USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 61
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Solon Huntley was educated in the district schools, reared to the occupation of farming, and at the age of twenty-two years started out in life on his own account, since which time he has carried on agricultural pursuits. He began with two hundred and forty acres of land, which he purchased in 1860. This proved the nucleus of his present extensive possessions, for he has invested in property from time to time until he now owns ten hundred and forty-five acres, and all but one hundred and eighty-five acres are. in the home farm. He has built a beautiful home and other buildings and his farm is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and enclosed in the same manner. No equipment of a model property is lacking and the splendid appearance of the place is indicative of the care- ful supervision, keen business discernment and unfaltering energy of the owner. Mr. Huntley now rents much of his land, while he gives his attention to his stock-raising interests. He is largely engaged in the raising of polled Angus cattle, having a herd of one hundred and twenty head. He also raises a large number of hogs
HARLOW HUNTLEY
Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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and ships most of his stock. He is to-day the largest landowner in Hadley township and much of his land is in grass.
Mr. Huntley is independent in politics and has been school director and supervisor of Hadley township but office holding has little attraction for him. In manner he is quiet and unassuming, concentrating his energies upon his business af- fairs. He has never married but occupies with his sisters a most beautiful home, which he erected and in fact has one of the most attractive residences in this part of the county. The owner of the Elmdale stock- farm is well known for his splendid business qualifications and is honored and respected by all, not alone because of the success which he has achieved, but also by reason of the straightforward methods he has ever followed.
JUSTUS GRIFFETH.
Justus Griffeth is now living retired upon his farm in New Salem township after many years of active and prosperous connection with general agricultural pursuits. He has passed the eighty- first milestone on life's journey, having been born March 25, 1825, in Clermont county, Ohio, his parents being Samuel C. and Esther (Wilson) Griffeth, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, and were of Irish descent. The mater- nal grandfather, Reuben Wilson, was a native of the Emerald Isle, and after crossing the Atlantic to the new world served as a member of the Co- lonial army during the war of the Revolution. He afterward removed to Clermont county, Ohio, subsequently to Indiana, and still later to Lima, Illinois, where he died. His daughter Esther was born April 28, 1799, and in Ohio became the wife of Samuel Griffeth, her first home after her marriage being on a farm in Clermont county, near Batavia, Ohio. About 1838 they removed to Pike county, Illinois, settling on a farm of eighty acres on section 14, New Salem township. There were but few neighbors, and these lived some distance away. Wild animals, however, were nu- merous, including wolves and wildcats. There
were also many deer, turkeys and other wild game in the county, so that it was not difficult for a good hunter to supply his table with fresh. meat. The father's financial circumstances were lim- ited and he was obliged to work hard to support his family and develop his farm, on which only slight improvements had been made when it came into his possession. Nor was he permitted to en- joy his new home for a long period, for his death occured in 1842. He left several chil- dren to the care of a devoted mother, who sup- ported her famly by spinning, weaving and other work which she could find to do, a part of the time even carding her own wool. She lived upon a rented farm but after à number of years, owing to her economy and diligence, she was able to pur- chase a property. She kept a number of cows and walked a mile and a half to New Salem to market butter, eggs and other farm produce. She was a lady of remarkable strength of both body and mind and did her own household work and transacted her own business until the summer prior to her death, which occurred forty-five years after her husband's demise, on the 25th of February, 1887, when she had reached the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years. Mrs. Griffeth was most highly respected by those who knew her and was spoken of in terms of praise by her many friends, who recognized the noble and ster- ling qualities which she had manifested in the care of her own family, the management of her business interests and the assistance which she had rendered to friends and neighbors in times of illness or breavement, for she was ever ready to sacrifice her own comfort to aid others. She was a most consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and no one con- nected with the church at New Salem is more lovingly remembered than "Grandma Griffeth," as she was generally called. In the family were eleven children, three of whom are now living. Those deceased are: George W., Esther, Samuel J., Mrs. Caroline Hughes, Wesley, John D., Isaac and one who died in infancy. Those who still survive are: Justus; Lydia A. Griffeth, who is living in New Salem; and James W. Griffeth, a resident of Kansas.
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The children had but limited school privileges, although the mother did the best she could to- ward giving them an education, and as far as pos- sible made up, through home instruction, what they lacked in school training. Justus Griffeth pursued his studies in the schools of Clermont county, Ohio, and for about a year after coming to Pike county, whither he made his way with his parents when thirteen years of age. When the school year was ended he began work, following any pursuit that would yield him an honest living, and manifested a willingness to undertake any labor, however hard, provided that it was honest and useful. He was working at Phillips Ferry when the Mormons emigrated to Missouri, and he helped take Hiram Smith and his family across the river. He heard the men talking of their future intentions and, pointing to the boys, say that they intended to take all such urchins and knock their brains out against the trees. The river was very high at that time and the passage over was made in a flatboat manned by oars in the hands of Justus Griffeth and an elder brother. The lads determined that all the Mormons should not reach the far west and laid their plans to sink a boatload of them. They overloaded their boat and pulled out to cross as a steamer was coming, but one of the fattest horses on board fell into the river and thus lightened the boat sufficiently to prevent the catastrophe for which the boys had planned. The lads were very much dissappointed and cared much more for their ill success than for the reprimand which they re- ceived for their supposed carelessness. The wife of Hiram Smith was one of their passengers and during the crossing of the swollen stream she sang, prayed and cursed the boys in turn.
Justus Griffeth worked out by the day or month, breaking prairie with a team of seven yoke of oxen and a thirty-inch plow. He also did threshing with a "chaff piler" machine and he as- sisted in clearing the home farm, grubbing out the stumps, making rails and chopping cord wood. He worked as a wood chopper on the Illinois river one winter for forty cents per cord. When working by the month he was never paid higher than ten dollars and generally received but seven dollars per month for his wages and was obliged
to do his own washing. No matter at what he worked his wages went to his mother, with whom he made his home until his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-three years of age.
It was on the 2d of November, 1848, that Justus Griffeth wedded Elizabeth Conkright, with whom he lived happily until June 27, 1859, when she laid aside the cares of life to enter into eternal rest. She was born in Kentucky, January 12, 1826, and her parents, William and Martha (Bell) Conkright; were also natives of that state. The Conkrights became early residents of Pike county, settling on section 34, New Salem town- ship, in 1835. There the father and mother died many years ago, and of the original family, consisting of parents and four children, not one is now alive. Mrs. Elizabeth Griffeth bore her husband five children, but only two are now liv- ing. Riley P., married Caroline Shrigley and lives in New Salem township. They had four children : Emmett, a resident of Oklahoma ; Lulu M., the wife of George Moore, who is living in New Salem township; Elva H., deceased; and Roy, residing at home. John F. Griffeth married Matilda Bridgeman, lives in Griggsville town- ship and has six children, as follows: Anna, the wife of Charles Bridgeman, of Rockport, Illinois; Ray ; Jesse; Elmer; Fred; and Ada.
Following his marriage Mr. Griffeth settled upon a tract of raw land on section 28, New Salem township, his dwelling being a log cabin which contained the usual primitive furnishings. He improved his land and afterward sold the prop- erty, at which time he bought a tract in Martins- burg township, near New Hartford, which he afterward also sold. In 1858 he purchased a farm on section 25, New Salem township, and has made it his permanent location. He has added to it all of the present improvements, including the various farm buildings and his present residence, which is a most attractive home, forming one of the pleasing features of the landscape. He owns two hundred and twenty acres of rich and pro- ductive land, which he leases to his sons, for he has now retired from active work. and he and his wife are now enjoying life in a pleasant residence supplied with an adequate store of those things which go to make life worth living. For eight
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years Mr. Griffeth was engaged in shipping grain and stock from Maysville, Pittsfield, Griggsville, New Salem and Baylis and he also found this a profitable source of income.
On the 16th of March, 1860, Mr. Griffeth was married a second time, Miss Margaret J. Kennedy becoming his wife. She was a native of Pennsyl- vania and by this marriage had one child, now de- ceased. The wife and mother died May 13, 1886, and on the 10th of May, 1887, Mr. Griffeth wedded Mrs. Mary A. Kinman, nee Cannon. She was a daughter of Ephraim and Dorothy (Hunter) Cannon, natives of Kentucky and Arkansas, re- spectively. The parents of both the father and mother removed to Lincoln county, Missouri, and there the young man and maiden were made man and wife. In 1832, while wild animals were still numerous in Pike county and when the work of improvement and progress seemed scarce- ly begun, they came here, taking up their abode in a log cabin upon the present site of the city of Pittsfield. Mr. Cannon aided in laying out the county seat and was a very prominent and influential resident of this part of the state, serv- ing as county sheriff for two terms and in other positions of public trust. He was a recognized leader in political circles and was also numbered among the large and prosperous landowners of the county. He died in 1865, while his wife survived until 1878. They were the parents of eleven children, nearly all of whom were members of the Christian church. Mrs. Griffeth was born December 30, 1836, in Pittsfield township, and acquired an excellent education. She has always kept well informed on questionsof general interest and she possesses a beautiful Christian character and the useful attainments which abundantly qual- ify her for her position at the head of a household. When she was seventeen years of age she gave her hand in marriage to T. J. Kinman, who was a brave and loyal citizen and entered the Union army as a member of Company K, Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry. He rose to the rank of second lieutenant and, like many of his gallant comrades, laid down his life on the altar of his country, being killed in the charge on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863. Unto him and his wife were born four children. Martin M. wedded Bessie Breeder,
who died leaving one daughter, Edna, now the wife of Charles Ogden, a resident of Carthage, Missouri. Martin M. Kinman chose for his second wife Jennie Brown and they are now liv- ing in Missouri with their daughter, Lena. Mrs. Lizzie Goddard resides in Arkansas and has two · children, Allie and Irene. Allie Kinman, the next of the family, is living with Mr. and Mrs. Grif- feth. Susie is the wife of Arthur D. Higgins, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and they have one child, Neil Higgins. Mrs. Griffeth owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land near her husband's property, which she inherited from her first husband.
In community interests Mr. Griffeth has taken an active and helpful part, his labors being far- reaching and beneficial. He served as school director for twelve years and was also an efficient assessor for one year. He has ever been deeply interested in political questions, has been active in county affairs since 1846 and has usually been sent as a delegate to party conventions or acted as a member of the central committee. During the border troubles before the admission of Kan- sas into the Union he traveled through Missouri in a wagon and although he talked abolition he never suffered harm although many others were persecuted because of their pronounced opposition to slavery. His early political allegiance was given to the whig party and when the republican party was formed to prevent the further exten- sion of slavery he joined its ranks and has since been one of its advocates. Mrs. Griffeth belongs to the Christian church and her husband aids her in its support. He is a man always known for his straightforward dealing, genial spirit and gen- uine personal worth and his life record at all times has made him worthy of confidence and re- spect. He has ever been an ardent lover of hunting and has made excursions into Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Wiconsin and Minnesota in order to enjoy this sport, having made fifteen different hunting trips. He was a capital off-hand shot, and enjoys re- counting his experiences in field and forest, thus living again in memory the pleasant hours that he has devoted to his favorite recreation. On New Year's day of 1870 he and Thomas Gray
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killed a black bear in the swamps of Mississippi which weighed over five hundred pounds. They caught the animal in a steel trap that weighed forty pounds, but he broke loose and after fol- lowing his trail for three hours they shot him dead, eight bullets piercing his body before a vital spot was reached. They brought the ani- mal home and exhibited it on the public square in Pittsfield. Mr. Griffeth has traveled quite extensively, covering ten thousand miles on the ocean, while he has twice crossed the isthmus of Panama, visited points in old Mexico and more than half of the states of the Union. In 1856 he went by the water route to California and spent several months in prospecting but returned to his home before the expiration of the year. The greater part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits and his well directed labors have brought to him the prosperity which now enables him to put aside further business cares and in the evening of his life to enjoy the fruits , of former toil in a well earned rest. Not to know Mr. Griffeth in Pike county is to argue oneself unknown, for he has a very extensive acquaint- ance and his active life and close connection with public interests have made him a notable figure here.
GEORGE R. FISHER.
George R. Fisher is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of fine land and this property is the proof of an active and well spent life, for he started out upon his business career empty- handed. A native of Greene county, Missouri, he was born March 2, 1854, his parents being John R. and Mary A. (Allred) Fisher. The father's birth occurred near Nashville, Tennessee, March 12, 1812, and he died on the 6th of Febru- ary, 1867. His wife, who was born July 16, 1815, departed this life March 20, 1870. Frederick Fisher, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany and was sent to America as one of the soldiers who had been employed by the English government to crush out the rebellion among the colonists in 1776. When he landed in this country, however, he deserted from the Brit -
ish army and joined the colonists, fighting for the independence of the nation for about two years. He was wounded in the leg at Bunker Hill and crawled under a brush pile, but was found there by one of the enemy who thrust a bayonet through his shoulder and left him for dead. Life, how- ever, was not extinct and after his wound was dressed he recovered and lived to be nearly ninety years of age. Removing from the east to Ten- nessee, he there engaged in teaching school and was also the owner of a large farm in that state. He was a liberally educated man and talked both German and English.
John R. Fisher, father of our subject, removed from Tennessee to Jackson county, Missouri, in 1834 and was there engaged in general farming for three years. In 1837 he came to Pike county, Illinois, where he remained until 1853, when he went to Greene county, Missouri, where he re- mained for eighteen months. In 1855 he came to Pike county, settling on what is known as the John Kendrick farm. His remaining days were passed in this county with the exception of a brief period of eighteen months spent in Missouri and two years passed at Nauvoo, Hancock cóun- ty, Illinois. He was one of the early settlers of Pike county, whose efforts in behalf of public progress were felt as a beneficial force. Here he reared a large family of thirteen children, but only three are now living: William, who resides in New Canton ; George R .; and Charles, who makes his home near his brother George. The mother was a member of the Latter Day Saints.
George R. Fisher was educated in the Brewster school in one of the little log schoolhouses com- mon in pioneer times. He started out to earn his own living when but sixteen years of age and was employed at farm labor from the 3d of March until the 17th of October, 1881. He then began working for a railroad company and con- tinued in that service for eight years and a half, when, with the capital which he had managed to save from his earnings, he purchased a farm of forty acres on section 16, Pleasant Vale town- ship, where he now resides. He began the cul- tivation of the place in 1890 and has since car- ried on general farming, raising corn and wheat. On the Ioth of January, 1901, he bought eighty
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acres near the old place and now has altogether one hundred and twenty acres of rich and pro- ductive land, which has greatly appreciated in value by the care and cultivation he has bestowed upon it.
On the 25th of September, 1881, Mr. Fisher was married to Miss Laura J. Fowler, who was born in Derry township, Pike county, on the 28th of November, 1861, and is a daughter of Bloomer and Rebecca (Collyer) Fowler, the former a na- tive of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. Her father was a butcher by trade and also dealt in furs and other commodities, being proprietor of a hotel in Rockport for a number of years. He had twelve children, of whom eight are now living. Following the death of his first wife he married again and there was one child by the second union. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Fisher are: J. W. Fowler, a farmer and school teacher, living in Middletown, Missouri; Mrs. Elmira Wilson, of Summer Hill, Pike county ; Mrs. Luemma Ban- com, of New Canton; Mrs. Mary A. Palmer, of Creston, Iowa ; J. L. Fowler, of Kendrick, Idaho ; B. P. Fowler, of Cunningham, Washington ; and Elmer Fowler, of New Canton. Mrs. Fisher was the fourth in order of birth and by her marriage she became the mother of four children but two have passed away, Ellis E., who died at the age of five and a half years, and Laura Fay when five months old. Those still living are Leslie W. and Lester L., twins, born March 12, 1895.
The family home is pleasantly located about a half mile southwest of New Canton, so that they are enabled to readily acquire the comforts of town life and also to enjoy the advantages of a rural residence. Mr. Fisher votes with the democ- racy and is a member of camp No. 1148, M. W. A., of New Canton. His wife is a member of the Mutual Protective League, the Royal Neighbors of America and the Pike County Mutual Life In- surance Association and she also belongs to the Christian church. She was educated in the El- dara public schools. Mr. Fisher started out in life at the bottom of the ladder and has climbed steadily upward until he has reached the plane of affluence. Every cent that he has ever pos- sessed and enjoyed has been acquired by earnest and honest labor and such a course has won the
admiration and respect of his fellow townsmen who speak of him in terms of esteem, good will and confidence.
ELLIOTT BAKER.
Elliott Baker owns a farm on sections 9 and 16, Martinsburg township, and is one of the pros- perous agriculturists and successful business men of Pike county. It was upon this farm that he was born and as his entire life has been passed in this locality he is now well known in Pitts- field and throughout the county, where he has made a splendid reputation as a man of tried in- tegrity and worth. Moreover he is one of the veterans of the Civil war, having fought valiant- ly for the old flag which was the symbol of the Union. The farm which he now owns and which is the old homestead property of the Baker fam- ily comprises one hundred and sixty acres of val- uable and well improved land.
It was upon this place that Mr. Baker first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 2d of January, 1842. His father was James Baker, a native of Ohio, and his grandfather was Joseph Baker, who removed from the Buckeye state to Illinois about 1832. Here he purchased land and opened up a farm. James Baker, having arrived at years of maturity, was married to Miss Mary Betts in Ross county, Ohio, and later he and his wife rode across the country on horseback to join his father here. He continued a resident of Mar- tinsburg township until his death, which occurred about 1846. His wife survived him and reared her family, doing a mother's full part toward her children, to whom she gave every advantage pos- sible.
Elliott Baker remained upon the old homestead with his mother, attended the public schools through the winter months and in the summer seasons aided in the labors of the field. He was. thus engaged until about twenty years of age, when on the 14th of March, 1862, he responded to his country's call for aid and joined Company B of the Third Missouri Cavalry, which was at- tached to the Western Army. He served for three
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years and was in a number of small battles and several important ones. On one occasion he sus- tained a gunshot wound in the right arm but he lost no time from active service and he was hon- orably discharged at Macon City, Missouri, March 14, 1865.
Upon his return home Mr. Baker took charge of his mother's property and business interests. The following year he was married in Pike coun- ty on the 13th of September, 1866, to Miss Susan C. Gooden, whom he brought to the farm and with whom he traveled life's journey happily until March 12, 1890, when she was called to her final home, her remains being interred in Prairie Mound cemetery. There were four children born of that union. On the 3d of March, 1904, Mr. Baker was again married, his second union being with Josephine Alcorn, a native of this county. His children are: Sherman, who is married and re- sides in Los Angeles, California; Mary F., the wife of David Rupert, a resident farmer of Mar- tinsburg township; Lilly E., the wife of Ernest Ellis, of the state of Washington ; and Logan, at home.
Mr. Baker has built a good neat residence upon his farm, also substantial barns and outbuildings, has fenced the place and by this means has di- vided it into fields of convenient size. He has made most of the present improvements upon the property, which indicates his careful supervision, his practical methods and his keen insight into agricultural affairs. In connection with general farming he raises and feeds stock for the mar- ket and feeds a carload or two of hogs each year. In this business he has won prosperity and is re- garded as one of the successful agriculturists of the county. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, which he has supported since casting his first presidential ballot for Gen- eral Grant in 1868, save on one occasion. He has taken an active and helpful part in political work and has been elected and served for three consecu- tive terms as supervisor, acting on a number of committees while a member of the board, includ- ing the finance and other important committees. He has been chairman of the township committce and as a friend of the public-school system he did effective service for the schools, acting as a mem-
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