Martin Griswold

GRISWOLD, WILLIAMS, WITHROW

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/13/2005 at 19:54:57

Martin Griswold, for many years a farmer in Madison township, this county, was born in Ohio in 1818, a son of Hezekiah and Mary Griswold, who were likewise natives of that state. They owned an orchard comprising sixty acres of land and in addition to engaging quite extensively in the. fruit business the father carried on general farming. Both passed away in the Buckeye state.

Martin Griswold was reared and educated in Ohio and remained with his parents until he reached mature years. He was then married and subsequently came to Madison county, Iowa, arriving here just before the close of the Civil war. He bought land in Grand River township, which he operated for four years, and then sold it, removing to section 2, Madison township, where he purchased eighty acres. He began to improve the place and in the course of time made it one of the attractive farm properties of his locality. He gained a competence from his agricultural labor and was regarded as a capable farmer. He passed away upon his land, December 14, 1880.

Mr. Griswold was married on the 5th of October, 1860, to Miss Mary Jane Withrow, a daughter of James and Mary (Williams) Withrow, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Kentucky. The father, who was a shoemaker by trade, went to Ohio at an early day and resided there for a number of years, before he returned to Pennsylvania, where his death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold became the parents of five children: John A., who died in July, 1905; D. M., a farmer of Madison township, this county; E. B., the proprietor of the Griswold Medicine Company of Des Moines; Joseph, who is living in Ohio; and Emma J., who died in February, 1907.

Mr. Griswold was a republican and was unwavering in his allegiance to that party. He was a member of the Baptist church, was a sincere Christian and did all in his power to advance the cause of Christianity. Mrs. Griswold is a devout member of the Methodist church. She has resided upon the farm since her husband's death with the exception of four years which she spent in Dexter, Iowa. She now rents the land to C. P. Cline and derives a comfortable income therefrom.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.