My Genealogy Hound

GRIGSBY, JOHN, lumber dealer and undertaker; residence, Coatsburg; was born in Page county, Va., June 5, 1836; came to this county in the fall of 1836. He owns 267 acres of land, valued at $10,000, and his residence is valued at $3,000; married Miss Sarah A. White in 1869. She was born in this county, Aug. 19, 1835. She is the oldest person born in the township and now living. They have five children: Grace D., Viola A., John M. (by her first husband), Elida, and A. J. He is Justice of the Peace at the present time. His father emigrated to Fall Creek township; lived there until 1847; thence he came to Honey Creek. In 1859 he made up his mind to go to Pike’s Peake; was a poor boy, only having $47.50. He started out with a man by the name of White, afoot, and traveled through Missouri, stopping with farmers. When he got to St. Joe, he stopped one night, and bought some blankets and a frying pan; thence on to near Fort Kearney on the Platte. They met several coming back who discouraged Mr. White, and he turned back. Mr. G. still kept on, and crossed the Rocky mountains. In Salt Lake Basin, he fell in with a man by the name of Charles Traver, from South Bend, Ind., who was taking horses through to California. He made a bargain with him, giving his services for board and a horse to ride. He stayed with him until they got to Honey Lake Valley, Nevada. He stopped to recruit his animals, and Mr. G. traveled over the mountains to California, making a distance of 1,700 miles, on foot. He worked in mines until 1861, when he enlisted in the 4th Regt. Cal. Inf., Co. G; was in the army three years to a day, and was mustered out at Los Angeles, on the 13th of December, 1864. He took the steamer Golden City for New York, and arrived there Jan. 4, 1865, and reached home on the 7th. He afterward engaged in shipping stock and produce. The firm was Gibbs & Grigsby, and afterward Gibbs, Grigsby & Co. In one year they shipped $225,000 worth of stock and produce, and averaged about $175,000. Mr. G. has a fine residence, and is one of the sound men of the township.