Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
Mrs. Annie Marshall Grinter, subject of the present sketch, is the
widow of Moses R. Grinter, who departed this life in the year 1878.
His remains rest in Grinter's Chapel Cemetery, and his grave is marked
by a beautiful and costly monument, which was erected to his memory
by his loving and devoted widow. Mr. Grinter was a Democrat in politics, and a strong supporter of Jeffersonianism, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. George B. McClelland. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Grinter were devout and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, and have at all times and in every possible way aided
religious causes. They passed about forty years of married life together, and were equally popular and highly respected in the community where they resided. Since death has deprived her of the loved
companion, Mrs. Grinter resides in her elegant brick residence, and
being in good financial circumstances lives happily and quietly, surrounded by a host of admiring friends and her children. She is generally held in high esteem, and loved for her kindly disposition and
beautiful character. Her present residence is in Wyandotte Township, Wyandotte County, Kas. She was a member of the Delaware
tribe, and was born on January 8, 1820, in Miami County, Ohio. Her
father was a trader in Indiana, and to her parents were born eight
children - four sons and four daughters - viz.: John M. (deceased),
Anna (the subject of this sketch), Jane (deceased), Samuel (deceased),
Polly (widow of H. Tiblow, and lives in Indian Territory), Samuel
(who died in early infancy), William (who died in early manhood),
Rosanna (who makes her home in Perryville, Kas., and is the wife of
James C. Grinter, a farmer by vocation. She is the youngest child of
the family. The subject of this sketch received her educational training in the Osage Mission, but is exceedingly liberal in all her views,
and a ready supporter of all schools, and a willing contributor to public matters of merit. She was married to Moses K. Grinter in January, 1836, and to this union were born ten children - four sons and six
daughters - six of whom are dead. Those living at the present writing are Frances C. (wife of John C. Grinter, and resides in Wyandotte
Township; they have had seven children, two of whom are dead,
and live living), Mary Jane (widow of A. P. Defries, and who makes
her home in Wyandotte County), Martha V. (resident of Nebraska
City, Neb., and wife of H. C. Kirby, who is a Methodist minister),
C. R. Grinter (who married Miss Elizabeth Sherly, of Penn., and is a
farmer by occupation, and resides in Wyandotte County), W. H. H.
(who is dead; he served in the late war, being at first a private, and
belonging to Company E, Fifteenth Volunteer Cavalry; he served
his country faithfully and well and was discharged after lighting nobly
for Uncle Sam). Mrs. Grinter lives upon a historical spot of ground.
Her husband and his brother, J. C. Grinter, were Kentuckians, and
kept the ferry that was the place of crossing for the immense amount
of travel between Kansas City and the mountains. It was at this
point that Gen. Fremont crossed on his forced march across the great
plain. They kept here a store and blacksmith shop for the Indians,
and it was also a voting precinct. At the time when Mr. and Mrs.
Grinter settled in Kansas it was nothing more than a wilderness, there
being no trace of civilization to be seen. The great bustling scene of
enterprise, Kansas City, Mo., was then only a steamboat landing,
and Kansas City, Kas., was indeed a dreary spot, without even one log-cabin to indicate the great popularity it was afterward to attain.
C. F. Gilliford is a young gentleman well and favorably known
throughout Wyandotte Township, Kas. He is a native of this county,
his birth occurring in June, 1863, and is the eldest of the three children
born to his parents. The next child, George, died at the age of
eighteen, after receiving a good education at the common schools, and
Joseph is living at home at the present writing, is twenty-four years
old, and a farmer by occupation. Mr. Gilliford's father, Col. Joseph
Gilliford, was a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer, and a graduate from the mercantile and business college in Pittsburgh, Penn.
The subject of this sketch remained at the paternal home until his
marriage to Miss Mollie A. Rearden, of Missouri. She was born in
1868, and received an education in the public schools. Her parents
are of Irish descent, and are now residents of this county, the father
being a successful agriculturist. In politics Mr. Gilliford's sympathies are decidedly with the Democratic party, and he cast his first
vote for Cleveland, of whom he is still an enthusiastic admirer. Taking an active part in all elections, he has been a delegate to the county
conventions. Though quite a young man, his principles and convictions do justice to his judgment, and he is prominent in the affairs of
the neighborhood in which he resides. Mrs. Gilliford is a member of
the Roman Catholic Church, and both she and her husband are always
willing to aid any just cause, and support worthy institutions. Having resided in this county since his birth, Mr. Gilliford is familiar with
the numerous and oftentimes wonderful changes that have been made
here during late years, especially the remarkable booms in 1881 and
1887. At one time he attended the graded schools and normal school
in Trenton, Penn., where he laid the foundation for an excellent education, and fitted himself for the practical issues of life. During one
year of the time passed in Pennsylvania, where he was engaged
in Alleghany City, and after his return home devoted his attention to agriculture, which he intends to make the occupation of
his life. Possessing an abundant supply of money he will be enabled
to carry out his ideas successfully, and will at an early date build a
beautiful home, and locate permanently. Mr. Gilliford is a bright
young business man, and has a promising future before him, and a
sufficient amount of determination to put ideas into effect.
Hon. Sanford Haff needs no introduction to the citizens of Wyandotte County, Kas., for he has long resided there and has become well
known throughout this as well as the surrounding counties. He is a
practical farmer by avocation and is a native of Sandusky County,
Ohio, where he was born on September 15, 1837, being the eldest of
nine children, whose names are as follows: Sanford (the eldest, as
already stated), Edward (who is a farmer of Michigan and is married),
Elisha (who is married and engaged in farming in Sandusky County,
Ohio), Reuben (who is also married and engaged in farming in that
State), Malinda (who is the wife of A. J. Lewis, a tiller of the soil of
Sandusky County, Ohio), Betsey (who is the wife of William Whittaker, a farmer of the above-named county), Fred (who is married
and farming in Ohio), Belle (who is the wife of D. A. Haffner, an attorney-at-law of Clyde, Ohio), and Bird (who also resides in Ohio, is married and is an agriculturist). The parents of these children were born in New York State, the father
being an agriculturist by occupation, and he was also a true and tried
soldier in the Eevolutionary War. Ho was a very successful man of
business, and at his death, which occurred when he was about seventy-one years of age, he left an estate valued at about $100,000. He
was educated in the old subscription schools of Ohio, his wife receiving a portion of her education in them also, but afterward finished
her learning in an academy of Melmore, Ohio. Mr. Haff's early advantages were acquired in the old subscription schools, but he later attended a select school in which he received a higher education, which
admirably fitted him for the duties of life. He has always been interested in the cause of education, and even now is a constant and persistent reader, keeping thoroughly posted on all the current issues of the
day. Upon leaving the select school above mentioned, he took a course
in Oberlin College, Ohio, after which, at the age of twenty-two years,
he commenced life for himself as an agriculturist. His property at
this time consisted of eighty acres of land, on which no improvements
had been made, but he owed $500, so his prospects for the future were
not at all promising. He, however, possessed much courage and enterprise, and set energetically to work to pay his obligation and improve
his farm, and so successful was he in this that he was soon out of debt
and has his farm in excellent condition for successful agricultural
purposes. He was married in 1860 to Miss Eunice E. Lewis, a native
of Ohio, her education being received in an academy of that State, and
to them three children were born: Millie (who died at the age of four
years), Hiram (aged two at the time of his death) and Jay (who resides
in Clyde, Ohio, and is making law his profession). Mr. Haff lost his
wife and his two children by diphtheria, inside of three weeks, and
they now sleep in a cemetery in Ohio, where a beautiful monument is
erected to their memory by a loving husband and father. Mr. Haff was
married a second time, in 1870, to Mrs. Mary (Garrett) Gilliford, a native of Wyandotte County, Ohio, her education being received in Kenyon
Seminary, Ohio, a school for young ladies. She is a refined and highly educated lady and has proven an excellent wife and a model mother.
Of the three children born to herself and husband, only one is now
living, Fred, who is fourteen years of age. Willie, died at the age of
four years, and Nina at the age of two. In the spring of 1862 Mr.
Haff enlisted in Company K, One Hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
and was mustered into service at Toledo, Ohio, as first Lieutenant,
being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, his regiment afterward
being engaged principally in skirmish line work. After being in the
service about eighteen months he resigned his lieutenancy to a comrade and retired from the service, owing to his failing health. Upon
returning home he devoted his time to raising forces for the "100
day" men, after he had regained his normal health and did some effective work in this direction. He has always affiliated with the
Democrat party, and has always upheld the true principles of Jeffersonianism, and his first presidential vote was cast for Stephen A.
Douglas. He has held the position of Representative in the Legislature three terms in succession, which stamps him as a man in whom
the people repose the utmost confidence. [KHHP 2012] Some of the successful
measures which he fully advocated and pressed to a successful issue
are as follows: The compelling of the railroads to pay full value for
all stock killed, and the dividing up of the time of paying taxes, which
greatly benefited all the tax-payers. He read law with Hon. Charles
S. Glick, a brother of Gov. Glick, and was admitted to the bar. He is
a Mason, a member of the G. A. R., belonging to Burnside Post No.
28, of Wyandotte, Kas., in the latter organization, which is in a very
flourishing condition. Mr. and Mrs. Haff are supporters of all laudable enterprises, and are among the best of the county's numerous
worthy citizens. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Haff came to this county,
and although the prospect was not very promising to early settlers, his
worldly goods have continued to increase, and he was at one time the
owner of 142 acres of land, but sold 105 acres for $450 per acre, but
still owns 37 acres of valuable land. Mrs. Haff was the widow of Col.
Joseph Gilliford, of Pennsylvania, by whom she had three sons: Forrest (the eldest, is a farmer, is married), George (died at the age of
eighteen years), and Joseph (who is single, resides at home and is following farming for a living). Mrs. Nancy Garrett, a relative of Mrs.
Haff, came with the Wyandotte Indians from Ohio to Wyandotte
County, Kas.. in 1843. Her father, William Walker, was born in North
Carolina, and was taken prisoner by the Delaware Indians in 1776, at
the age of eight years, and was sold by this tribe to the Wyandotte
Indians at Detroit, Mich., and with this tribe he continued to reside
until his death in 1825, marrying after reaching maturity, one of the
tribe. He is the father of all the Walkers that settled in Wyandotte
County, Kas.
Henry Hafner, of Kansas City, Kas., was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1841, a son of Henry and Hannah (Ismirt) Hafner, the former
of whom was a butcher by trade, and is still following that occupation.
The mother is deceased. By this wife the father had two children,
but after her death he married again and became the father of twelve
children. Henry Hafner came to America when he was twenty-eight
years old, at which time he could not speak the English language,
although he had received an excellent education in German, and had
learned the French language, while residing in that country for some
time. He was in the war of 1869, against Austria, taking part in the
noted battles of Hennerwasser and Koeniggratz, and served until the
close of that war. He had previously served in the regular army of
the country, but had gone to France to escape further service, remaining in that country from 1866 to 1869. Upon reaching the United
States, he located near Buffalo, N. Y., and was there married, two
months later, to Miss Ametia Ismert, who was born in New York, but
her death occurred in 1874, after having borne two children: Julia,
and Eugene. Soon after his marriage Mr. Hafner came to Kansas
City, Kas., and for fifteen years followed the trade of a butcher in
this city, at which he made considerable money. In 1875 he espoused
Miss Kate Stewart, and five children have blessed their union: Georgia,
Albert, Fred, Elna and Helena. Mr. Hafner purchased considerable
property while in business, upon which he built houses at different
times and sold them, and this has proved a very profitable enterprise,
making him a wealthy man. He is recognized as one of the solid business men of the city, and his views are shrewd and intelligent. He
is a Democrat, politically, and is an earnest member of the Roman
Catholic Church. He belongs to the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, and at all times supports the measures of this order.
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