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HISTORY
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The City is pleasantly located upon the Wabash Railway, about four miles
from the Illinois River and two miles from Interstate 72.
Griggsville, named for Richard Griggs, was laid out in 1833 by Josuah
Stanford, Nathan W. Jones, and Richard Griggs. The original town
consisted of eight blocks on the north side and eight on the south side
of Quincy Street. Each block contained eight lots. The
original plan made provision for a public square containing two acres.
However, the town was subsequently replatted and instead of a public
square, two lots in block three, two lots in block fourteen, two lots in
block two, and two in block fifteen were given for church and school
purposes. The town was incorporated November 16, 1852 and was
organized as a city November 26, 1878.
Griggsville is located in one of the oldest counties in the state and in one of the earliest townships. The township was settled as early as 1825 by Henry Bateman whose son was the first-born in the township and whose wife was the first death. The city and township were actively interested in the Civil War and in 1838 an abolition melee caused by a Democractic and Whig contest in the election for constable occurred. The contest and its following anti-slavery meeting ended in a near riot when a mob threatened the signers who were petitioning Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. The community's active concern over the slavery question resulted in there being more enlistments in the Union army recorded in Griggsville than from any other point in Pike County. From the earliest days Griggsville citizens had strong religious interest. The First Regular Baptist Church was organized August 4, 1834 with seven members. The Methodist-Episcopal Church was organized in 1835 and the Congregational Church on February 1, 1837. The Church of Christ was organized July 26, 1874. After meeting in the homes of members and in other churches, St. James Episcopal Church was built in 1882. The Griggsville Church of Nazarene was organized in 1917. All of Griggsville's churches are supported by strong membership and have maintained beautiful and modern places of worship. Education has been an important factor in the life of this community, with the first school building in the township erected on Section fourteen in 1833. Early township schools were followed by both male and female academies which preceded the public school system in Griggsville. Today's public schools are organized as a unit district offering a complete educational program from Pre-K through high school. The school buildings are modern in every respect and include a recently completed addition. The average attendance is approximately 475 and a relatively high percentage of Griggsville's graduates go on to institutions of higher learning. The City government maintains a municipal water and sewer system and the streets and highways are kept in an excellent state of repair. An active volunteer fire department safeguards property with modern equipment. The Griggsville Public Library, which was instituted as a Carnegie Foundation improvement, is supported by local taxation and provides a facility for a large number of interested citizens. Additional recreational facilities are provided by the Griggsville Park which is supported by the voluntary activities of the people of this area. The park was created through community effort which purchased the fairgrounds property and revived the Western Illinois Fair in 1948. The Western Illinois Fair is held the third week of June with a Demo Derby / Fireworks presentation on the 4th of July. Griggsville and its surrounding township is one of the most important and wealthy farming areas in the county. Its fertile land has produced bumper crops down through the years to bring prosperity and well-being to the entire area. In recent years industry has added to the general welfare of the community. Logan Agri-Center and United Feeds provide work for the community's available labor force. Trio Manufacturing was a long time employer to our community with over a 50 year presence in Griggsville. With the improvement of I-72 just south of town, Griggsville residents have easy travel to employment in near-by communities.
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