LUCIEN GUY GRISWOLD, well known as a representative of a pioneer fammily, who in his business career and connection with popular interests has carried forward the work of upbuilding and progress which was inaugurated by his ancestors in Greene county, was born on the 26th of March, 1871, upon his father's farm in White Hall township. He is a son of Loyal P. and Nancy C. (Swallow) Griswold, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume.
Lucien Guy Griswold pursued his education in the common schools at Maple Grove, Illinois, and later attended Jacksonville College at Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1895. After pursuing a business course he left school in order to take up work upon the old home farm, where he has since remained. He has always been connected with the cultivation of the old home property and he now owns a very valuable tract of two hundred acres of as fine farming land as can be found in Illinois - and there is no better farming property in all the United States than is found in this locality. He has also carried on the work of raising cattle to a greater or less extent and is likewise engaged in the dairy business. He is a financial factor in several important business enterprises in White Hall, being a stockholder in the First National Bank, also in the White Hall Sewer Pipe & Stoneware Company and in the White Hall Electric Railway - enterprises which have contributed in substantial measure to the improvement and commercial prosperity of this part of the state. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do, but has never sought or desired public office, preferring to concentrate his energies and attention upon his business affairs.
On the 28th of December, 1898, Mr. Griswold was married to Miss Martha E. Tankersley, a daughter of William A. and Margaret E. (Coultas) Tankersley of Greene county, who removed from Scott County in 1864. Her father was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. He and his wife became the parents of four sons and eight daughters and one of the sons died in infancy. He has led a useful, upright, honorable life, never engaging in a lawsuit, treating his fellowmen with fairness and justice and being regarded by many as a warm and valued friend. His children are as follows: Mrs. Ellen A. Ross, who was born January 6, 1863; Mrs. Nora L. Davis, born December 7, 1864; Mrs. Hattie B. Hill, born August 2, 1867; Mrs. Addie M. Lorton, born October 9, 1869; William O., born November 18, 1871; Mrs. Martha E. Griswold, born November 15, 1873; Norman A., who was born April 2, 1876, and died in infancy; Kirby E., born April 30, 1877; Flora V., who was born August 27, 1880; Albertus C., born December 6, 1882; Mabel G., born June 12, 1885; and Grace E., born September 19, 1887.