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1907 Past and Present Biographies
William GriveyHis father, William Grivey, was a native of Prussia, and emigrating to America he worked in Pennsylvania for fifty cents per day in order to earn money which would enable him to pay the passage of his wife and five children to the new world. After seven years spent in this country he went to La Salle county, Illinois, and engaged in farming near Lostant. He was among the early settlers there and experienced many hardships incident to founding a home on the frontier. Although he was in very limited financial circumstances when he arrived in La Salle county he lived to an old age and became very successful through the careful management of his business affairs. He was a good Christian man, holding membership in the Evangelical association and his life was at all times in harmony with his professions, for he endeavored to closely follow the Golden Rule and do to others as he would have them do to him. His wife, Mrs. Wilhelmina Grivey, was also a native of Prussia, and both died in La Salle county, Illinois, the former in March, 1895, and the latter in December, 1900. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four are now living, the three sisters of our subject being residents of Illinois. William Grivey spent his boyhood days on the home farm, having but little opportunity to attend school, for his time was fully taken up by the work of the fields, as he assisted in the task of planting in early spring, of cultivating crops in mid-summer and of gathering crops in the autumn. He saved his earnings, ambitious to attain a home of his own, and at the age of twenty-two years he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land. Soon he built thereon a little dwelling and carried forward the work of developing and cultivating his property until about eighteen years ago, when he sold his farm in Illinois and came to Iowa. In the meantime, however, he had added to his original purchase and was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land in La Salle county. On coming to Iowa he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Boone county, five miles east of Dana, and again resolutely took up the task of bringing the place under a high state of cultivation and equipping it with all modern accessories and conveniences. There he lived until about eight years ago, when he retired from business life and took up his abode in the village of Dana. He has made judicious investments in property and is now the owner of valuable realty, including two hundred and sixty-eight acres in Boone county and four hundred and eighty acres in Greene county just east of Dana. He also has a beautiful home in the village, which he purchased eight years ago. Mr. Grivey was married in La Salle county, Illinois, to Miss Caroline Richard, a native of that county and a daughter of Christian and Dorothy Richard, both of whom are now deceased. They came to America with Mr. Grivey’s parents and were farming people of La Salle county. Unto our subject and his wife were born nine children: Emma, now the wife of Albert Mantz, a farmer living near Perry, Iowa; Lydia, who died in childhood; Sarah, at home; William, who married Nona Vigneron and lives on his father’s farm a mile east of Dana; Christ, Carrie, Anna and Alta, all at home; and Mary, who died in childhood. The parents held membership in the Evangelical church for many years, but about two years ago united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Dana. Mr. Grivey is a republican, but without aspiration for oflice. He has preferred to give his undivided time and attention to his business affairs, which have been carefully managed, and his work has resulted in bringing him a very desirable competence, making him one of the men of alfiuence in the community. He has ever been found trustworthy in business transactions and his life record proves what may be accomplished through force of cnaracter and unfaltering diligence. |
Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |