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DAVID H. GRIFFITH, farmer, was born in Louisa County, this State, in 1846. He is a son of Arthur and Margaret (Jones) Griffith, both of whom were born and reared and married in Wales, and their eldest daughter, Mary, was born in that country. She is now the wife of William Anwyl, who was also born in Wales, and their marriage was celebrated about eight years after the Griffith family had located in America. Mr. Anwyl is a resident farmer of Louisa County, and the father of Edward and Maggie Anwyl. Edward is married, and also resides in that county.
Arthur Griffith was a carpenter by trade, and his first location in America was made in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained two years. Deciding to make a home in the new Northwest, Mr. Griffith brought his family with him, making the journey down the Ohio to Cairo, Ill., and up the Mississippi to Muscatine, at which place he landed, and selected what is now a part of Louisa County, then a part of the Territory of Wisconsin, taking a claim four miles west of where Columbus City is now built. Mr. Griffith built a house of clay, in which he lived for two years, prior to the erection of a log house, which was only torn down in 1886. In the clay house Elizabeth, the second child, was born, she is still living, and is the wife of Edward Davis, of Louisa County.
Another brother, John Griffith, came about two years after Arthur, settled in Iowa, and selected a
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claim one mile east of Arthur. He brought with him a young wife, but his children, David and Elizabeth, were both born in Iowa. The Indians were very numerous at that early day, and the Griffiths were the earliest settlers of the county. Their children were more familiar with the faces of Indians than of white persons. During all the years intervening between his coming to this county and the removal of the Indians to their reservation, the greatest good-will prevailed, the only annoyance experienced being their persistent begging, desiring a part of any and everything possessed by the Griffiths. The first span of horses owned in that county was by Arthur Griffith. He made a long journey southward in quest of horses, and finally succeeded in purchasing a mare which later gave birth to a colt, which when mature made him a team that became historical. At that time all the work was done with oxen, and the plows were of the mold-board pattern. Arthur being a mechanic, made shovel plows for the settlers to till their lands, and his services in that line later became much in demand. When the lands were ready for entry Arthur secured 200 acres which his widow yet retains. On it and in the log house previously mentioned, the remainder of her children, David H., Arthur L., and Margaret E., were born. The first Congregational Church organized in that county was formed at the log house of Arthur Griffith, and for more than thirty years Arthur served as Deacon. Humphrey Griffith, another brother, with his family, also settled near these people, a few years after coming there. The Griffiths were all carpenters, and almost every log house in that country was erected by them. Humphrey removed with his family to California, and died there. The other brothers died in Louisa County within a short time of each other.
Our subject has always been a farmer. His brother Arthur followed the vocation of his father, but after his marriage to Miss Tudie Phelps, of Washington, this county, he removed first to the Black Hills, and later to Montana, where he became quite a noted politician, and has held many important offices. He is now Postmaster at Yellowstone. His first wife died childless. Mrs. Black, of Oregon Township, Washington County, became his second wife, and has borne one son, Arthur. The marriage of our subject to Miss Mary A. Jones, of Louisa County, was celebrated Feb. 28, 1866. She was the daughter of Louis and Mary Jones, also of Wales, who became residents of Louisa County in 1853. To the wife of our subject were born: Amy, deceased; Arthur, Allie, Edwin, Winifred, David C., Margaret E., Howard and John. The death of Mrs. Griffith occurred in June, 1884, and Jan. 30, 1887, our subject wedded Mrs. Lillie (McKinsey) Riley, the widow of Robert Allen Riley. She has one daughter by her first husband, Maud A. A lengthy history of her ancestry will be found elsewhere. In February, 1881, Mr. Griffith, with his family, became identified with the history of this county, purchasing the farm on which he now resides and on which he expects to remain. The family are welcomed among the honored residents of Crawford Township, and his interesting sketch deserves a place in its history.
STEPHEN P. POTTER resides on section 10, Highland Township, where he owns 160 acres of land in a high state of cultivation, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Wayne County, N.Y., born in 1831, and is a son of Oliver and Clarissa (Barnes) Potter, the former a native of Rhode Island, and the latter of Connecticut. In 1837 the family moved to Allen County, Ind., where they both subsequently died. In that county Stephen grew to manhood and received but a limited education in the common schools. As soon as physically able, he was required to assist upon the farm, and as a farmer he has continued until the present time.
In 1855, Mr. Potter came to Iowa, and on the 25th of September, 1857, was married in Louisa County, this State, to Miss Citney A. Van Horne, a native of Richland County, Ohio, born March 28, 1835. Four children have been born unto them: James H., John E.; Anna J., now the wife of Alonzo Steele, of Highland Township; and Addie, now the wife of Dwight Woodburn, of Highland Township. Mr. and Mrs. Potter are respected
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members of the Church of God. Starting in life in very limited circumstances, by hard labor, economy and fair dealing, assisted by his amiable wife, he is now in comfortable circumstances, with one of the best farms in Highland Township, a neat and comfortable dwelling house, barns and other out-buildings, and a fine grove on the place. Everything upon the premises denotes thrift and enterprise. Their first settlement was made in this county in 1876. Politically, Mr. P. is a Democrat. At present he is serving his township as Trustee. To know the man is to have confidence in and respect for him. No one stands higher in the community where he resides.
 WILLIAM BILLINGSLEY. farmer and stock-raiser, on section 9, township 77, range 7 west, English River Township owns 782 acres in this county, divided into three well-improved farms. He is also the owner of 1,068 acres of land in Florida. He was born in Mononogahela County, now W. Va., Aug. 29, 1828, and is the son of Samuel W. and Hannah (Smith) Billingsley. He removed to Green County, Pa., in 1849, and one year later came to Iowa, settling at Richmond in April, 1850. He purchased the farm where he now resides in 1856.
Mr. Billingsley was married, Nov. 3, 1853, in Washington, this county, to Miss Sophia J. Moore, daughter of Phillip B. and Lydia Moore. She was born in Licking County, Ohio. They are the parents of four children, three boys and one girl, all except the youngest born in this county: Ray, born Nov. 10, 1854, married Eleanor Patterson, and resides in Santa Ana, Cal., and they have three children, two boys and one girl; May, born Sept. 6, 1856, is the wife of Frederick Lathrop, and also resides at Santa Ana, Cal., and has one daughter; Jay married Eleanor Benjamin, lives in Oskaloosa, and has one daughter; Jones, born March 21, 1870, died August 8 of the same year. Mrs. Billingsley died in 1870. Mr. Billingsley removed to Iowa City in 1869 and resided there nine years, engaged in horticulture. He returned to Washington County in March, 1878, and has continued to reside here since. He still owned this farm while at Iowa City.
Mr. Billingsley has been a member of the Board of Supervisors five years. He was a member of the County Board when the whole board was arrested for contempt of the United States Court. The board was obliged to disobey a State law to submit to a Federal Law. He served as Trustee of his township six years, and two years as Assessor. politically, he is a Democrat, and religiously, he is liberal in his views.
Samuel W. Billingsley, the father of our subject, was born in 1790, in Monongahela County, Va. His wife, Hannah (Smith) Billingsley, was born in 1800, in the same county. The former was of English, and the latter of Irish descent, but the family was of American birth for several generations. The father died in September, 1855, and the mother in 1870. They were the parents of five children: William, the subject of this sketch; Mary died when but two years old; George W., who married Louisa E. Todd, and is a farmer of this township, where he has resided since 1850, and owns 272 acres of land; Cyrus married Margaret Stinson, and is a farmer of Girard, Kan., and is the owner of 300 acres of land, and John M.
We are pleased to present to the patrons of this ALBUM the portrait of Mr. William Billingsley, which will be found on an accompanying page.
J. A. JOHNSON, residing on section 24, Clay Township, is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Clarke County, Ohio, May 9, 1846, and is a son of Z. and Melinda (Snyder)Johnson. (See sketch of Z. Johnson in another part of this work.) He was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools. In 1848, he came with his parents to Washington County, Iowa, where he has since continued to reside. Until he was seventeen years of age, he worked upon his father's farm during the summer, and attended school during the winter months. He then engaged with various farmers, and in 1869 went to Davis County, Iowa, and
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there took charge of an engine in a sawmill, and continued in that work until the spring of 1871.
On the 7th of September, 1871, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Miss Martha Smoot, a native of Macon County, Mo., born Feb. 24, 1851, and daughter of William and Louisa (Fletcher) Smoot, the former a native of Missouri, and the latter of Kentucky. Five children have been born unto them: Arthur, born July 11, 1872, died Aug. 13, 1874; Leoni, born July 13, 1874; Clarence A., Sept. 11, 1876; William Z., Sept. 17, 1879; Ralph, Aug. 9, 1884.
In the spring of 1872, Mr. Johnston rented a farm which he cultivated that season, and in the summer of that year purchased fifty-five acres, but sold the same a few months afterward. He then rented a farm of 155 acres of his father, on which he remained for two years as a renter. He then purchased fifty-five acres of that farm, to which he has added by subsequent purchase until he now owns 160 acres, all under fence and in a good state of cultivation. In his farming operations he has been quite successful, and is now classed among the best farmers in Clay Township.
Mr. Johnson is well known and universally respected in his township, and has been honored by his fellow-citizens with various township offices, and is at present a School Director and President of the School Board. He is a man of considerable energy, and one who does not care to take a back seat in any enterprise calculated for the public good.
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