Griswold, Henry & Cyrus
BIOGRAPHIES
HISTORY OF GREENE & JERSEY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS - 1885
Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Co.
Page 1063
In 1820, HENRY and CYRUS GRISWOLD made a settlement on Sec. 5, T. 11, R. 12. Henry, commonly called Harry, and Cyrus Griswold, deceased, were born in Waltham, Addison county, Vt., Harry being born Jan. 9, 1790, and Cyrus, Sept. 15, 1792. Their parents were Adonijah and Mary (Barton) Griswold, natives of Vermont. In the spring of 1819, Cyrus Griswold, in company with Capt. Spencer and others, came to Missouri in wagons, and in the fall of the same year, returned by wagon to Vermont, in company with Caleb Post. In the spring of 1820, Harry and Cyrus, in company with Capt. Richard Robley and Desire, his wife, their sister, and others, comprising a company of between 30 and 40 persons, started on their way to Illinois, the train consisting of 16 wagons, Mrs. Robley being the only woman in the company. After being on the road 10 weeks they arrived in Missouri, in what is called Bonhomme bottom, on the Missouri river, some 35 miles west of St. Louis. Not being satisfied with the prospect, part of the company built a flat boat, on which they loaded their effects, bringing them down the Missouri river, and up the Illinois, opposite to what is now called Bluffdale, in this county, the others bringing their teams, all this occurring in 1820. Capt. Robley and other located at Bluffdale, and Harry and Cyrus on Apple Creek Prairie, on Sec. 6, T. 11, R. 12, where they built a log cabin, and for a time kept bachelor's hall. The next year D. E. Wooley moved in and kept house for them. Dec. 24, 1823, Cyrus married Abby Post, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Stickles) Post, then residents of Missouri. John Post was a brother of col. Justus Post, who was educated at West Point, and served his country in the war of 1812, with credit to himself and country. She is still living on the old homestead, and is the oldest settler now living on Apple Creek Prairie, having lived on the homestead 63 years. She has probably seen more changes than any one now living in the neighborhood. The Post family are all natives of Addison county, Vt. After marriage they commenced life in the log cabin above spoken of, with but few conveniences. Her husband and Harry, being possessed of energy and ingenuity, soon manufactured the necessary furniture out of such materials as could be obtained at that date, to supply their present wants, and make them quite comfortable for the time being. The churn that was made of mulberry wood, at that time, is still in use by the Tunison family, and a number of other articles that were then made, are still in use. In the spring of 1824 they moved from their first location to a tract of land on Sec. 5, T. 11, R. 12, where they had built a story and a half hewed log house weathered on the outside with shaved boards, it then being considered the best house in the neighborhood. Here they erected a wagon shop in which Cyrus worked, while Harry worked on the farm, except in very busy times, when they both worked on the farm and in the shop. Cyrus being considered the best wagon maker in the county, they had an extensive sale for their wagons. Oct. 5, 1826, Harry was married to Maria Post, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Stickles) Post, of Missouri, and sister of Abby. Previous to his marriage, the brothers built a hewed log house similar to the one before mentioned, on the same tract of land, and continued their partnership business as before, which proved remunerative. They soon accumulated considerable wealth by the shop and farm connected. Money being in demand at that time, all of it not needed in their business was loaned to advantage on real estate and in other ways. Cyrus Griswold died July 28, 1838, from being overheated in the harvest field, only living three days after taking sick. Dr. Wood, of Carrollton, was the attending physician, who is still living at the age of about 90 years. About this time the money crisis came, and Cyrus' death was a heavy blow upon Harry, leaving him with all the partnership business to settle. They having large sums of money loaned on real estate, he was forced to foreclose mortgages, and thereby came in possession of considerable land, besides many losses otherwise. Previous to Cyrus' death, the two brothers had contemplated building each a house, both of the same pattern, and exactly alike in every particular, and Harry, the surviving one, carried out the contemplated plan to the letter, in every respect, thus proving his devotion and his high estimation of his brother's counsel. These buildings were erected in 1845, of brick, about 40 rods distant from each other. After the houses were built, in 1841-42, the partnership was dissolved, and the lands divided, sold, and equally distributed among the proper heirs. Cyrus Griswold was a Master Mason of Dorchester lodge, No. 320, Vergennes, Vt., having been a mason about the year 1816, and received his demit Aug. 20, 1820. He was the father of three children - Justus, who died June 9, 1829, age 14 months; Rosetta, born April 1, 1832; and Lucy, born Jan. 8, 1836, the latter two now living. Harry Griswold died Oct. 15, 1850; and Maria, his wife died Aug. 31, 1854, in St. Louis county, Mo., while on a visit there, her disease being cholera. She lies buried in Fe Fee cemetery with her brothers and sisters. Their children were - Delia, born Oct. 6, 1827, died Oct. 27, 1827; Henry Adonijah, born Dec. 29, 1828; John, born Jan. 24, 1832, died Oct. 20, 1832; Loyal Post, born Aug. 14, 1833; Mary E., born Oct. 31, 1836; Geo., born Sept. 26, 1839, died oct. 26, 1862; Emily, born Jan. 28, 1843; and Lois, born Nov. 1, 1846. Harry Griswold was made a Master Mason in Dorchester lodge, No. 320, Vergennes, Vt., and was raised to the degree of R. A. M. about the year 1815. After coming to Greene county, he was among the first in organizing White Hall lodge, No. 80, he being one of the charter members. No one stood higher in the estimation of his brother masons than he. He lived and practiced the principles of masonry in every respect, and was charitable to all, at all times helping the needy and comforting the distressed. He was a delegate to the grand lodge of masons, held in Shawneetown in oct., 1850, having gone there after the charter for White Hall lodge, No. 80. He died in three days after his return, and was buried with masonic honors. The history of these two brothers was identical up to the death of Cyrus, who died at the age of 45 years. Both were energetic, industrious, honorable and upright men, noted for their benevolence to the poor, their kindness to the sick and suffering, their honesty and truthfulness in all dealings with their fellow men.
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