Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1009 - 1010 

JAMES H. McGRIFF, located at No. 1130 North Main street, Wichita, is a capitalist and speculator, whose birthplace was Preble County, Ohio, the date of which was the 26th of August, 1833. He was brought up on the farm until he reached his nineteenth year. Then learning the blacksmith trade occupied his time for thirty months. He then set up for himself as ambitious boys are wont to do, and as the world goes, was "dubbed" successful.

             In 1865 our subject removed to Jersey County, Ill., where he stuck to his trade, and did general job work. That trade has been congenial for him thirty years of his life. Frances M. Wilson, of Indiana, became his wife on the 13th of January, 1856. Nov. 7, 1836, was made memorable in her family by her addition to it. Her decease took place in 1875; she had become the mother of five children: Mary died in 1887; Ida L., James O., Frank L. and Alda E., survive to call her name blessed.

             As in olden times, it not being good for man to be alone, the father of these children sought and won the hand of Mary F. Tottenger. They were duly installed in wedlock March 4, 1886. She was a widowed daughter of Isaac K. Robbins, her mother being Amanda Andrews. She still lives at this writing, in Phelps County, Ohio. She married Mr. Halderman after her first husband's decease; and Mr. Tottenger married Mary of whom mention is made above. Their wedding occurred Sept. 30, 1868. He was born Jan. 4, 1846, and died April 17, 1881. They had two children, both boys, John B. and Harry R. Mr. Robbins was a wagon-maker by trade, and was successful. He was religious, a Class-Leader, Sunday-school worker, and member of the I. O. O. F. He died in 1873. He professed entire sanctification for ten years before his demise. Hiram L. and Mary F. were the children of that union.

            Mr. McGriff located near Wichita in 1875, eighty acres of land eighteen miles southwest of the city being his first domicile. Here he worked at his trade, but two years ago retired from it to rest awhile. He loans money, buys and sells lots, and rents some property. He has some five acres of land besides lots.

             Mr. McGriff is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was Master of Fidelity Lodge No. 152, at Fidelity, Ill. He was a delegate to the Grand Lodge for several years, meeting at Chicago, Ill. He and his good wife are members of the Methodist Church, in good standing and full fellowship. She believes in Democracy, but he thinks Republicanism the road out of political thraldom.

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