S. Griffith

As printed in 1887

S. GRIFFITH, farmer and stock-raiser, a portrait of whom appears upon the opposite page, is residing on section 14, Lime Creek Township. He was born in AVashington County, Ind., Nov. 25, 1818, and is the son of Horatio and Elizabeth W. (Fleming) (irifflth, who were united in marriage in 1818. The father was a native of Western New York, born in 1796. The mother was born in Pennsylvania, in 1800. They removed to Washington County, Ind., in the summer of 1818, and remained there until 182C, then went back to New York, near Geneseo, in Livingston County, where Horatio Griffith bought a tract of land, which he subsequently sold on time, and went to work by the month. After he had made collection on the sale, he again moved with his family to Washington County, Ind., in 1831, settling in Brown Township, and residing there until his death, which occurred in 1846. He was a very active man and took a lively interest in public affairs, was a great admirer of J. Q. Adams and Henry Clay, and was an enthusiastic supporter of W. H. Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity: W. S., of whom we write, was first in order of birth;.Jackson died at about the age of six years, in New York; Martha is the widow of Washington Wright, and resides in Orleans, Iowa; Margaret F., the widow of Argus Clarke, now resides in Whiteside County, Ill.; Elizabeth, the wife of Sanford Townsley, resides in the northeastern part of Nebraska; Charlotte, the widow of Thomas Clark, resides in Custer County, Neb.; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Franklin Whissinand, who is also deceased; Ellen died in 1855 in this county; James F. was a farmer in

Pawnee County, Neb.; he died Oct. 16, 1885, leaving a wife and eight children. John W. is a farmer in Lime Creek Township; one died in infancy.

The subject of this sketch came to Iowa in 1845, and took a claim near South English River, township 77, range 11, Keokuk County, consisting of 320 acres of land. He then returned to Indiana in August, and in April of 1846 returned to his claim and raised a crop that summer. He had some prairie broken, and in 1848 rented his farm, going to Wassonville, where he engaged in carpentering, continuing there at different kinds of work until 1849, when he commenced repairing wagons and making new ones till the fall of 1850. In the spring of 1850 he sold his land near South English for a horse and a note of $100 without interest, having decided to go to California. If he returned from California the note was to be paid, if not, the note was not to be paid; but the contemplated trip was not made. July 2, 1850, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Bower, a daughter of Anthony Bower. Mrs. Griffith was a native of Maryland. By this union four children were born; of that number one is yet living, Scott, who was educated for the law, but followed teaching and is now residing near Astoria, Ore. Mrs. Griffith died in 18G0.

In 1850, our subject bought 132 acres of land near Day'ton, and sold the same in 1854, buying land on sections 21 and 28, of township 77, range 9, consistingof 160 acres, and followed farming until the breaking out of the Civil War. In 1861, he enlisted in the State service and went to Davenport, but was rejected and came home. Nov. 17, 1861, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Christina Sargent. Her maiden name w.as Foster. By this union two children were born, both dying in infancy. The mother died Nov. 29, 1863.

In April, 1865, Mr. Griffith bought a half interest in the Wassonville mill, and removed to that village, where he remained until 1866, when he sold out and moved to Dayton, eng.aging in the general merchandise business at that place, continuing there until the spring of 1867, when he again sold out and moved to the Dickenson place on section 22, Lime Creek Township. March 4, 1869, he was again united in marriage, Mrs. Hannah A. Berry becoming his wife. She was born in Washington, Ill.,'

Aug. 15.1840, and was the daiightcM- of Horatio Wanton and Kosanna (Laniont) Parker, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Ohio. Six children have been born of this union: Martha W., the wife of Dennis Bull, a farmer of linie Creek Township; Nellie G.,at home; Charles W., deceased; one who died in infancy; Robert Parker and James Mack. Mrs. Grillilli was the mother of four children by" her first husband, AVilliani Hayes: Susan married Philip Whetstine; Lucy.1., deceased; Wanton, deceased; Laui'a, the wife of James Coffey. In 187( Mr. Grilllth bought seventy-nine acres where he now resides, and now owns 244 acres,:>11 under a fine state of cultivation, with all necessary out-buildings for a well-regulated farm. He came to Iowa with a cash capital of about seventy-five cents, and, with that as a start, by his own industry and good management, has accumulated an abundance with which to smooth his declining years. He is now turning his attention to stock-raising, and has on hand some fine specimens of the Norman and Clydesdale breeds of horses, together with Short-horn and Red-Polled cattle. He has set out between seven and eight hundred fruit and a number of shade trees on his farm. Mr. (Griffith cast his first vote for Harrison, and was an ardent sui)- porter of the war measures. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. JI., Dayton Lodge. Poiiticafly, he is independent, and religiously, both.Mr. and Mrs. (iritlilli are memliers of the Christian Church.

tf*tf nEV. JOHN T. TATE has been a resident of Washington County' since 1854. He is a native of Ohio, born in Xenia, Greene County, Nov. 5, 1820. His father, Hugh Tate, was a native of Virginia, well educated, and followed the profession of a teacher for some years. He w.as a soldier in the War of 1812, serving with the rank of Major. He married Mary Torrence, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irisli descent. They were married in Ohio, first settling in Warren County, and then moved to (greene County. They were the parents of five children, two of whom are living — Jane C., the widow of William

Jordan, residing in Indianola, Iowa, and John T.) of Washington. Mrs. Tate died in 1827 or 1828. Mr. Tate subsequently married again. He was a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church, as were also his wives. He died in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1831).

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Shortly after coming to this county, on the 16th of March, 1854, Mr. Tate was united in marriage in Washington, to Miss Nancy A. Miller, born in Hayesville, Ohio, in 1835, and a daughter of Dr. S. G. and Nancy J. Miller, the former an early physician of this county. Eight children have been born to them, six of whom are now living: Samuel A., now residing in Adams County, Iowa; ary A., a graduate of Washington Academy, engaged in teaching in this county-; Clara L., also a teacher, and an artist of more than ordinary ability; Artlinr M., residing in Greeley County, Kan.; J. Howard, a graduate of Washington Academy, engaged in teaching, and N. Jennie, at home.

In early life Mr. Tate was an oM-line WhiSi hut a stanch supporter of the anti-slavci-y cause. When the Republican party came into existence, he became an adherent and advocate of its ))principles, and with that party he has since continued to act. He is a man of fine personal a)peaiancc, and although-near his threescore and ten, with hair whitened by time, he yet stands erect, and otherwise shows but little the effects of passing years. His Christian bearing commends itself to all, and with a talented family, all of whom honor their parents in a becoming manner, with the love and respect not only of those with whom he has labored, but of the community as well, his remaining years will doubtless be of unalloyed happiness. As a minister of the Gospel, he has endeavored to adhere closely to the Word of God, and guided by His spirit, feed and tenderly care for those over whom he has served as a pastor.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Washington County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.