Faulk-Potter County, SD Biographies.....Griffee, Abraham D. 1861 - living in 1909
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 8, 2005, 11:43 pm

Author: C. H. Ellis
    ABRAHAM D. GRIFFEE is a native of the state of Iowa, having been born in the

city of Oskaloosa on the 21st day of September, 1861, and being a son of Abraham

and Nancy (Higgenbothom) Griffee, the former of whom was born in Virginia and

the latter in Ohio.



    The Griffee family is of German extraction and was founded in the old

patrician state of Virginia in the early colonial era, with whose history the

name has been prominently identified. The father of the subject was reared and

educated in Virginia and as a young man removed to Ohio, where he maintained his

residence for a few years, and then about 1840, made the long overland journey

to Iowa with team and wagon, being accompanied by his wife and their three

children, the other four children being born in the Hawkeye state. He became one

of the pioneers of Mahaska county where he reclaimed and improved a valuable

farm and where he continued to reside until his death which occurred in 1886. He

became a man of prominence and distinctive influence in the community and passed

away in the fullness of years and well earned honors. His devoted wife was

summoned into eternal rest in 1899. Their children, all are living, the subject

of this sketch being the sixth in order of birth.



    Abraham D. Griffee was born in the town of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and from his

sixth year was reared on a farm, and in youth was accorded the advantages of the

excellent public schools of his native state, completing a course in the high

school of Oskaloosa. He continued to be associated with the work and management

of the home farm until 1884, when he came to Dakota Territory and took up land

in Faulk county, whose organization had been effected about a year previously.

Upon his preemption claim he made good improvements, the place being eligibly

located near the village of Seneca, and there he continued to be engaged in

farming and stock growing until it appreciated in value in the intervening

years. In the year mentioned he came to Gettysburg, the official center of

Potter county, and here engaged in the grain business, owning an interest in the

elevator at that place, and he continued to be identified with this line of

business for the ensuing five years. At the expiration of that time he disposed

of his interest in the same and turned his attention to the lumber business at

which he was engaged until 1900. In that year he was elected to the office of 

register of deeds for Potter county, where he gave an able and systematic

administration of the office and was chosen to succeed himself in 1902 for a

second term of two years. In 1904 Mr. Griffee returned to Faulk county and

located at Faulkton where he has been engaged in business. In  January of 1909

he entered into co-partnership with ;Mr. A. W. Phelps and they are carrying on a

very successful real estate business.



    Mr. Griffee takes a lively interest in public affairs. Politically he is a

democrat and an active worker in the party. He is a man of ability and strict

integrity, and highly respected in the community. Fraternally he is identified

with the Masonic Order, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workman,

Modern Woodmen of America and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.



    On the 2nd of February, 1886, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Griffee to

Miss Mary E. Douglas, who was born and raised in Lonaconing, Maryland, being a

daughter of Capt. John W. and Ellen Douglas. Mr. and Mrs. Griffee have one

daughter, Rhea, who was born July 10th 1887.



Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9

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