pages 200-201
Elisha D. GRIFFITH was born in Wabash County, Ill., in March, 1847, and is the son of S. N. and Phoebe (HIGGINS) GRIFFITH. [See sketch.] Elisha D. grew to manhood in his native State, assisted on the farm and attended the district school up to the time of the breaking out of the late war. He was not old enough to enlist at that time, but in March, 1864, he enlisted in the Sixty-fourth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, Company K, under Capt. CASE, and was at Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Ga., Savannah, Ga., and at Smithfield, N. C., and was in a number of minor engagements and skirmishes. He was in the second leading battle fought at Atlanta, and was but slightly wounded, and that at Kenesaw Mountain, from a piece from a bomb-shell. He was discharged in August, 1865, at Chicago, and mustered out of service at Louisville, Ky. At the time of his discharge he belonged to the Seventeenth Army Corps. After his discharge, in October he and his parents came west and located in Greene Township, where he remained with his parents about one year, or until he was married, when he improved some
land in the same section, and on this he now lives. He has owned three different farms in this section. In 1867 he married Miss Nancy GRAY, who was born in Greene Township, Lawrence Co., Mo., August 21, 1847, and is the daughter of David S. and Mary (BIRD) GRAY, natives of Illinois and Tennessee, respectively. The father was an early settler of Greene Township, and died in 1861. The mother is still living, and makes her home with her children. To Mr. and Mrs. Griffith were born three children: Mary Ida, David O. and Ora Ellen. Mr. Griffith is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and he and wife are worthy members of
the Christian Church.
John W. GRIFFITH, a successful tiller of the soil of Greene Township, was born in Clay County, Ill., September 17, 1839, but grew to manhood in Richland County of the same State, where he attended the common schools. At the age of twenty-three he enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry, and took part in many of the most prominent battles fought in Tennessee. He was discharged at Springfield, Ill., in August, 1865, and moved to Southwest Missouri soon after. [See sketch of S. N. Griffith.] He here engaged in farming with his father, but soon after came to the place where he now lives. He married Miss Mary M. GUIN, and to them were born following children: Mattie, Annie, Thomas W., Pheobe, Lulu Chester, Samuel, Maggie, Elmer and Willie N., all living at home. Mr. Griffith is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Farmer's Alliance and has been justice of the peace. He is a good citizen.
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S. N. GRIFFITH was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1815, and was brought to Illinois when about six months old. He was reared in Edwards (now Wabash) County, and is the son of John B. and Eunice (OSGOOD) GRIFFITH, both natives of New York State. The paternal grandfather was from Maryland, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The maternal
grandmother was from Vermont. A cousin of S. N. Griffith, subject of this sketch, has a silver spoon that some of his people carried through the battle of Bennington. His father was a tailor by trade, but at the time of his death was keeping a tavern in Palmyra, Ill. He left his widow and two children, Dewey and S. N. There were two other children born, but both are deceased. Dewey is also now deceased. After the death of John B. Griffith, his widow married William BROWN, of New York, and by him became the mother of four children, one now living--Nathaniel B. BROWN, who is in Wabash County, Ill. The mother died in 1873, and S. N. remained at home but a short time after the death of his father, but went to live with one of his uncles, with whom he remained four years. He and his brother then engaged in general merchandise for a short time. November 6, 1836, he married Miss Phoebe HIGGINS, who was born in New York State in 1811. Seven children were the result of this marriage, six now living: Sarah E., John W., Harriet A., Mary A., George W., Elisha D. and Miles S., who died at the age of three years and eight months. The sons all live in Greene Township, and the daughters are all married, and two live in Kansas and one in Colorado. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Griffith moved on a farm, and followed agricultural pursuits more or less for a number of years. In connection with this he peddled and collected accounts, but made his home on the farm. In the fall of 1865 he moved from Illinois to Sedalia, Mo., and from there to Southwest Missouri, and on his present farm in February, 1866. This consists of 240 acres of land, with 125 under cultivation. Mr. Griffith is a Democrat in his political views, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are worthy and respected members of the Christian Church. Mr. Griffith is accounted a good man, and is one of the best citizens of the county.
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