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 B. GRIFFIN, an extensive dealer in hay, feed and grain, is one of the successful and enterprising citizens of Charleston. He was born June 27, 1847, in Licking County, Ohio, and is the son of Asahel and Annie (Phelps) Griffin. Asahel Griffin was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods in Ohio, which State Is noted for its manufacturing facilities, possessing abundant water-power, coal, wool, timber and other raw materials. In 1851 his establishment was entirely destroyed by fire his stock, notes, books and papers, all being lost, except his home. This serious interruption to the progress of his business resulted in his emigration to Illinois. There were no railroads at that early day, and Asahel Griffin brought with him the first steam-engine ever used in Coles County. He came via the Ohio and Wabash Rivers, by canal to Terre Haute and thence by ox-teams to Charleston. With this engine he engaged in milling and carding, in company with James Kennedy, Sr. His death occurred in 1854, soon after his arrival in the township. His wife had previously died in 1852. They had a family of five children, four of whom are now living: Eunice, Mrs. S. M. Thrall, a resident of Cheney, Kan.; Charles A., a resident of Muscatine, Iowa; Cassius A., a resident of Indiana, and G. B., the subject of this sketch. The home life of G. B. Griffin was broken up by the death of both his parents, and he was thrown upon the world to begin the battle of life, when a mere boy. Until 1857 he found a home with his uncle, Lemuel Griffin, and then lived with his sister, Mrs. Quimby, until 1860. He next made his home with R. M. Parcels, now a resident of Denver, Col., where he remained until 1867, and subsequently worked in the woolen factory until 1877. His next business venture was to purchase an interest in a house-furnishing store in company with R. F. & G. T. McNutt, under the firm name of McNutt, Griffin & Co. In 1881 Mr. Griffin disposed of his interest in the store to George N. Gage, now a resident of Tombstone, Ariz. He then purchased of Harry Jeffries, the partner of R. F. McNutt, his interest in the hay press, and a little later bought out the firm. He continued this business successfully until 1884, when he was visited by the same calamity which had overtaken his father in Ohio. His establishment was destroyed by fire, over 300 tons of hay were consumed, and his machinery lost. The loss was $4,000, $3,000 of which was fortunately covered by insurance. Mr. G. next purchased a half interest in the grocery store of R. F. McNutt, under the firm name of McNutt & Griffin, and continued the business until 1885, in the meantime, in the spring of 1885, commencing the hay business at Ashmore. In July, 1885, he sold out his interest in the grocery store to Riley Reynolds, and in the same year built a large hay barn, located west of the stockyards in Charleston. In 1886 he purchased the grain elevator of the Gage estate, and has since run both of his hay presses in connection with the elevator. He is now extensively engaged in shipping hay, his trade extending to New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri and throughout Illinois. He pays to his employes several hundred dollars per week in wages. Mr. Griffin was married, in 1868, to Miss Nora Strickland, the daughter of Robert Strickland. They have an interesting family of four children: Ora, who is attending school in Northampton, Mass.; Clyde, a farmer residing in Kansas; Max and Ina, who are at home with their parents. Mr. Griffin has passed through many business vicissitudes, from boyhood, and successfully encountered and overcome obstacles, which, if met with less courage and energy, might have proved disastrous. He is a Republican in politics, and socially belongs to the Royal Templars. With his wife and two eldest children, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an Elder. |
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