Anatomy of an Online Search - Levi Griffin

We recently shared the Soap Opera of the life of Benoni Griffin, Jr., mentioning a son named Levi Griffin. How did we discover this son and establish the relationship? Read on.

A description of the Griffin family in West Virginia never mentioned youngest son, Levi Griffin. But when we were at the Bath County courthouse a few years ago, we found our Jonathan and other Griffins selling or purchasing portions of the land in Benoni Griffin, Jr.'s estate, with Levi Griffin as the person paying taxes on the land, even though he lived in Kentucky.

Who was this Levi? Googling the name of Levi Griffin and Kentucky, brings us to a message board with a complete posting of "Family Bible of Levi Griffin, Gallatin Kentucky" contributed by Carl Bogardus, Sr. M.D. What a find!!!! Many birth and death, marriage dates of Levi and his descendants. Even the statement that Levi was son of Benoni and Sarah Griffin. (This may have been his step mother.) It shows his birthdate as January 10, 1788.

With that information, Levi would have been about 3 years old when the family came to the Green Bank area, Bath County, VA, in the early 1790s. His name would never show up until he came of age at 21, and would have been old enough to be taxed or to vote and sign legal documents. Going to Ancestry.com records, Levi is first found as an adult in the 1810 Census but is listed as Love Griffin male, age between 16 - 26.

We also found a biography of Samuel P. Griffin, which mentions his paternal grandfather, Levi Griffin in a mini bio. "Levi Griffin, the paternal grandfather of Samuel P., was a native of Culpeper County, Va., and a farmer; he moved to Kentucky at an early day, and first settled in Bourbon County, but subsequently went to Fayette County, where he lived for a short time, and then moved to Gallatin County, where he died. He took part in the war of 1812."

Now I have several paths to follow.... looking for Griffins in Culpeper County, VA, and several counties in Kentucky, plus a search for participants in the War of 1812. A book, "The Battle of Tippecanoe" by Pirtle, says that Levi Griffin participated as a Private in that battle. And Ancestry.com shows census records for Levi Griffin and family in 1820 - 50, in the counties mentioned above. It does not include his death date, but since we don't find Levi in 1860 Census and the last date in the Bible is 1859, perhaps he died around that time.

When I look back at the Bath County land records that started this search, I have come up with this "supposed chain of events." Levi Griffin was the youngest son of Benoni Griffin, Jr., and was the last son living on the 220 acres near Green Bank Virgina, after Benoni died. I don't find a record that he was the executor, but he was continuing to pay taxes on the land, even after he went to Kentucky and settled after the War of 1812. By the 1830s, our 3Gt Grandfather, Jonathan Griffin, probably a half brother to Levi, bought up portions of the estate from siblings out of state, Abraham, Mary, Samuel S., and Levi. Jonathan gave part of the land to son William at the time of his marriage.

I won't say that searching a particular person is easy, but so rewarding. And now I have "met" online descendants of Levi. I hope to find out more about his pioneer life in Gallatin, KY, during the mid 1800s, putting this family into their place in history.

Spreading the Word

In order to get our "Still Searching" blog into the hands [well, monitors] of more who might be interested in or connected to our family.... I sent a post out to past Griffin correspondents. A couple of very distant cousins have responded and others "bounced". I look forward to hearing from more who want to dig into the history.

Another method of contact, using the message feature on Ancestry.com, has come up with interesting results. I find that many who post a tree including names of our ancestors are really not "connected" to our family. Some have answered, "This is not a direct line in our family, but I am 'collecting' everyone named _____ ." If I were in that situation, I think I would "collect" them in my own Family Tree Maker or other genealogical database, not post them as part of my tree. But each has his/her own style. This is a hobby that can be a never-ending mystery. Enjoy the search!

Adam Bland Griffin, Named for Circuit Riding Preacher

Thinking about our Gt Grandfather Samuel's brother, Adam Bland Griffin, b. West Virginia in 1845. With such a unique name, he just HAD to be named after someone that Wm. and Elizabeth knew. I looked over family names and census records of the time the baby Adam would have been born. No clues. In 1850 census, there is an Adam Bland age 30, listed as Methodist Preacher, in Monroe County VA. The preacher and his young wife lived next to 3 McAvoy families... brothers-in-law of Elizabeth Rodgers Griffin (our Adam B's mother). Her sister, Tabitha Rodgers m. James McAvoy. Monroe Co. is a couple of counties south of Pocahontas.

This Adam Bland would have been born about 1820 and our Adam B. Griffin b. June 1845..... when Bland would have been about 25 yrs. old.

More Googling found that Adam Bland, Methodist Preacher, was a circuit rider. A Google Book autobiography of another Western VA circuit rider mentions Adam Bland and his brothers Zane and Henry, all Methodist preachers of the era. It is an interesting read about this time in history. If you go to the link, plug in Bland in the search, or go to about pg. 44 to read.
Story of My Life by William Taylor (Methodist Preacher 1800s)

Here is an excerpt I thought interesting:
"According to the rule of the [Meth.] Conference if a young man got married before his two years of probation were out, he was not admitted, and if after admission, before the expiration of his fourth year, he was liable to censure and usually punished by appointment to a very poor circuit, where he and his young wife would enjoy their honeymoon among the whippoorwills. Pocahontas Circuit was one of the dreaded appointments, hence the boys called it "Poke-it-onto-us". "

Looks like that's what happened to Preacher Adam Bland. Our Griffins must have recognized his worth and named their child after the young circuit riding minister. In a few years, others recognized Bland by sending him as the first Protestant preacher to the California Gold Rush community. At that point we can find much about Adam Bland's ministry on the internet. I wonder if the Griffin families kept track of the man they honored by naming their child for him.

Out in the Sleet, I see Uncle Pete

Little kids in the Griffin family made jokes about the eccentric old Uncle who dressed up in his 3 piece (though mis-matched) suit. Carrying his black umbrella, he would walk to work, or just walk through the then small town of Edmond, Oklahoma. No one knew the story of Peter C. Griffin until we began to search the family of William and Elizabeth M. Griffin (see link in previous post.)

Peter was the youngest child of our 2Gt. Grandparents William and Elizabeth, born in West Virginia in 1860. So he was just a toddler when one older brother died of a virus, and 3 older brothers joined the Union armies and went to war. Only one of those brothers, Sam, came home from that war in 1864, when Peter was only 4. Other brothers, Robert and Alpheus, closer in age, died as children, as did sister, Rachel.

When Peter was about 7, the Griffin family, along with many uncles, aunts, and cousins, had been moved from their Braxton County homes to the safety of the Union Camp in Harrison County. Upon coming home, they found destruction of their farms and persecution by neighbors. So they boarded a steamboat on the Ohio River and sailed down the Ohio to the Mississippi, then to the Missouri River and up to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and on to Exira, Audubon County by wagon. Eventually, the families went to Missouri and on to Montgomery County, Kansas to homestead. Within a year or two, Pete's older siblings married, leaving 4 boys to help father William farm. Soon Pete was the only one left at home. He never married, possibly as he felt the responsibility for his parents and the farm.

In 1889, news of the free land in Oklahoma Territory spread. As Peter's father was elderly and probably not well, the young man decided to participate in the Land Rush. He traveled to Arkansas City where he boarded the crowded train and entered the Oklahoma Territory. Nearing the Edmond area, he jumped off near Waterloo Road, walked west to Deer Creek, and staked two adjoining claims of 160 acres each... one quarter section for himself and one for his parents. The family soon made the move from their Kansas home. William died Nov. 4, 1889, leaving Elizabeth, and Pete to construct buildings and start gardens and prepare for future crops.

In a couple of years, Lizzie Terry Griffin, widow of Pete's brother, Sam, came to Oklahoma from Kansas, with sons and a daughter, to farm with Pete and the elderly Elizabeth. The young men and women (my Grandpa's generation) also married and left the farm. Before 1910, matriarch, Elizabeth M. died, and all the Griffins moved into Edmond, leaving the large farm for smaller acreages, and Pete went to work at the bank in town. He was about 50 years old, and lived with relatives.

This was the time that his gt. nieces and nephews would make jokes "Out in the sleet, I see Uncle Pete." He must have just seemed like a strange old man. Little did they know, besides caring for his family members, he was saving his money for all those years. His death came at age 73, on April 25, 1934, just 4 days after the celebration of "Eighty Niners' Day". We find a photograph of Pete among other Eighty Niners (listed as Charles, his middle name) probably taken in the 1920s.

When Peter Griffin's will was probated, many were probably surprised. His estate totaled about $103,000, comparable to more than $1,000,000 in 2008. After providing for his own funeral and estate expenses, he specified that a large stone would be placed in Gracelawn Cemetery of Edmond, OK, for the Griffin Family, with small ones for himself and his parents. Then he gave $4,000 to his remaining sister, Sarah McNutt, and provided $1,000 each for the education of orphaned great niece and nephew. The remainder was to be divided among 32 living nieces and nephews, which amounted to about $3,000 each. His obituary has not yet been found, but could have called Peter Griffin an eccentric millionaire today, rather than the strange little man with an umbrella "out in the sleet.... Uncle Pete."

The Genealogy Soap Opera

When you break through a genealogy "brick wall" the bricks sometimes fall all around, leaving a lot of clutter that has to be re-assembled to make some sense. For years we wondered about the parentage of our 3Gt Grandfather Jonathan Griffin, born in Connecticut and found in Bath/ Pocahontas County, Virginia (later to be West Virginia). I now am 90% sure that we have found his father, siblings, and many generations back. There is so much circumstantial evidence, but not yet a paper document that says, "Jonathan was the Son of Benoni! " Ready for the soap opera?

Benoni Griffin Jr., b. 1743 in Simsbury, CT, was the oldest son of Benoni Sr. and Mary DeLacy. Some say she was daughter of a prominent man who lived or traded in the West Indies.

Junior lived in Simsbury CT and married Martha Viets in 1762. They had three children: Martha Griffin b.1763; Benoni Griffin III, b. 1764; and Viets Griffin, b. 1768. Then Junior divorced her in 1773, because of her adultery with Bildad Eaton or Easton. Two of her children, Benoni III and Viets, moved to Vermont. We do not know if Martha remarried or where she or daughter, Martha lived after the divorce.

A couple of years later Benoni Jr. married for a 2nd time, possibly a Miss Seely in CT. (This info from a family record in a WVA book.) I believe they had two sons, Samuel Seely Griffin, 1776, and our ancestor, Jonathan Griffin, 1777. We do KNOW (through a land document) that Samuel Seely Griffin was son of Benoni. Jonathan's parentage is not recorded anywhere.

Family lore says the second wife [Ms. Seely] died and Benoni Jr. went to Virginia. At this point we do not know if the two boys, Samuel S. and Jonathan went with the father or stayed in CT. We do believe that Jonathan was educated in CT, and we know that Samuel S. became a minister, which would make me think they stayed in CT for their childhood and teen years to be educated.

Benoni Jr. must have married a third time, as we have a census and land records showing that he had at least 3 children born in VA.... Abraham, Mary, and Levi... with the youngest, Levi, born in Culpeper Co. VA, 1788 (Bible record.)

We then find the family in Western VA, Green Bank (telescope) area of Bath County, as early as 1791. Benoni has 220 acres patented there. By 1798, 1799, we find the two boys born in CT as achieving adult status of age 21 and listed in Bath County tax lists, along with Benoni. Benoni Jr.'s sister, Elizabeth and her husband, Timothy Holcombe, live in Bath Co. also, and are mentioned in court records along with Benoni. His brother, Abner, also has land and family in Bath County near Benoni and Holcombe.

By 1797, there is a marriage record for a Sarah Smith and Benoni Griffin, perhaps a 4th wife. He died by 1799, and Sarah Griffin paid the taxes.

The children are Samuel S., Jonathan (not proven), Abraham, Mary, and Levi. At Benoni's death, young Levi acts as executor and pays taxes for several years, even though he has gone to KY (War of 1812.) The children share 1/7 of the 220 acres owned by Benoni Griffin Jr.

The stories of each of these children of Benoni Jr., and his children in Vermont, are like the novels of the Western Migration of the United States. Maybe someday we'll write one.

Curious About Your Own Ancestors?

If you have wondered just where your characteristics came from, why you do the things you do, it just might be in your genes! This blog displays photos and stories of people and places we have discovered in the search of our family history. With just a little effort, you can learn a lot also. Much info is already on line, but first do your "home" work.

Get a pad of paper, start with yourself and immediate family, and write down the "facts ma'am". .... Birth and marriage dates, cities, counties (very important), and states. Then move back a generation, get help from parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, and record the info for parents and grandparents on both sides of your family. This will include deaths and place of burial if possible. If someone doesn't know a date, but has an estimate of a year, list that and make a blank to be filled in later. I like to make a "Family Group Sheet" for each family, so that siblings and their spouses are included.

Collect clues from all sorts of sources. For instance, my father said, "Gt Grandmother Elizabeth always told the family that she was from 'East Virginia' ." Years later, and doing a search online for her father James Rodgers, I found the following excerpt in Google Books, taken from a West Virginia newspaper. There was his biography (my gt gt gt grandfather) proving the family tale that they were from East Virginia.... Madison County .... before they migrated west over the mountains. The following link leads to James Rodgers' biography.

When you arrive at this site, do a search, maybe you will find your own ancestors in Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, by William T. Price.

The Griffin Land

Farm on Stony Creek, Pocahontas County, West Virginia

I was born in Texas, raised in Oklahoma, and now live in GA. We discovered that our Griffin family roots reached back to West Virginia. We traveled to Pocahontas County one recent summer, and explored the one lane roads where our Jonathan Griffin family may have once lived. When we stopped to take pictures of an interesting cabin, we found we were blocking a farmer's way. Apologizing, we told him why we were there, "looking for the Griffin land." He said "I live on the Griffin land."

No Griffins had been there for 100 years, but it was their (our) land. We were home.

A True Pioneer - Adonijah Harris

Although not a direct ancestor, Adonijah Harris was influential in shaping the future of our Griffin, Rodgers, and Terry families. When I describe him as a true pioneer, I have gone back to the definition of the word: "one who takes the lead or initiative...", "A person or family that ventures into unknown territory to settle..." Our family may still have been living in West Virginia, and not spread across the states if it were not for Adonijah Harris.

He was an orphan, probably illegitimate, born about 1811 in Randolph County, Virginia. Although his mother and father were listed on orphan roll, he was raised by guardians. Evidently he was provided with an education and training in the Methodist faith as he was growing up, because we find this description of Adonijah as a young man: " Adonijah Harris lives at the top of a mountain at what is now known as the McGuire Farm. He is a blacksmith and a fine mechanic . He is a class leader in the Methodist church and is respected and loved by all who know him." And, "A class was organized by Addison Hite at the Hamrick barn , the first Methodist organization in Webster County. William Gregory was appointed leader, and Adonijah Harris, assistant leader. Mr. Harris lived at the McGuire Low Gap near Webster Springs, yet he walked the five miles each Sunday to meet his class and his presence was made known by the zeal manifested in his work." from "Moccasin Tracks and Other Imprints" by William Christian Doddrill (Rattlesnake Bill)

The church mentioned above was a meeting place for our Griffin and Rodgers ancestors. In a previous post I show Elizabeth M. Rodgers who married William Griffin. Elizabeth's sister, Sarah Ann Rodgers, married Adonijah Harris. The two families worshipped together and supported the cause of the Union together, opposing the southern sympathies of many of their own relatives and neighbors, and losing children to the ravages of the war.

Adonijah and William were among the petitioners in 1848 to form the new county of Webster, VA ( to become West Virginia). Harris was the one who posted the notice to Nicholas County. The early settlers of the Elk River Valley were far removed from a seat of justice. It was forty or fifty miles to the county seat of Randolph County and almost as far to that of Braxton County. A great many citizens were practically disfranchised, as it was 25 miles to the nearest voting place. The formation of the new county was not officially passed until 1860, and Harris was one to oversee the new county elections.

If you have read my post of the story of John J. Miller, you know the times of persecution that these Union supporters suffered in their own home counties. Miller was a son in law of Adonijah and Sarah Rodgers Harris. Two of the Harris daughters died of measles in the Union Military Camp, Harrison County, VA, where the families were taken as refugees in 1862. By 1865, Adonijah Harris, the Millers and William Griffin families had migrated to Exira Twp. Cass Co. Iowa. They boarded a steamboat on the Ohio River (probably at Marietta, OH, where a Griffin aunt lived) and sailed down the Ohio to the Mississippi, then to the Missouri River and up to Council Bluffs, Iowa. From Council Bluffs, they would have traveled to Cass County by wagon. Adonijah and son, James, are listed among founding families of Lewisville (or Louisville), Iowa. His daughter, Nancy Rebecca married David Soar, harness maker, and stayed in the county.

The Harris, Miller, and Griffin families traveled on to Missouri and then to Montgomery County Kansas. Adonijah's daughter, Diana, wife of John J. Miller, and her daughters and sons in law (Terry men, related to Lizzie Terry my gt grandmother), migrated to Oregon. Patriarch, Adonijah Harris, died 22 August, 1873 in Sycamore, Kansas. His name appears among descendants of the families and his memory is held dear.

John J. Miller Civil War Story

"John Jackson Miller and Diana Mary Harris began their married life 40 miles from the home of his father (John Miller & Polly Sands), by the State Rd. Near Suttonville, W. VA, nearer the bride's family (Adonijah Harris & Sarah Ann Rodgers).

Thousands of soldiers passed by continually during the first year of the Civil War. John J. was an abolitionist, disagreeing with his father, about reimbursing slave owners. John J., Taylor Sutton and James Harris (all sons or sons-in-law of Adonijah Harris), were forced to hide in the mountains for months to escape rebel soldiers. Diana Mary, John's wife, was forced to support herself and four small children. John J. was taken prisoner in 186_ at the home of his father, a rebel. Upon the protest of his parents he was left in the home, a prisoner with two soldiers left to guard him.

The guards fell asleep one night and John J. escaped to his own home 40 miles away, wading through mush ice in the rivers 5 times. He was quite ill by the time he reached home. The illness proved to be measles, which all but two members of several families contracted, and which caused the deaths of Julia Ann Harris (unmarried) and Mrs. Elizabeth Jane "Harris" Sutton, mother of A. H. Sutton and Mrs. Sara 'Sutton' Stokes. Mrs. Sutton's death occurred on Feb 12, 1862.

Immediately after his escape the families were taken, in 1862, by government wagons to Clarksburg 175 miles away as refugees. This removal from the family home near Suttonville to Clarksburg, W.VA was made upon the advice and with the assistance of a friend, Col. Samuel Young, who was afterwards the founder of Radical, KS.

In the year 1864, the family was moved to Fairmont, WVA, where John Jackson Miller enlisted in the Union Army, leaving wife and four children. The family also lived a short time in Grafton WVA.

In the meantime the father of John Jackson Miller had lost everything possible in raids by bush-whackers, rebels, etc. and nothing left at the end of the war but a house with an attic filled with honey. He died about 1870.

After returning from one year's service at the close of the War, John J. Went back to his home near Suttonville and found all the buildings gone and the farm overgrown with saplings and weeds. Too discouraged to begin again in that place, he traded the land for 80 acres near Exira, Iowa where he moved his family. [My note: The William Griffin family mentioned in previous post were in the group traveling west as well.]

But then he heard about the Osage reservation land in the Kansas-Oklahoma territories being opened up for purchase. He left Iowa to make a claim but heard wild tales of difficulties with Indians.

Instead, they moved to Carthage MO. They eventually moved to Montgomery Co. KS in 1871, near Sycamore, or rather Lay Station as it was called at that time in Sycamore Township.. Named after Eli Lay, an early settler."

[My note: According to my data John Jackson Miller died in 1904, Canby OR. Diana Mary died in 1911 in Canby OR.]

This story was written by the late Claude Miller of Independence, KS, and contributed by another Miller descendant).

William Griffin and Elizabeth M. Rodgers

William and Elizabeth were our 3Gt Grandparents. Their story is that of a pioneer family, full of pathos and adventure. What courageous people! Educated, loyal to their faith and country, ready to strike out for the unknown for the sake of their beliefs and family. See their story at this site. Story of William Griffin and Elizabeth M. Rodgers.

Civil War Letter from Samuel Y. Griffin to his Father

This is one of the letters from our Gt Grandfather, Samuel Y. Griffin, age 22, Union Soldier in Ohio Vols. His younger brother, James, had just died of disease during service. Another brother, Levi, was in the 10th VA Union Reg. which Samuel asks about. Levi was also to die of disease before the war was over. Samuel did come home, but carried illness through his life. I marvel at the excellent command of words and the dedication of this young man who was born and raised on a mountain in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

Camp Meadow Bluffs [my note: Greenbrier Co. west of Lewisburg]
July the 24, 1862

"Dear Father and Family

I now take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you of my wellfare. I am in tolerable good health at this time and hope these few lines may reach and find you enjoying the same blessing. I received 2 letters from you the 8th, inst., one enclosed in a letter to the Captain. I was sorry to hear of Jameses death. But he is gone where the Salute of musketry is not heard over the grave of friends and fellow Soldiers, and where the sound of war is forever hushed. The health of the troops here is generally tolerable good. There has been but two deaths since we have been camped here.

We took another scout across Greenbrier River, it consisted of our entire Regiment and about 300 cavalry. After we crossed the River the cavalry had an engagement with some of the enemies cavalry. Our men killed one and took a few prisoners while the rebels were trying to make their escape. There is nothing of importance going on here at the present.

There are 3 Regs here and 6 companies of the 9th Virginiers. I want you to write soon & let me know where the 10th Virginies is stationed at. I heard that they was at Buckhanon but I don't know whether they are there or not. I received a letter from Uncle Benoni some time ago. They were well at the time the letter was written. I would like to see you all but I cannot at present. I must obey my countries call.

Our Regiment is tolerably well drilled; we have company drill in the morning from nine till half past ten and Battalion drill from 4 till half past 5 in the evening and dress parade at 6 o'clock. We don't drill Saturdays & Sundays. I have nothing of importance more to write and must close my present letter. Give my best respects to all inquiring friends. No more at present but remain your affectionate son as ever.

[To] Wm Griffin [From]Samuel Y. Griffin

P.S. I found six postage stamps enclosed in your letter. I am very thankful to you for sending them.

Yours S. Y. Griffin"

Gt. Grandmother Lizzie Terry Griffin

We have found the obituary of our Great Grandmother, Lizzie Griffin, mother of Charley who was posted yesterday.
Edmond Oklahoma Newspaper.
Biography, Mrs. Lizzie Griffin
Elizabeth Ann Terry was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, January 21 1849 [incorrect, 1850] and departed this life Monday morning, March 20, at the age of 90 years and 2 months, after an illness of two weeks.

Her parents, William and Charlotte Terry, came to America from London, England, in 1848, and settled in Milwaukee. In 1850 they moved to Chicago, where they lived for a short time, later moving to a farm near Decatur, Illinois, where she, with her nine brothers and sisters grew to maturity. In 1869, the family moved west, locating near Independence, Kansas. At this place, she met and married Samuel Young Griffin, October 9, 1873. To this union, 7 children were born, two daughters, Mata, who died in infancy, and Clara, who died in 1918, and 5 sons, who survive her. The husband, a Union Soldier in the Civil War, died October 2, 1891. The widow, with a family of six children, ranging in ages from two to seventeen, seeing a better opportunity in a new country, moved to Oklahoma in 1892, locating on a farm ten miles north of Edmond. In 1899, in order that she might educate her children, she moved to Edmond, where she lived until her death.

A wonderful home-maker and mother, Mrs. Griffin yet found much time to devote to her church, which she loved with an abiding love. In 1898, while living in the country, she helped found and was a charter member of Bethel church. During her years spent in Edmond, she was a devout member of the Methodist church, as active in the Home Missionary Society, the W.C.T.U., and the Ladies' Aid. She taught a Sunday School class for forty years continuously. Her well marked, worn Bible was a daily companion, and in later years, when she was unable to read its words, she could repeat them lovely from memory. She had an unusual gift for friendship and love for humanity, and none came to her for help without receiving it.

She is survived by her five sons: Harry L., Charles W., Ira D., Elmer E., all of Edmond, and Floyd F. of Portland, Oregon, also fourteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to our many friends and neighbors for their kind expressions of sympathy and beautiful floral offering during the illness and death of our beloved mother and grandmother. THE GRIFFIN FAMILY
_________________________________________________________

"Speaking Personally" article by D.B.W. in an Edmond Newspaper.
" MRS. LIZZIE GRIFFIN...
In 1892 a widowed mother with six children, ranging in age from two to seventeen years, moved to Oklahoma and settled on a farm ten miles northwest of Edmond.

Old timers recall the hardships that confronted a family with an able bodied father to fend for it. The drouths, the lack of any modern facilities, all of which points to the fearless, sturdy qualities of this mother who so bravely faced what the future had in store for her and her brood in this new land of opportunity.

This week saw that pioneer mother pass to her final reward, and hundreds of friends gathered to pay their final tributes of respect to Mrs. Lizzie Griffin, who, having rounded out her ninetieth year of helpful and inspiring living, gently left this earthly life.

I have known this mother since my early boyhood. I know full well the respect which all held for her, and I hold with deep reverence the high ideals which she ever kept before herself and her family.

Five stalwart sons are truly monuments to her life. They are all men who command the respect of their friends, and I think that no greater tribute can be paid any mother than such a contribution to her country.

Women of her ilk are fast traveling the valley of death, and a few more years will see the true pioneer mothers only a memory to us. But we can always hold their memories close to our hearts .... for they bore their young and reared them righteously and fearlessly."

Grandpa Charley Griffin

Cotton County, Oklahoma, about 1915 or so. My Grandpa worked hard. His Dad died in Kansas and Gt. Grandmother Lizzie came to the brand new Oklahoma Territory to start over. Five sons and a daughter were put to work on the new farm, northwest of Edmond. Charley raised his three sons with a strong work ethic, and a love for learning. Now that we are learning of his heritage we find that the character traits have been passed along for many generations.

Ravages of Time

Ravages of Time - Dan Griffin (private collection, do not copy)

Our Daddy was a photographer with an eye for the special shot. Found this print among his things years later. I believe he was sadly remembering the land of his youth. He must have climbed just such a ladder to view his domain as a boy. When he was past his climbing days, he wrote his name on the topmost point of the KWTV tower as it lay on the ground between Oklahoma City and Edmond, waiting to be raised as the tallest structure in the world at that time. Within a few miles of his boyhood home, at least his name would then be overseer to the edges of the horizon.

Thinking about Blogging

It might happen. Give me a while to see if I have anything to say.