Griffith, W. S.

GRIFFITH, FLEMING, BOWER, SARGENT, BERRYLAMONT

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 3/30/2021 at 15:51:34

W.S. Griffith, farmer and stock-raiser a portrait of whom appears upon the opposite page, is residing on section 14, Lime Creek Township. He was born in Washington County, Ind., Nov. 25, 1818, and is the son of Horatio and Elizabeth W. (Fleming) Griffith, who were united in marriage in 1818. The father was a native of Western New York, born in 1796. The mother was born in Pennsylvania, in 1800. They removed to Washington County, Ind., in the summer of 1818, and remained there until 1826, then went back to New York, near Geneseo, in Livingston County, where Horatio Griffith bought a tract of land, which he subsequently sold on time, and went to work by the month. After he had made collection on the sale, he again moved with his family to Washington County, Ind., in 1831, settling in Brown Township, and residing there until his death, which occurred in 1846. He was a very active man and took a lively interest in public affairs, was a great admirer of J. Q. Adams and Henry Clay, and was an enthusiastic supporter of W. H. Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity: W. S., of whom we write, was first in order of birth; Jackson died at about the age of six years, in New York; Martha is the widow of Washington Wright, and resides in Orleans, Iowa; Margaret F., the widow of Argus Clarke, now resides in Whiteside County, Ill.; Elizabeth, the wife of Sanford Townsley, resides in the northeastern part of Nebraska; Charlotte, the widow of Thomas Clark, resides in Custer County, Neb.; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Franklin Whissinand, who is also deceased; Ellen died in 1855 in this county; James F. was a farmer in Pawnee County, Neb.; he died Oct. 16, 1885, leaving a wife and eight children. John W. is a farmer in Lime Creek Township; one died in infancy.

The subject of this sketch came to Iowa in 1845, and took a claim near South English River, township 77, range 11, Keokuk County, consisting of 320 acres of land. He then returned to Indiana in August, and in April of 1846 returned to his claim and raised a crop that summer. He had some prairie broken, and in 1848 rented his farm, going to Wassonville, where he engaged in carpentering, continuing there at different kinds of work until 1849, when he commenced repairing wagons and making new ones till the fall of 1850. In the spring of 1850 he sold his land near South English for a horse and a note of $100 without interest, having decided to go to California. If he returned from California the note was to be paid, if not, the note was not to be paid; but the contemplated trip was not made. July 2, 1850, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Bower, a daughter of Anthony Bower. Mrs. Griffith was a native of Maryland. By this union four children were born; of that number one is yet living, Scott, who was educated for the law, but followed teaching and is now residing near Astoria, Ore. Mrs. Griffith died in 1860.

In 1850, our subject bought 132 acres of land near Dayton, and sold the same in 1854, buying land on sections 21 and 28, of township 77, range 9, consisting of 160 acres, and followed farming until the breaking out of the Civil War. In 1861, he enlisted in the State service and went to Davenport, but was rejected and came home. Nov. 17, 1861, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Christina Sargent. Her maiden name was Foster. By this union two children were born, both dying in infancy. The mother died Nov. 29, 1863.

In April, 1865, Mr. Griffith bought a half interest in the Wassonville mill, and removed to that village, where he remained until 1866, when he sold out and moved to Dayton, engaging in the general merchandise business at that place, continuing there until the spring of 1867, when he again sold out and moved to the Dickenson place on section 22, Lime Creek Township. March 4, 1869 he was again united in marriage, Mrs. Hannah A. Berry becoming his wife. She was born in Washington, Ill., Aug. 15, 1840, and was the daughter of Horatio Wanton and Rosanna (Lamont) Parker, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio. Six children have been born of this union: Martha W., the wife of Dennis Bull, a farmer in Lime Creek Township; Nellie G., at home; Charles W., deceased; one who died in infancy; Robert Parker and James Mack. Mrs. Griffith was the mother of four children by her first husband, William Hayes: Susan married Philip Whetsine; Lucy J., deceased; Wanton, deceased; Laura, the wife of James Coffey.

In 1876, Mr. Griffith bought seventy-nine acres where he now resides, and now owns 244 acres, all under a fine state of cultivation, with all necessary out-buildings for a well-regulated farm. He came to Iowa with a cash capital of about seventy-five cents, and, with that as a start, by his own industry and good management, has accumulated and abundance with which to smooth his declining years. He is now turning his attention to stock-raising, and has on hand some fine specimens of the Norman and Clydesdale breeds of horses, together with Short-horn and Red-Polled cattle. He has set out between seven and eight hundred fruit and a number of shade trees on his farm. Mr. Griffith cast his first vote for Harrison, and was an ardent supporter of the war measures. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Dayton Lodge. Politically, he is independent, and religiously, both Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are members of the Christian Church.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of W. S. Griffith, pages 527-528. Portrait found on page 526.