Biographical Sketch of Geo. E. Griffith, Johnson County, Missouri
Centerview Township
>From "The History of Johnson County, Missouri," 
Kansas City Historical Co. 1881

GEO. E. GRIFFITH,

section 5, Centerview township, was born in Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, in 1823.  His father was a native of Maryland.  He has
resided in Warren county, Iowa, for about twenty years.  In the year
1865, he was elected a member of the house of representatives for Iowa,
and served in that capacity one term; immediately thereafter, in 1866,
was elected State senator, and served till 1870.  He did not seek
political honors, in fact was nominated while away from home, and was
elected by an overwhelming majority.  He occupied the very important
position of chairman of the committee on public buildings, and was
largely influential in securing the passage of the bill authorizing the
construction of the present magnificent capitol building, at Des Moines,
Iowa.  No man stood higher as a wise legislator, or a more efficient
worker for the large interest intrusted to his care.  He was also mainly
instrumental in obtaining the construction of the branch of the Rock
Island railroad, from Des Moines to Indianola.  He was made president of
the construction company, and carried the project through, although on
account of the failure of other parties connected with the enterprise,
it resulted in quite a pecuniary loss to himself.  Mr. Griffith was also
instrumental in securing the building of the college at Indianola,
having through his efforts, and great sacrifice of time and expense,
obtained subscriptions to the amount of $20,000 and over, thus securing
the adoption and patronage of the Des Moines conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church, thereby securing to the conference and the State of
Iowa an institution, in which they may both justly take pride.  Mr.
Griffith moved to his present residence in Centerview, in the spring of
1874.  He has three children, one being a widower with one child.  He
now owns 686 acres of land, and does a general farming business; and at
the same time deals largely in stock.  He raises a good many cattle and
hogs, and also buys largely for the purpose of feeding and fattening for
the market.  He sends to market this year some 220 head of very fine fat
cattle.  He has a beautiful situation and fine facilities for his stock;
and as the writer of this sketch was shown through the shaded and
pleasant grove, where about fifty head of as fine and fat three-year-old
steers and heifers as he ever looked upon were feeding, having before
them a constant supply of corn and fresh cured hay, and at the same time
ranging in fresh pastures and a plentiful supply of good water, verily
we were constrained to believe that Mr. Griffith understood thoroughly
the business in which he was engaged.

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