Missouri, Paradise     
E. P. Griffin Druggist Paradise
Missouri
{etched} {T3}       C1502
1910 Census:
Edward P Griffin

Age in 1910: 52

Birth Year: abt 1858

Birthplace: Maryland

Home in 1910: Platte, Clay, Missouri

Relation to Head of House: Head

Spouse's Name: Melvina P Griffin

Father's Birthplace: Maryland

Mother's Birthplace: Maryland

Occupation: Merchant

Industry: General Store

Household Members: Name Age
Head: Edward P Griffin  52
Sp[ouse: Melvina P Griffin  41
Son: Walter W Griffin  16
Daughter: Francis A Griffin  7
1938: The Midwestern Druggist
Volume 14 - Page 46
E. P. GRIFFIN, 81 years old, died at his home
in Paradise, Mo., July 28. He operated a
drug store in Paradise for many years. Mr.
Griffin came to Missouri from Maryland in
1882. He entered the general
merchandising business
In 1916 Jake Douglas, built a Picture House
and in the basement of this
building, his brothers Arthur and Elmer
Meeks operated a garage. Mr. E. P.
Griffin eventually owned a drug store, as
well as a grocery-general store,
and was an influential part of the Paradise
Bank.

Paradise has had five school houses. The
first building was a small one
room made of logs and built in 1851. Miss
Missouri Wood, who later married
Ed Tinney was the first teacher. The second
school was the Garner school,
and Miss Sue Wilhoit the teacher. In 1886, a
two room frame school was
built on land gived (given) by Fleming Dale. A
grand daughter, Miss Jean
Dale taught here. Mr. E. P. Griffin was the
first teacher and Mr. J. W.
Oliver was one of the many teachers. In
1928 the present school house was
constructed of brick. Mrs. Earl
Breckenridge was one of the many
teachers.
It was consolidated with the Smithville
school system in 1963.

Many doctors are believed to have
administered to the Paradise ill
beginning with Dr. Jordan, Dr. Stevens, Dr.
Van Hook, Dr. "hunky" Lawrence.
Dr. Records, Dr. Woots, later, Dr. John and
Tip Rice and last, Dr. Rupe,
who brought most of the present day
Paradise citizens into this world.

In 1910. The Burdette Addition, which
comprises most of the southern and
southwestern portions of Paradise, was
platted; the I.O.O.F. Annex was
completed, and Paradise was a booming
town.

In 1926 H. H. Halferty and E. P. Griffin owned
a general store. Mr. Griffin
passed away in 1939 and his son-in-law, H.
H. Halferty continued with the
business.
Paradise was first known as "Gosneyville"

In 1884, the first post office commenced
service with mail delivery by
wagon or horseback from Smithville. At this
time Gosneyville was renamed.
There are several stories as to HOW and
WHY this was done. Two of these
tales are:

1. The belief that a Gosneyville was
previously registered with the
government, thus necessitating the choice
of a different name for the new
post office:

2. Conway Garner is reputed to have
chosen the name Paradise for the new
post office because he said (and I quote),
"This is as near to the real
Paradise as some people will ever get". At
any rate, to the U. S. Postal de
artment, Gosneyville became Paradise and
to this day it is so known.

The real growth of Paradise began at this
time. Business flourished with
Jim Woods opening a general store, and
Richardson Hulse and "Uncle Judge
Douglas" opened up blacksmith shops. At
the beginning of 1900 Andrew
Johnson and Mr. Shull began a hardware
store, followed by A. W. Benson's
general store. Washington Douglas' & Tip
Snail' general store. These were
followed by two restaurants, a barber shop,
among the names of the men we
know were barbers--John Lizar, Jim King,
Frank Howard and Harry Patrick was
the last barber in Paradise. Tobe Douglas,
one of three sons, went into
business with his father and the sight of old
"Uncle" Judge with his long
grey whiskers, pumping the bellows, while
the son mended plowshares, or
fashioned horseshoes was a familiar one
to the whole countryside.