Biography - Holland S. Griffith
HOLLAND S. GRIFFITH, was born in DeWitt County, Ill., January 3, 1867.
His father was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, was reared there, and married.
From thence he came to Illinois in an early day, remaining for a time in
Macon County, after which he removed to DeWitt County. He took up a tract of
Government land, living on the same for two years before entering it. This
land was located eight miles northeast of Clinton. He was a very
enterprising man of good judgment and consequently was very successful. He
also entered land in DeWitt County, besides going quite extensively into
real estate in Kansas, owning one thousand acres in Chase County. Mr.
Griffith was also engaged in stockraising there. In 1880, accompanied by his
family, he started West with a team for Kansas and traveled quite
extensively, there living one year on his land in Chase County. Afterward,
in 1882, he returned to his home in DeWitt, residing there until his death,
which took place November 16, 1890.
Mr. Griffith was married a second time choosing as his wife Miss Sarah Reed,
of Steuben County, Ohio, and who became the mother of our subject. She has
five children living: Byard, Dell, Holland, Nellie and Melvin. Our subject
was reared to agricultural pursuits and was educated in the public schools
of DeWitt County, and resided with his parents whom he assusted on the farm,
until he was twenty-three years of age when he settled on the farm where he
now resides on section 21, Todd's Point. It is a well-cultivated farm of one
hundred and sixty broad and fertile acres.
Extracted 25 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 680-681.
HOLLAND S. GRIFFITH. The owner of a fine farm in Todd's Point Township,
Shelby County, Ill. The gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch
was born in DeWitt County, this State, January 3, 1867. He is a son of Baard
Griffith, one of the noble pioneers of the State, of whose labor and
struggles with early difficulties the present generation is in the enjoyment
of the advantages that are the natural result thereof.
Our subject's father was a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, and was there
reared and educated; there also he met and married his wife and soon
afterward removed to Illinois. Their first home in this State was in Macon
County and thence they moved to DeWitt County and located a tract of
Government land residing upon it for two years. It was advantageously
located being only eight miles northeast of Clinton; here our subject was
born. Mr. Griffith Sr. was a very enterprising man and possessed of
excellent judgment, and entirely suited to cope successfully with the
difficulties of pioneer life. He entered and purchased other land in the
county and became quite extensively interested in real estate in Kansas,
where he became the owner of one hundred acres in Chase County and also
became interested in the stock business there.
In 1880 our subject's father accompanied by his family, started overland for
Kansas and in that manner traveled quite extensively through that state
making a residence of one year upon his land there. In 1882 the family
returned to their home in DeWitt County and there remained until the death
of the father, his decease occurring November 16, 1890. The widow and the
mother of our subject was, before her marriage, a Miss Sarah Reed; she was a
native of Ohio and still makes her home in DeWitt County. She is the mother
of five children who are still living. They are Byard, Dell, Holland, our
subject, Nellie and Melvin.
Holland Griffith was reared on the home farm and early learned the duties
incident to farm life. He attended school in the neighboring district and
assisted with the farm labor in the intervals. He made his home with his
parents until twenty-three years of age and then settled on the farm where
he now resides. It is a beautiful tract on section 31, Todd's Point
Township, and comprises one hundred and sixty-four acres of good and arable
land. Here he devotes himself to general agriculture and his efforts thus
far have been crowned with a pleasing degree of success.
Extracted 27 Sep 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 726.
