William M. GRISSOM, who is descended from one of the early settlers of
Johnson County, was born in one of the first pioneer homes opened in
Grantsburg Township, December 9, 1830, and is now one of its
industrious, well-to-do farmers. His father was Warren GRISSOM, a
native of North Carolina, and a son of John GRISSOM. When Warren was
six years of age tlie family removed to Tennessee, and when he was
twelve years old, in 1818, they came to Illinois, traveling in a
one-horse cart, and were among the first to settle within the precincts
of Johnson County, the grandfather selecting the land on what is now
section 8, Grantsburg Township, and, taking possession of a little
cabin that stood thereon, commenced the struggle to build up a home
amid pioneer environments. The grandmother of our subject died on the
place, and was buried in Grissom graveyard, and the grandfather
returned to Tennessee to pass his remaining days.
The father of our subject was brought up to the life of a farmer, and
remained on the old farm until he was eighteen years old. He then went
to live with the SIMPSONs, and while with them had an opportunity to
attend school a year, whereby he obtained a fair education. He remained
in that neighborhood seven years, working on a farm when he was able to
do so. He had acquired the trade of shoemaker by himself, and worked at
that when he had nothing else to do. At the age of twenty-two he went
to Golconda, and for the ensuing five years was employed in a tobacco
warehouse and general merchandise store, learning good business methods
and gaining a thorough knowledge of mercantile affairs.
At the age of twenty-four, Mr. GRISSOM married Miss Miranda FINNEY, a
native of Ohio, where her parents died when she was a small child, and
at the age of six an aunt brought her to Golconda. When he left the
position that he had held so long in the tobacco and mercantile
business, Mr. Grissom turned his attention to farming, buying an old
settled farm on section 4, Grantsburg Township. There were eighty acres
of land, and a large hewed log house stood ready for occupancy when Mr.
GRISSOM took possession of the farm, upon which he made substantial
improvements during the fourteen years that he lived there. Selling it
at the expiration of that time, he resided in different places in the
settlement for a number of years, and then bought sixty-five acres of
land adjoining the old place. His first wife died in 1849, and he was
afterward married to Sarah WILLIAMS, from Georgia, who also preceded
him in death. His demise occurred in 1867, and his mortal remains were
buried in Pope County. Seven children were born of his first marriage:
William M.; Naomi, who died on the old farm when a year old; Elizabeth,
who died on the old farm at the age of one year; Pleasant G., who died
when three years old; Nancy,deceased; Mary A., who is married and lives
near Brooklyn, Massac County; and Thomas L., who died in Massac County.
By the second marriage there were three children: Warren J. and Delilah
Jane, deceased; and a child that died in infancy.
The subject of this biographical notice was the first child born to his
father. He remained at home until he was thirteen years old, helping
his father on the farm, and at that age went to live with Pleasant
ROSE, near the old place. He remained with him eight years, attending
school as he had a chance, and he was then employed on different farms
for four years. He was prudent and economical, and by the end of that
time had money enough saved to buy a farm, and he purchased the place
where he now lives on section 7, Grantsburg Township, paying $350 for
the eighty acres of unimproved land. About a year after purchasing it
he built a cabin, having cleared land to make room for it, burning the
timber that he did not use for lumber or rails. He had thus a home
prepared for his chosen bride, and in 1859 he was wedded to Miss Eliza
FARLES, a native of Johnson County, and they began life together in the
cabin. By persistent and intelligent labor, Mr. GRISSOM has transformed
the place into one of the finest and most desirable farms of the
township, putting it under a high state of cultivation and making
substantial improvements. He has also increased its acreage more than
two-fold, buying another eighty the next winter after his first
purchase and adding forty acres subsequently, so that he has a
good-sized farm of two hundred acres, all neatly fenced into convenient
fields. In 1861 his humble cabin gave way to a more commodious frame
house, and barns and other outbuildings of a good class have been
erected.
The first wife of our subject, who was a valuable aid to him in
bringing about his present prosperity, departed this life in 1886, and
her last resting place is in the Concord graveyard. Our subject was
married a second time, his present estimable wife being formerly Miss
Eliza SPENCE, from Massac County. By his first marriage, Mr. GRISSOM
had the following children: Sidney A., deceased; James E., Jane, Thomas
L., Kittie and Ida, all of whom died in infancy; Mary Elizabeth, wife
of Frank FAERIES; William M., who teaches school in Johnson County; and
Barney, at home.
Mr. GRISSOM is a man of strong character, possessing in a full degree
those manly traits that win confidence and esteem, and these are
accorded to him in full measure by the people among whom he has always
lived, and who know him to be a good neighbor and a steadfast friend.
His success in life is due to his competency as a farmer and to his
perseverance in overcoming the difficulties that lie in his pathway.
The Republican party has in him a consistent supporter of its policy.
Religiously, he is of the Presbyterian faith and a stanch church member.
transcribed by Nan Starjak
Source:
The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin
Counties
Chicago
Biographical Publishing Co., 1893
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