Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 927
AMOS J. GRIFFITH

One of the youngest and at the same time most progressive farmers of Allen township, Harrison county, Iowa, is Amos J. GRIFFITH, who has spent his entire life thus far within the limits of this county, where his parents located in 1867, and where they have been prominent in the affairs of the community in which they lived since that time. Starting in as a renter, Mr. GRIFFITH saved his money and was soon able to purchase a farm of his own, and now has one of the best improved farms of Allen township. He is a large stock raiser and ranks high among the best of his township. In the civic life of his community he has taken a commendable part and the offices which he has held demonstrate that he is a man of ability and energy.

Amos J. GRIFFITH, the son of William and Dorthula (COFFMAN) GRIFFITH, was born on October 21, 1883, near Mondamin, Morgan township, Harrison county, Iowa. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and Iowa, respectively. His father came to Harrison county about 1868, William GRIFFITH is a son of Amos and Elizabeth GRIFFITH, both natives of Pennsylvania. Amos GRIFFITH, Sr., was a soldier in the Civil War. When Dorthula Coffman was still a small girl her family emigrated to Utah, and later returned to Harrison county, about 1867. The wife of William GRIFFITH died on April 19, 1891. He has since remarried and now makes his home in Pisgah.

Amos J. GRIFFITH received a good common and high school education, graduating from the Little Sioux high school. He lived at home until he reached his majority and by this time was thoroughly acquainted with all the various phases of farming, so that he was able to manage a farm by himself. Upon reaching the age of twenty-one, he rented land for six years, although during this time he bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, in section 21, of Allen township. He continued to rent his farm out to other parties, however, until his marriage, since which time tills not only his own farm, but rents one hundred and twenty acres more, and is one of the large farmers in Allen township. He now feeds about fifty head of cattle and one hundred and fifty head of hogs for the market each year and finds that his greatest returns are from the sale of live stock.

Mr. GRIFFITH was married on February 27, 1906, to Nellie A. ROGERS. She was born near Woodbine, in this county, and is a daughter of Adolphus and Margaret G. (SHIELDS) Rogers, both natives of Iowa, her father being born in Harrison county. Mr. and Mrs. GRIFFITH have one daughter, Marie Lucile, who was born on November 6, 1908.

Mr. GRIFFITH is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Little Sioux. Although not a member of any church, Mr. GRIFFITH and his family give their hearty support to the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been active in the welfare of the Democratic party, and has been one of its leaders in local affairs for many years. He has been clerk of Allen township for six years, assessor for four years and secretary of the school board for three years. In the fall of 1914 he was the candidate of his party for clerk of the district court of Harrison county. Mr. GRIFFITH is a stockholder in the Hafer Lumber Company, of Council Bluffs.

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