cessful in all his undertakings. He was senior member of the noted old-time law firm of Griswold & Usher, in its day one of the most famous law firms in the West. While in active practice at the bar he tried many cases with Abraham Lincoln and Judge David Davis, of Illinois, both of whom were his warm personal friends as long as they lived. When the era of active railroad building began in the West, Mr. Griswold became at once identified with these enterprises. He was first interested in the building of the Evansville & Crawford Railroad, extending from Evansville to Terre Haute, and after the completion of this line he operated and managed it for several years. About this time he was nominated for judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana by the Whig party, of which he was a member, and, although he was defeated by reason of the fact that Indiana was then a strongly Democratic State, his personal popularity was evidenced in his running several thousand votes ahead of his ticket. In 1859 he was made president of what was then the Terre Haute, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Company, operating the line which is now a part of the Big Four system. In 1864 he became president and general manager of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company, and during his administration of the affairs of the corporation built the portion of its line extending from North Vernon, Indiana, to Louisville, Kentucky. His management of that road was eminently. successful, and much might be written of his important services in that connection. During the years of his connection with railway enterprises he was compelled to spend much of his time in St. Louis and Cincinnati, although Terre Haute had continued to be his home. As a result of his business relations to St. Louis he had become largely interested in real estate in that city and when, in 1871, he retired from active railroad management he established his home there. As a resident of St. Louis, William D. Griswold continued to be for many years a conspicuous figure in business circles. He was one of the organizers of the St. Louis Transfer Company, for more than a quarter of a century a member of its board of directors, and for a time. president of the corporation, trusted and honored by all his associates. He was in all respects a most capable and sagacious man of affairs, and his judicious operations and Vol. III-9 wise investments resulted in his accumulation of a handsome fortune. In politics he was an old school Whig until that party ceased to exist. He then became a member of the Republican party, and during the Civil War was an ardent patriot, supporting the Union with all the influences at his command. When the war ended and the Southern people accepted the results in good faith, he favored restoring to them all the rights of citizenship, and opposed the vindictive course pursued by many of the leaders of the Republican party. As a consequence of this feeling on his part he became a member of the Democratic party, and contributed to further its interests, from honest convictions, to the end of his life. Grover, Hiram J., lawyer, was born in the Parish of West Feliciana, Louisiana, July 6, 1840, son of Hiram J. and Margaret (Hamilton) Grover. His father was a native of the State of Vermont, but went to Louisiana in early life and became well known in that State as an extensive and wealthy sugar planter. The elder Grover died when the son was five years of age, and he was reared and fitted for college under the guardianship of his mother. His collegiate training began at St. James College, Maryland, and was completed at Yale College, where he pursued a course of study designed to fit him for the law. After a thorough course of preparation for his chosen profession he was admitted to the bar in 1867, and began practicing in the city of New Orleans, admirably equipped for his calling. In 1872 he married Miss Charlotte T. Blow, daughter of the noted St. Louis merchant, Peter E. Blow, and four years later he removed to that city and became a member of the St. Louis bar. For more than twenty years he has devoted himself to the practice of law in that city, and has earned for himself a prominent place among his professional brethren. Careful and conscientious as a counselor and adviser, chivalrous in his devotion to the interests of his clients, and zealous in the defense of their rights, he has been a participant in the conduct of many notable cases, and has become known both to the bar and general public as a lawyer of high character and superior attainments. A close student of the law and of the underlying principles of jurisprudence, he has become especially noted for careful 130 GROWERS' AND SHIPPERS' ASSOCIATION-GRUNDY COUNTY. preparation of his cases, fearless championship of the causes with which he is identified, candor and fairness in dealing with the issues involved, and a strict regard for the ethics of the profession. Courteous in manner and bearing, he is at the same time vigorous and forceful in character and action, and in all respects a well-rounded and well-equipped lawyer. He has taken no active interest in politics, but has always been known in political circles as a staunch Democrat. He is an Episcopalian churchman and a member of the Masonic order. He has been twice married, his first wife having been Miss Mary G. Semmes, of Cumberland, Maryland, and a niece of the famous Admiral Semmes, of the Confederate Navy. The first Mrs. Grover died a year after their marriage, leaving one son. Five sons have been born of his second marriage, the oldest, Hamilton, being associated with his father in his law business. A man of domestic tastes, he is devoted to his home and family, and his homestead is an ideal one. Growers' and Shippers' National Protective Association.-An association organized at Kansas City, January 16, 1900, with J. E. Saunders, of Pierce City, Missouri, for president; J. P. Logan, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, treasurer; I. N. Barrick, of Kansas City, secretary and general manager, and A. E. Stanley, of Kansas City, cashier. The objects are to promote the rights and interests of growers and shippers of fruit, vegetables and other farm products by a system of watchfulness over packages bearing the seal of a member, and apprising members of the market prices from day to day. It acts for its members in disputes with commission merchants, without charge; informs its members about the responsibility and standing of commission. standing of commission merchants; investigates claims and complaints; gives advice about the glutted or bare condition of a market, and the best points to ship to; and will, when instructed to do so, divert shipments from one point to another, and take charge of shipments rejected by dealers. Any person, not a commission merchant, engaged in shipping orchard, garden or farm products, may become a member on payment of $6; annual fee afterwards, $5. The members of the association are chiefly in the States shipping to Kansas City, and its headquarters are in that city. Grundy County.-A county in the northern part of the State, bounded on the north by Mercer; east by Sullivan and Linn; south by Livingston, and west by Daviess and Harrison Counties; area, 274,000 acres. About two-thirds of the area of the county is up-land prairie, and the remainder hills and ridges, generally well timbered. The Thompson River, entering the county near the northwest corner, and the Weldon River, entering the county near the center of the northern boundary line, form a junction near Trenton and constitute the east fork of Grand River, which flows southward, leaving the county near the southwest corner. East of Grand River are Muddy, Honey, Crooked, No and Medicine Creeks, and flowing into Grand River from the west are Coon, Sugar, Hickory, Wolf and Gee Creeks. Crooked Creek flows through a prairie country, as do most of the other creeks, with narrow bottom lands, skirted by strips of timber. West of Grand River along the streams are hills, with an occasional strip of bottom land. The western part of the country is the most hilly section, and contains the greater part of the timber land of the county. The prairies average from two to three miles in width, and run generally from north to south. The soil of the county is variable, generally in the bottoms and prairies a dark loam with a clay subsoil. In the uplands the soil is light. These lands are the best for fruit-growing. Bluegrass grows in abundance, and stockraising is one of the most profitable branches of the farmer's occupation. The minerals in the county are coal, fire clay, limestone and sand stone. For years coal has been mined for home consumption, and some of it has been exported. The average yield per acre of the cereal crops is: corn, 35 bushels; wheat, 12 bushels; oats, 25 bushels. Potatoes average 100 to 150 bushels to the acre; clover seed, 11⁄2 bushels, timothy seed, 3 bushels, and flax seed, 9 bushels. According to the report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1898, the surplus products shipped from the county were: Cattle, 8,096 head; hogs, 35.215 head; sheep, 4.915 head; horses and mules, 1,029 head; hay, 18,200 pounds; flour, 184,830 pounds; clover seed, 2,700 pounds; timothy seed, 33,130 pounds; lumber, 43,120 feet; walnut logs, 18,000 feet; coal, 110 tons; brick, 92,250; stone, 5 cars; poultry, 849,465 pounds; eggs, 350,570 dozen; butter, 59,652 pounds; hides and pelts, 52,140 pounds; feathers, 19,947 pounds. Other articles exported were corn, shipstuff, cordwood, wool, potatoes, cheese, dressed meats, game and fish, lard, tallow, peaches and other fruits, dried fruits, vegetables, honey, cider, canned goods and furs. For many years before white men settled in Grundy County territory it was occupied as a hunting ground by tribes of Sac, Sioux and Pottawottomie Indians, who chased game over its prairies and through its forests. There is no obtainable record or tradition of any permanent settlement being made in the county until 1833, when General W. P. Thompson, of Ray County, settled near Grand River. The year following a number of Kentuckians and Tennesseeans, who had for a while lived in other parts of Missouri, located on land in the vicinity of the present site of Trenton. Among the first settlers were John Thrailkill, Levi Moore and William Cochran. During the next two years the settlements in the county were increased by the arrival of about a dozen other families, including those of Jewett Norris, John Scott, Daniel De Vaul, James R. Merrill, Samuel Benson and the Perrys, Grubbs and Metcalfs. The first thing to disturb the tranquility of their peaceful surroundings was the Hetherly war, and at the site of Trenton, then known as Bluff Grove, a block house was built, which was the residence place of the settlers for some time. Grundy County was a part of Carroll County when that county was organized, and later was attached to Livingston County. It was organized as a separate and distinct county January 2, 1841, and was named in honor of General Felix Grundy, of Tennessee, Attorney General of the United States under President Van Buren. Grundy County is divided into thirteen townships, namely, Franklin, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Myers, Taylor, Trenton, Washington and Wilson. The assessed valuation of real estate and town lots in the county in 1900 was $3,693,233; estimated full value, $10,079,699; assessed value of personal property, including stocks, bonds, etc., $825,093; estimated full value, $1,237,639; assessed value of merchants and manufacturers, $131,760; assessed value of railroads and telegraphs, $829,406. There are 54.20 miles of railroad in the county, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific entering near the southwest corner, passing northeast to Trenton, thence northerly to the boundary line; the Omaha, Kansas City & Eastern, passing in an easterly direction through the center of the county, and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul entering the county a little north of the center of the eastern boundary line, and running south to the southern limits. The number of public schools in the county in 1899 was 121; number of teachers, 161; pupils enumerated, 5,589; amount of permanent fund, both township and county, $61,000. The population of the county in 1900 was 17,833. Gudgell, James Robinson, was born September 26, 1849, in Bath County, Kentucky, and died June 2, 1897, at his home in Independence, Missouri. His parents were Joseph and Louise (Groves) Gudgell. The father was a prominent business man and was actively identified with banking interests. Both parents were born in Kentucky. James R. Gudgell was educated in the select schools of his native State, the University of Virginia, from which he graduated, and the University of Heidelberg, Germany. He was a man of strong mentality and great brain capacity. He was a thorough student of all branches of science, in which he found particular interest, was well versed in the languages and a student of medicine. A thoroughly trained mind was his, capable of grasping the secrets of knowledge and applying them intelligently and with practical force. When he returned from Heidelberg he came to Missouri and engaged in the banking business at Kansas City. Subsequently he engaged in the cattleraising business in Colorado in company with his brother, Charles Gudgell, W. A. and John Towers and D. A. Smart. They had large ranches in Colorado and owned the Pan Handle ranch in Texas and the celebrated "Ox" in Montana. Mr. Gudgell, being greatly interested in fine breeds of cattle, went abroad and was the first purchaser of the famous Pole Angus cattle for his section of the country. He also imported one of the first herds of Hereford cattle. The firm to which he belonged is now Gudgell & Simpson, and is one of the recognized leaders in the breeding of animals valuable on account of the superior blood record accorded to them. As a business man Mr. Gudgell was conservative even when great successes were promised, and his excellent judgment served him well in transactions involving large amounts of money. He was a staunch Democrat, but did not allow his activity in politics to lead him into search for public honors. He was a true, conscientious Christian and was a member of the Baptist Church. He was made a Mason during his residence in Colorado. Mr. Gudgell was married June 30, 1887, to Miss Lettie Lee Rochester, daughter of the late Colonel C. H. Rochester, of Danville, Kentucky. Mrs. Gudgell is a descendant of Nathaniel Rochester, four generations removed, the founder of the city of that name in the State of New York. Mrs. Gudgell was carefully educated and spent about two years abroad after the death of her husband in art studies. She is a lady of culture and refinement. One who knew him well and intimately wrote the following lines soon after Mr. Gudgell's death, and the words show the esteem in which the man was held: "He possessed in high degree and beautiful harmony those rare qualities which make a gentleman. He was always and genuinely a gentleman. He was a man of unaffected learning. He had a liberal education and a culture broadened by extensive travel. He had a keen appreciation of the beautiful in nature and art. He loved the tiniest flower and nursed it with delicate care. His taste was exquisite. As a business man he had large experience and an honorable record. He was generous to a fault. Those who knew him well felt, involuntarily, the touch of a noble spirit. By nature and by grace he was a modest man. He hated hypocrisy, shams and shoddy. He loved the natural, the sincere, the genuine. As a husband he was thoughtful, tender, kind, patient, loving and faithful. For many years he was rarely free from pain, yet through it all he was patient, heroic." Guernsey, David W., electrician and capitalist, was born in Westford, Otsego County, New York, May 7, 1838, and died in St. Louis January 4, 1901. His father was a farmer; his mother a French lady whose. maiden name was Orilla de Lesdernier. He was greatly attached to her, and her death, which occurred when he was about eighteen years of age, affected him deeply. At the age of sixteen he left his father's farm and entered Eastman's Commercial College, at Rochester, where he graduated with high honor. He was at once offered an excellent clerical position in a printing house of that city, but he preferred commercial life, and in April, 1855, being then little more than seventeen years old, he became a clerk in the dry goods store of Crockett & Marvin, at Cooperstown. His engagement was for three years, at the usual wage in that day, $50 for the first year, and an increase of $25 each successive year. From his entrance he developed marked ability as a salesman. His leisure time was taken up with work as assistant bookkeeper. At the end of his engagement he went to Boston, Massachusetts, arriving there in April, 1858, without an acquaintance in the city and with $40 as his entire means. He at once diligently sought employment in employment in the principal dry goods establishments, meeting with many rebuffs, but was finally engaged in the store of Safford, Ames & Co. In the course of a few weeks he had familiarized himself with the stock, and was sent to Hartford, Connecticut, to sell from samples. Discouraged on account of what he deemed his want of success, on his return, he asked to be relieved, but the firm expressed satisfaction, and sent him out again. Having had only common school advantages and being ambitious to acquire an education, in 1858 he entered Pierce Academy, at Middleborough, Massachusetts, borrowing money from a friend to pay for the first term, and working in a trunk factory during his spare hours to defray his expenses, as well as to learn a profitable trade. The factory was wrecked by a boiler explosion and he lost his tools and was thrown out of employment. Several persons were killed, while Young Guernsey had providentially left the premises only a few moments before the disaster. During the vacation he had employment in a trunk factory in North Bridgewater, and when he returned to his school in the fall he resumed spare hour work in a new factory which replaced the one destroyed. In 1861 he graduated with high credit, and was arranging to enter college, when he became ill with measles, which left him for months with impaired eyesight. When recovery came his meager savings were exhausted, and he had abandoned the hope of further |