Vermilion county Illinois, LABAN GRITTEN ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Joy Fisher ==================================================================== p.231-232 LABAN GRITTEN is classed among the leading farmers and stock raisers of Pilot Township, he having contributed much towards making it a great agricultural center. His farm on section 22 is comparable with the finest and best in this section of Vermilion County, is so cultivated as to produce large harvests, and its buildings and all other appointments are first-class. Mr. Gritten has evolved this desirable farm from the wild prairies of Illinois, as they were many years ago, before they had been changed by cultivation, it having been government land when he purchased it more than thirty years ago, and situated in the midst of a sparsely populated, scarcely civilized country. Mr. Gritten is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Mercer County, Jan. 19, 1832. His father, John R. Gritten, was born in the same county in 1807. He married Nancy Atkinson, who was born there in 1806, and they came to this county with their family in 1842, and located on a farm of 120 acres, pleasantly situated in Blount Township, where they have built up a comfortable home, and now, in life's decline are enjoying the hard- earned fruits of their united labor. Three of the children that have blessed their union are still living: Ann, residing in Danville Township, is the widow of Frank Watson, of Ohio, and has five children— William, John, Nancy J., Margaret and Martha; Lloyd married Sarah Gritten, daughter of one of the first settlers of the county, and they have four children— Wesley, Annie, Ella and Elisha; Laban is the subject of this sketch, and we will write further of him. We have seen that his parents brought him here in pioneer times, when he was a mere lad, and here they bred him to a life of usefulness, and fitted him for an honorable career, and to their careful training he doubtless owes much of his prosperity. He became manly, self-reliant and a good worker, and in early manhood prudently invested his money in government land, proposing to make farming his life work, and purchased 320 acres of land at twenty-five cents an acre. He now has the land all under excellent cultivation, and has greatly increased its value by the many fine improvements that he has made, including substantial buildings, etc. He does a general farming business, has his farm well stocked with stock of high grades, from the sale of which he makes good profits, and he raises a good deal of grain and other farm produce, from which he derives an income amply sufficing to carry on his agricultural operations in good shape, and for all his personal wants. Mr. Gritten has been twice married. His first wife was a Miss Sarah Potter, who was of English descent, and her father, an early settler of this part of Illinois, took part in the Black Hawk War under General Taylor. Five children were born to our subject in that union, of whom one died; the others are Orsmus, Charles, Edward and Thomas. Orsmus, a carpenter in Danville, married Miss May Gritten; Charles, living with his father on the homestead, married Matilda Gritten, and they have seven children—Clarence, Arthur, Orsmus, Elzora, Oliver, Ross and Rock. Edward, a farmer in this county, married Miss Belle Davis, of Ohio, and they have one child, Jesse B.; Thomas, a blacksmith at Bixby, married Martha Schank, and they have three children —Earl, Maude and Olive. For his second wife Mr. Gritten married Miss Lydia Pile, a native of Breckenridge County, Ky., and of their eleven children the following five are living: Oracena, Alvina, Jacob, Eli and William. William and Elizabeth Pile were the parents of Mrs. Gritten, the father a native of Virginia, the mother a native of Kentucky, and both are deceased. Mr. Gritten may well be proud of his farm, whose increased value is due to his hard labor and excellent business capacity and management. He possesses sober judgment, keen discernment and a resolute nature that has overcome all obstacles in the path to success. In his political views he sides with the Democrats, and gives his hearty approval to party measures.