Eli Grifford
Eli Grifford was held at the jail in Andrew, in Jackson County, Iowa, in April 1857. According to a secondhand report printed in the Dubuque Herald, citing Mr. Black of Andrew, a mob of about twenty-four men broke the jail door open with a sledge. The jailer made no resistance and did not call for help to defend the jail, and the mob took Eli from his cell to a tree near the school house and hanged him. The account comes from a newspaper report and has not been independently verified.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about twenty-four men broke open the Andrew jail door, took him from his cell and hanged him, according to a secondhand report from Mr. Black of Andrew printed in the Dubuque Herald.
Reported by: Mr. Black of Andrew, as printed in the Dubuque Herald (reporters).