John M. Giffen
John M. Giffen was born in Belmont co., O., Feb. 10th 1830. He graduated at Franklin College, O., in ’53, and in that year filled the chair of Professor of Mathematics. Read law at St. Clairsville O., and admitted to the Bar Dec. ’56. Immigrated to Kansas in the Spring of ’57, and entered Gov. Denver’s office as clerk, where he remained till March ’58, when he located at Olathe. Appointed prosecuting Attorney for Johnson County, in the fall of ’58. In ’59, elected Treasurer of Olathe tp., and in Aug., collected the first taxes ever paid in the co. He established the Olathe Herald; the first paper south of the Kansas River, except at Lawrence. This press was destroyed by Quantrill in ’62. Mr. Giffen was a candidate in ’59, before the Democratic Convention; for Sec. of State — lost the nomination by one vote on second ballot. In ’61 was a candidate for the Legislature, when Douglass, Wyandotte and Johnson, comprised one Dist., with a Republican majority of 2,600, he was defeated only by 800. He was in ’62 defeated for State Senator; in ’69 for the Legislature; in ’71 for county Treasurer, and in ’73 for the Legislature. Having been defeated six times he has finally come to the conclusion “being elected to office” is not his forte, and has concluded to go into the coal business. On account of failing health he abandoned the practice of law in ’64. In ’62 he married Miss Kate R. Whitcomb, of Vt. They have two children living.
Atlas Map of Johnson County, Kansas, E. F. Heisler and Co., 1874, p. 87.
