Nathaniel Grigsby

Nathaniel "Natty" Grigsby was a dear friend of Abraham Lincoln. After Lincoln moved to Illinois in 1830, Nathaniel moved with his father to Carroll County, Missouri in 1855. In 1860, he was living in Norborne. He wrote to Lincoln and received an appointment as Republican Precinct Committee Man. He placed Lincoln's name on the 1860 ballot. All of Natty's neighbors were Southern sympathizers. He has been talking about electing Lincoln for president in town. One morning at about 2 or 3 a.m. a neighbor rode up and told Natty not to light any lights. The neighbor wanted to warn him that his neighbors were planning to murder him and if he wanted to live he should be on his way. After the warning, Natty moved back to Spencer County, Indiana, where he and four of his five sons enlisted in Company C 10th Indiana Cavalry (Richmond did not enlist). During the Civil War, Natty was named 2nd Lieutenant. The family appearently returned to Carroll County, Missouri, but in 1885 they moved to Harper County, Kansas and settled on a farm in the extreme northwest corner of the county. In 1890, they moved to Attica, Kansas. Nathaniel was buried in Attica.

His tombstone reads as follows:

On the front: N. Grigsby, Died Apr. 16 1890, Aged 78 Yrs 6 Mo 5 Days, 2nd Lieut. Co. C, 10th Ind. Cavy Went to school with Lincoln. Brother to Aaron Grigsby who married Abe Lincoln's oldest sister. Visited in White House.

On the back: Through this inscription I wish to enter my dying protes against what is called the Democratic Party. I have watched it closely since the days of Jackson and know that all the misfortunes of our nation has come to it through this so-called party, therefore beware of this party of treason.