In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1914) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Darke County, Ohio (1914), A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900)
JESSE A. McGRIFF.
Jesse Allen McGriff. who is living on a farm on section 34, Butler township, was born in Twin township, April 29, 1849, and is a son of Price McGriff, who is represented on another page of this volume. Upon hisfather's farm he was reared and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. In early life he began work in the woods of Butler township, whither his parents removed when he was five years of age. His educational privileges were very meagre, being limited to two months' attendance at the district schools of the neighborhood during the winter season until he was fourteen years of age. He was married in his twentieth year,, on the lath of January, 1869, to Martha Jane Holesapple, whose birth occurred June 20, 185 1, her father being David Holesapple. She died March 4, 1876, at the age of twenty-four years, eight months and fourteen days. Of her four children, Emma A. died August 19, 1870, at the age of eleven months; Levi, born September 8, 1871, is a farmer of Butler township and has a wife and one child, having also lost one child; O. P., born September 7, 1873, is a teacher and student of civil engineering", and married a daughter of William Fouble. The next child of the family died in infancy at the time of the mother's death. On the 8th of July, 1877, Mr. McGriff was again married, his second union being with Lizzie Emerick. Their children are: Walter Franklin, who was born June 26, 1878 and lives in Springfield, Ohio, with his wife and one child; Granville Scot, who was born November 13, 1881, and aids in the operation of the home farm; Perry Allen, born August 10, 1883; Hester Gertrude, who was born October 8,.
3889, and is a most interesting child of eleven years: Jesse Howard, who was born in December, 1895, and died at the age of ten months; and William Herbert, born March 21. 1899.
Mr. McGriff is rearing his family upon his farm in Butler township, and his attention is largely given to the cultivation of his one hundred acres of land. He located thereon in 1881 and by the careful management of his business affairs he has gained a place among the representative agriculturists of the community. He rotates his crops of clover, corn and wheat or oats and annually gathers rich harvests. He also engaged in raising hogs and cattle and feeds his crops, with the exception of his wheat.' In his political views Mr. McGriff is a Democrat and has served as township trustee, which position he is filling at the present time in a most commendable manner. Both he and his wife formerly held membership in the United Brethren church, but in February. 1894, severed their connection therewith. Their litt!e daughter, Esther Gertrude, was an invalid up to the age of five years, being almk >st entirely helpless. The medical profession could render her no aid. Her head was abnormally large, so that the weak little body could hardly sustain its weight, and her recovery came about through the marvelous example of the Divine gift of healing in prompt answer to the prayers and faith of a company of people attending camp meeting. Now when the little girl is indisposed she goes in prayer herself to the Great Healer. Her recovery was most marvelous, being a manifestation of the infinite power of which mortal man has but little conception. Mr. and Mrs. McGriff are both widely and favorably known in this locality and the circle of their friends is extensive.
As printed in A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
J. A. McGRIFF.
With supreme faith in the future of Darke county, with the ability to profit by present conditions, and possessing a desire to assist others in doing so, J. A. McGriff, of Neave township, is considered one of the most progressive and enterprising men of his community. Mr. McGriff has been an extensive traveler and has visited many states, so that his judgment in regard to the desirability of conditions in the section in which he lives may be taken as an experienced and reliable, one. At this time he is the owner of ninety-seven acres of well-cultivated land, situated about one mile west of Weavers Station. Mr. McGriff is a native son of Darke county, having been born on the old McGriff farm in Twin township, April 29, 1849, a son of Price and Jane (Mulnix) McGriff.
Thomas McGriff, the great-grandfather of J. A. McGriff, was born in the north of Ireland, and came to America during colonial days, settling in Virginia. There he took part in much of the Indian warfare that took place in that colony, and on one occasion he and two brothers were captured by the hostile and until they made their escape experienced a great deal of suffering. Thomas McGriff was married in Virginia, had a family of eleven children, and spent his days in agricultural pursuits. Patrick McGriff, the grandfather of J. A. McGriff, was born in Virginia in 1786, grew to manhood as a farmer, and purchased his father's claim. During the war of 1812 he fought valiantly as a soldier from the Old Dominion, and some time after the close of that struggle joined the tide of emigration westward and settled in Preble county, Ohio, where he died in 1854, burial being made at West Manchester. He married Elizabeth Price, who was also a native of Alrginia, and they became the parents of several children.
Price McGriff was born in Preble county, Ohio, August 18, 1820, was educated in the common schools near his father's farm, and discharged the duties that fell to the lot of the farmers' sons of his day. At the age of twenty-three years he became a pioneer of Twin township, Darke county, and for about three years was employed in clearing land, then becoming a renter on a Twin township farm, on which he remained for some seven years. At this time he purchased land in Butler township and established a home, having one-half section in that locality as well as some land in Twin township.
He was known as one of the substantial farmers of his 'time, and at his death left his family in possession of a valuable property, as well as the priceless heritage of an honored name. Mr. McGriff married Miss Jane Mulnix, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: John B., who is deceased; Mary E., who married Mr. Melling, and is deceased; J. A., of this review; W. P.; Phoebe J., who married Mr. Wolverton and is deceased; Samantha, who married Mr. McLear, and Cordelia, who married Mr. Broderick.
J. A. McGriff was about four years of age when taken by his parents to Butler township, and there he began his, education in the district schools, this being subsequently supplemented by attendance in the public schools of Castine. During all of his school period he assisted his father with the work of the home farm, and by the time he reached his majority he was thoroughly capable of handling a property of his own. Accordingly he began renting land from his father, and several years later, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Jacob Wolverton, he purchased 175 acres of land, which, after three years of this association, was evenly divided. Not long thereafter Mr. McGriff sold his share back and for a short time traveled through various southern states, but finally located in Illinois, where he also remained a short time. After the death of his first wife, he returned to Darke county and entered the implement business, but after some experience in this line again took up farming, which he has followed with a full measure of success to the present. At this time he has ninety-seven acres of good land, all under cultivation, which he is making produce abundantly for the labor expended upon it. His methods are modern and progressive, and in every branch of his vocation he has had the satisfaction of "making good." Mr. McGriff has been a member of the Christian church since his boyhood days. In political matters a progressive Democrat he has been prominent in the ranks of his party, serving as treasurer of Butler township for eleven years and as a member of the school board, and on one occasion being a candidate for the state legislature. Mr. McGriff, although having reached advanced years, is wide-awake and progressive, and he and his family have a wide circle of friends, to whom the hospitality of their own pleasant home is freely and graciously accorded.
Mr. McGriff was (first) married to Martha Jane Holesapple, daughter of David and Ann (Crawford) Holesapple, and to this union there were born two children: Levi, who married Carrie Krickenbarger and had one daughter, Cora, who married Mr. Neff, and O. P., who married and had two children, Roland and Grace. Mr. McGriff was married (second) in Darke county, Ohio, to Miss Lizzie Emrick, daughter ot Daniel and Frances (Micksell) Emrick, and five children were born to this union: Walter, who married Jennie Long and has seven children, Ruth, Opal, Harry, Jay, Mary, Gertrude and Dorothy; Granville, who married Mary Rodgers and has two children, Wealthy and Hazel; Perry, who married Pearl Fleet and has three children, Doris, Muriel and Kenneth; Gertrude, who lives at home with her parents, and Herbert, also at home.
As printed in History of Darke County, Ohio (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1914. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.