now deceased.

The father of our subject migrated from Maryland to Ohio, and made his home in Belmont County in a very early day in its history. Later on coming to this state, he located in Van Buren County, and there died when fifty-six years of age. He was a Democrat in politics, held many public offices and commanded the respect of all who knew him. William Griffith attended the district school near his home, and in 1852, when coming to this state, purchased a quarter-section of Government land in this county and township, for which he paid $1.25 per acre. When locating here, his family was the second to make their home in Grundy County, and only those who have had that experience can picture the hardships which they endured for many years. Mr. Griffith was a hard working man, attended strictly to his own affairs and prosecuted his calling successfully until he had accumulated a handsome property of three hundred acres.

The lady who became the wife of our subject October 10, 1839, was Miss Sally, daughter of John and Lydia (Hazzard) Wheeler, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Griffith was born on her parents’ farm in Maskingum County, and after her marriage with our subject accompanied him to this then wild region. She lived to attain the age of seventy-three years. With her husband she was an active member of the Christian Church, and at her decease left eight children, thirty grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her sons and daughters were Isaac N., John W., Alexander R., William C., Amy J., Mary A., Lydia B. and Samuel W. Mary A. and Amy J. are now deceased.

Having attained the advanced age of seventy-seven years, our subject long ago gave up the work of carrying on his estate and has divided it among his children, only retaining for himself eighty acres. Since the death of his wife, his granddaughter Sally Crone has kept house for him. During his more active years he took great interest in promoting the welfare of his township and has held many public offices. He is a strong Republican in politics, and is much liked throughout the community for his sterling worth and integrity.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894