Griffis, Harvey J.

GRIFFIS, MCKEEVER, SUMMERVILLE, MOORE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 11/23/2008 at 13:35:27

GRIFFIS, Harvey J.; firm of McKEEVER & SUMMERVILL, Druggists; Prairie City; was born in Lewis CO., Ky., May 3, 1829; has 480 acres of land, valued at $20,000; been a member of the M. E. Church for twenty-four years. Married Eliza A. MOORE, who was born in Huron Co., Ohio, March 18, 1832; mother of thirteen children, four of whom are living-John, Douglas, Frank, Joseph. Emigrated with his parents to Clay Co., Indiana, in 1839; lived there 11 years; thence to Lee Co., Iowa in 1850; was there at the big deluge of 1851; lived there two years; thence to Jasper Co., where he has resided since; moved into a house with his father six miles west of Monroe. At the time of coming here, this county was one vast prairie, plenty of Indians of 200 and 300 in a band; deer and wolves were numerous. When he came to the county, was a poor man, had only $2.50, a team and wagon, to battle against the hardships of a new country; had to go to Oskaloosa for his milling forty miles; there was one small store in Monroe where he did his trading; could not buy groceries or dry goods with grain; has hauled wheat to Ottumwa, sixty miles, and sold it for 40 cents per bushel; came here when the country was new, and knows what a pioneer's life is; by industry and economy has accumulated a fine property and pleasant home, and is one of the sound men of the county. ~ "The History of Jasper County" (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878), 640