The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-04-03
JOHN |. GR|FFEY
PASSED AWAY
One Of the Oldest and Most Highly
Respected Citizens of keo-
kuk Died This Fore
noon.
NINETY YEARS OF AGE
First Came to TIL. city in 1886 and
Settled Hero Permanently
In the Year
4 1s4s.
NINETY YEARS OF AGE

One by one the old settlers and
pioneers OF Keokuk and Lee county
are passing away. One of the oldest
and most prominent of them died this
morning. The life of John t. Griffey
OF 311 North Fourteenth street, end.
Led at 11:15 o'clock today, after long
and honorable career in this city.
Mr.. Griffey was born at Georgetown,
KY, June 20, 1923, and would have
been ninety years old at his next
birthday anniversary. In 1928 the
family came to Illinois and settled.
In 1876 he came to Keokuk, but return
ed to Missouri, where he was married
August II, 1916, to Miss Frances w.
George, whom he had known in child
mood back In his old Kentucky home,
the farms of their parents adjoining
in that state as they did in their
adopted state of Missouri
In 1S4s Mr.. Griffey returned to Keo-
kuk and located permanently where
ne has continued an honored and up
right citizen. His business was that
OF a carpenter and contractor, and
many Keokuk homes and business
houses still show many specimens OF
his handiwork. He continued this
work during his long life here until
he retired except along about 1867
when he was city marshal or chief of
police of the city. which position he
filled with credit to himself and the
safety and welfare of the people.
Mr.. Griffey was of that sturdy class
of men whose industry was part of
their being. In 1898 he had fall,
which injured the tendons of one of
his legs which continued with him,
though apparently did not effect him
Since that time he has refrained from
the active work which had previously
characterized his life.
week ago Monday he was dowr
in town and was taken ill with the
inffrmities Of, old age the next day and
Sunday his condition became SO seri
GUS 1t was thought best for him that
he should be removed to local hos
be given him. 1t was pathetic sep
aration of himself and wife, she
going to the home of her son Frank
l.. Griffey, at 1927 Morgan street, and
thus the home was broken up after
they had lived lovingly and confiding
! ly together beneath the same cheer
full roof for over sixty-fve years, 8
remarkable period for two to pass
along the journey of life in the happy
/ and holy bonds of affection and mat
rimony. The town from which they
came, Georgetown, KY, was named
for her family
In the death Of Mr.. Griffey Keokut
loses one of its Oldest and most es
! teemed citizens for whom the tender
est feeling goes out and the warmest
sympathy of this entire community is
given to his venerable and grieveG
widow now eighty-nine years Of age
on the loss of faithful and noble
! hearted husband There will be deep
felt sorrow over the death of John I
! Griffey.
i Mr. Griffey was member of the
First Baptist church and of Eagle
lodge of the Masonic fraternity. Be
sides his wife he is survived by thes,
sons and daughters: G. w Griffey o
Florence, Ariz, Mrs Jennie G. Brown
of Los Angeles, Calf, Charles F Grit
fey, New Sharon, Iowa, ]. W. Griffea
of Keokuk, night captain on the Keo
kuk police force, Frank l.. Griffey o
Keokuk, and several grandchildren
and one great grandchild.
J Notice OF the funeral will be giver
later.
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