52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.  Week #36 theme is Exploration.

There are many ways to explore in genealogy searching: Online records, libraries, other people’s trees, newspapers, or in person. We have prepared by doing all of the above, and then headed out, off the beaten path, to visit the locations where our ancestors lived. So far, we have visited more than 25 locations in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. We took many, many photographs along the way and my husband has even painted watercolors of some locations. 

There are so many photographs, that I need to choose just one family line for this post. You will see where we explored our Griffin line, starting with John Griffin, immigrant from Wales, who arrived in Connecticut about 1640. We visited Granby and Simsbury, where roads, farms and even shopping centers bear the Griffin name. The photo below is a current day sheep farm on the original land called Griffin’s Farmstead. Of course the structure was not there in 1640.  John's son, Thomas, was born on that property, in 1658. 

Thomas Griffin was the father of Benoni Griffin,Sr.,  born 1714. His mill was located at The Falls, on the Farmington River, in Simsbury, CT. It was formerly owned by his grandfather, John Griffin. We found the Farmington River, but couldn't see The Falls. 

Although other siblings stayed in Connecticut, Benoni Griffin, jr. acquired a grant in Virginia, about 1784.  He settled in the area of Bath County, which is now Arbovale, West Virginia. The photo is of the view he would have seen of the Greenbrier River valley. 

 

His son Jonathan married Rachel Sharp and lived on Stony Creek, which is near the present city of Marlinton, West Virginia. We explored the area, still known as the Griffin land. Photo is of the working  farm there. 

After the Civil War, Jonathan’s son William and family migrated (by way of stops in Iowa and Missouri) to live in Montgomery County Kansas. Their homestead in current photo is still called Griffin Hill, and down the hill is the land belonging to William’s son, Samuel, my Gt.Grandfather.  This is where my Grandfather Charley Griffin was born, and probably road his horse up that trail to his Grandfather's home. 

In 1889, when land was opened in Oklahoma Territory, a claim was staked in William’s name, by his youngest son, Pete Griffin.  A few years later, Samuel’s widow, Lizzie, brought her family to that same property, west of Edmond, and homesteaded. Charley and his siblings helped to farm the land, near Waterloo Road and Portland.  Photo is of hay bales, as the land is still agricultural, although near one of the fastest growing cities in Oklahoma. 

Charley married Hattie McGill (of another 89er family) and for a time they farmed near Ahpeatone, in Cotton County OK.  My father, Dan Griffin, shared his boyhood memories of living in Cotton County, and fun with his brothers. We believe this is the house they lived in.

 The last photo is the house where Charley and family lived in Edmond, Oklahoma, where our own family memories include porch swings, marking our heights on the door frame, fun with cousins, celebrating Christmas and Fourth of July, and more. 

   

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Week #  27 theme - Extended Family

Great Great Grandfather, William Griffin

Through Bible and Census Records, we found that our 2 Gt Grandparents, William Griffin and Elizabeth M. Rodgers Griffin, had 14 children of record.

Joseph N. Griffin, Samuel Young Griffin, James M. Griffin, Levi Julius Griffin, Adam Bland Griffin, Andrew Watts Griffin, Sarah Ann "Sally" Griffin, Robert O. Griffin, Adonijah Harris "Nije" Griffin, William F Griffin, John Luther Griffin, Rachel J. Griffin, Alpheus R. Griffin, and Peter Charles Griffin.

My 1st and 2nd cousins thru Samuel Y. Griffin and Lizzie Terry were mostly known or "known of".  Many of us were corresponding on a private group and sharing memories. Besides the Griffins, we also followed Lizzie Terry's family, as much as we could learn.  But we started to become curious about those 14 Gt Gt Uncles and Aunts, thus discovering our extended family.  AND WE DID IT ! 

We began to try to track at least one cousin descended from each of  those listed, and correspond to share what we had learned.  Five of the 14 did not live to have descendants.  James and Levi died in Union Service.  Three died while the family lived in West Virginia... Joseph, age 21,  Robert O. age 11, and baby Alpheus, only one year old.   Rachel J. age 12, must have died while the family traveled west; we have found no info.  Peter Charles, the youngest, never married, but took care of the homestead and his widowed mother when they came to Oklahoma as '89ers. He also remembered his nieces and nephews in his will.

Starting with Samuel and Lizzie, we found and contacted cousins from their Griffin and Terry families, even naming our group after Lizzie. Precious photos from these families were shared. The photo above is Gt Gt Grandfather William Griffin, 1812 - 1889.

Going down the list, we are now in correspondence with several descendants of Adam B. Griffin, Andrew W. Griffin, Sally Griffin McNutt, Adonijah H. Griffin, and William F. Griffin. Some have become life long friends.

Finding anyone from John Luther Griffin was more difficult.  John L. became a teacher and moved his family to Colorado and then California and Washington. But he was buried in Colorado. Finally a google search (not Find a Grave or Ancestry) led us to an obituary attached to the cemetery site in Boulder, Colorado.  It was very informative and was signed by a grand daughter, Jan Griffin Leaf, who lived in Washington.  We were able to correspond with Jan for many years until her death. She shared many, many pictures including the one of William above. And at her death, she willed me her huge photo album, as she had no descendants. 

In the family of Lizzie Terry Griffin, we became acquainted with those who descend from all but one of her siblings. Still working on that one remaining.

Now I'm ready to do the same with one generation further back.  Have already gotten a good start.  How's that for extending our family?

William Griffin, son of Jonathan

William Griffin, my great great grandfather, was the third child of Jonathan and Rachael Sharp Griffin. He was born March 27, 1812, in Bath County Virginia (later to become Pocahontas Co. West Virginia). An old family letter states that William was called “Billy”, and also that he was educated in Connecticut. I have seen no evidence of the latter. Although his father was born in CT, we find no information that family members returned to CT from West Virginia for education.

We do know that the family valued education, and William was a school teacher and Sunday School teacher. According to his obituary, he was an active member and later an officer, of the Methodist Episcopal Church from age 22. He may well have met his wife, Elizabeth M. Rodgers, at church, as her father, James Rodgers, was a devout man of the area. Of course, the churches met in homes in those days, or outdoors under the trees.

This quote is from “Moccasin Tracks and other Imprints” by William C. Dodrill, 1915.

“It is not known that any schools were taught in this county [Webster] before 1835. The first school of which I have any knowledge was erected by two brothers, William and Benjamin Hamrick, and James Dodrill, on the Elk [River] nearly opposite the mouth of Wolf Pen Run, six miles above Webster Springs. [My note: At that time this would have been in Nicholas or Braxton County, later Webster.] These three men employed William Griffin to teach three months, for which he was to receive 30 dollars and board. Spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic were the branches taught. The Bible was the text used in the reading classes. …”

Note: William would have been about 23 at this time. Another source says that William’s brother, Benoni Griffin, taught at the school. Benoni later married William Hamrick’s daughter, Nancy.

Elizabeth Rodgers, daughter of James and Elizabeth Jackson Rodgers, was born Aug. 4, 1818, in what she called “East” Virginia, probably Culpeper or Madison County, VA. Her mother died when Elizabeth was a child. Her father brought seven children over the mountains to the Buckeye area of Pocahontas County, where he married for a second time, and had six more children. They lived on Rodgers Mountain, south of the Stony Creek area where the Griffins lived.

After the time that William was a teacher, we next find a record of William as an adult, recipient of 62 acres (possibly more) of land transferred or sold to him by his father, Jonathan Griffin, Sept 4, 1838, just a few weeks before William and Elizabeth's marriage. The land was originally granted to Benoni Griffin of Connecticut, on the Greenbrier River (now site of the Green Bank Telescope.) Jonathan was somehow related to this Benoni; I hope to discover a father/son relationship.

We have a copy of the marriage certificate for William and Elizabeth, which is found on pg. 25, Pocahontas Co. Marriage Book as follows:

22 Oct 1838 Bond: William Griffin and Elizabeth M. Rogers. Surety, William Griffin and James Rogers.

25 Oct 1838 Return: William GRIFFIN and Elizabeth M. Rogers by Joseph G. McKeehan.

There is no indication that William and Elizabeth ever lived on the Green Bank land. Their first son, Joseph was born in 1839, in Pocahontas, where the rest of the Jonathan Griffin family lived. Then in 1840, William, Elizabeth, and son, under 5, are found in Nicholas County. This county was the home of Elizabeth’s two sisters, Tabitha Rodgers, wife of James McAvoy, and Sarah Ann Rodgers, wife of Adonijah Harris, and brother, Robert Rodgers. Harris and Robert Rodgers were both blacksmiths by trade. In later years, at least three of William’s children/grandchildren list their occupations as blacksmith.

William and his wife Elizabeth farmed in Pocahontas County near the family farm in 1850, as father, Jonathan, was aged. After Jonathan’s death around 1852, most of his sons and families, as well as their mother, Rachael, moved to Braxton (later Webster County west of the mountains near the Elk River. Brother, Abraham, stayed on the family farm on Swago and Stony Creek in Pocahontas County.

William was on the petition for the formation of Webster County West VA, in 1860. It has been stated in a family letter that he farmed 400 acres in Webster County. He was blinded in one eye by a corn stalk when walking through his field.

Military Service: Two sons, James M., and Levi J., died of illness, in service to the Union during the Civil War. James served in the 47th Regiment of the Ohio Voluntary Infantry - probably mustered in 1861. He died June 22, 1862. He was first buried in the military cemetery at Charleston West VA, then later re-interred at the military cemetery at West Virginia.

Levi J. was a Private in the 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, mustered at Sutton May 3, 1862, at age 18. He died Oct. 13, 1864, at Winchester, of fever. Another son, Samuel Young Griffin, also served the Union in the Ohio Vols 47th Regiment. Although he was stricken with illness, he did return from the war and accompanied the family as they headed west. Our Griffin line descends through Samuel. Letters to father, William, from Samuel during the Civil War.

During the latter part of the war, the families were forced to leave their farms in Webster County and relocate to the military base in Clarksburg, Harrison County. At the close of the Civil War, William and Elizabeth along with their remaining children, and several related families, decided to leave the new state of West Virginia to head for western states. Their sympathies for the Union brought persecution from their neighbors...to the extent that at one time they had to hide in a water filled ditch. The story of this exodus is recorded by a descendant of the Miller family, who traveled with Griffin and Harris families (all related). Click Here for John J. Miller's Civil War Story.

Family letters state that in 1865, William and Elizabeth and ten children, along with several other related families boarded a steamboat on the Ohio River (probably at Marietta OH), and sailed down the Ohio to the Mississippi, then to the Missouri River and up to Council Bluffs, Iowa. As John Miller had land in Exira, Audubon County Iowa, the family must have traveled there by wagon. Elizabeth’s aunts, Julia and Elizabeth Rodgers, in their 80s, (Julia was blind) traveled with them and then on to their brother Chesley’s home in Indianola, Iowa.

As stated in Miller’s story, the Griffins and Millers farmed for a short time in Iowa, then in Carthage, Missouri, and finally in Montgomery County, in southeastern Kansas. Sycamore Township became the home of this family and descendants for many years.

In 1889, William and Elizabeth’s youngest son, Peter Griffin, unmarried, age 28, made the Oklahoma Land Run, staking claims for himself and his parents, west of Edmond in Deer Creek. Soon after they moved to Edmond, Oklahoma Territory, William died. He is now buried at Gracelawn Cemetery. Elizabeth died in 1903, after her daughter in law, Lizzie Griffin, widow of Samuel, and children moved to Oklahoma.

This obituary comes from a Kansas Newspaper, although Wm.'s death occurred in Oklahoma. Jan Griffin Leaf has provided this.

GRIFFIN - William Griffin was born in Pocahontas County, VA., March 27, 1812, and died near Edmond, I. T., [should be Okla. Terr..] Nov. 4, 1889. He married Elizabeth M. Rogers, Oct. 25, 1838. There were born to them twelve sons and two daughters; seven sons and one daughter survive their father, and also his aged wife. He was a devoted member of the M.E. Church for 55 years, during which time he filled various offices in the Church. Father Griffin was a true type of a man and Christian. He was one of the few that opposed secession in his township at the breaking out of the Rebellion. He moved and settled for a time in Montgomery County, Kans., during which time the writer was his pastor and always found him in his place at church when it was possible for him to be there. He died as the good man dieth, and leaves behind him the savor of a good name, more to be desired than gold. J. ALBERT HYDEN. Cherry Vale, Kans.

More information on the children of William and Elizabeth:

Three children did not survive to adulthood and we do not know their dates of death or burial place. They are Rachel J., Robert O., and Alpheus. The oldest son, Joseph, is said to have died of fever about 1861, at age 22.

Samuel Young Griffin married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Terry, in Montgomery Co., Kansas. When he died in 1891, Lizzie brought the children to live in Oklahoma on the land claimed by her brother-in-law, Pete. The story of Sam and Lizzie, their life and family will be found on a separate blog page.

Adam Bland Griffin. We have a biography of Adam, contributed by a descendant, Elisha Dawn Barnett. Adam met Sarah Wiggins in Iowa, where they eloped. They then came to Kansas, farmed and raised a large family. Adam made the Oklahoma Land Run of 1893.

Sarah Ann “Sally” Griffin, the only surviving daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth, married Hugh McNutt when the Griffin family lived in Iowa. She was widowed in her 40s, and after living in Edmond, OK, with sister-in-law, Lizzie for a while, followed her children to Burbank, California, where she died in 1937.

Andrew W. Griffin married Zara Mayfield. He farmed in Montgomery Co., Kansas. Andrew was listed as a blacksmith in the 1870s, as was his brother Adonijah Harris Griffin. We have made contact with a descendant of Andrew and Zara, who lives in Colorado. Link to Andrew’s obituary.

John L. Griffin, with wife Clara O. Piersol & family, migrated from Kansas to Colorado around 1892. John was a mathematician and held positions as teacher, principal & Supt. of Schools, in Boulder and Everett, WA. We also have a biography of John L. and family, contributed by Jan Griffin Leaf of the Seattle, WA area.

Adonijah "Nije" Griffin went to Colorado at about the same time as John, and then to Texas. His first wife was Mattie Hinton, and second was Ida Groseclose. In Baylor County, TX, Nije was a blacksmith and served as postmaster. His descendants are found in New Mexico, Arizona and California.

William F. Griffin married Ellen Davis in Montgomery County, KS, in 1880. He was a farmer and settled in Sparks, Lincoln County, OK. Later he listed his occupation as house painter, was divorced, and lived for a time in Oklahoma City, OK. He died in Sparks, OK, in 1922. His children stayed in Oklahoma.

Peter Charles Griffin was the youngest son of William and Elizabeth. "Uncle Pete" never married. He worked the farm with his father. In 1889, he made the Oklahoma Land Run, staking a claim at Edmond, for himself and his parents. At his death in 1934, he willed his accumulated wealth to his many nieces and nephews. His will provided for a stone for his parents, Elizabeth and William Griffin, in Gracelawn Cemetery, Edmond, Oklahoma. Link to Uncle Pete's story.

Children of Jonathan and Rachel Griffin

Each family of Rachel and Jonathan's married children will be touched on here, although we do not have complete descendancy lists.

1. ABRAHAM GRIFFIN, B. 1808, D. AFTER 1880. Married at about age 21.
Records show - Abraham Griffin and Nancy Waugh, married 29 Oct 1829, Pocahontas, Virginia. Nancy was the daughter of James Waugh, jr., and Rebecca McGuire.

Children:
1. Jonathan James Griffin, sometimes called James, b: 1829 in Pocahontas, VA, married Lucinda Fleming at age 30, d. unknown after age 50.
2. Malinda Griffin b: 1831 in Pocahontas, VA, never married, d. 1922, Buckeye WV. Some glimpses of her life are recorded in the works of West Virginia Poet Laureate, Louise McNeill, in whose family "Aunt Malindy" spent her last years.
3. Dianna Rachel Griffin b: 22 Dec 1836 in Pocahontas, VA; At age 19, married 1) Jacob L. Buzzard, 2) Mr. Moorten ; d. 1912, WA.
4. Eliza B. Griffin, b. about 1839 , in Pocahontas, VA, married William Pritt at age 28; died after 1920, leaving many descendants in the Little Levels area.
5. Matthias "Potts" Griffin b: 1842 in Pocahontas, VA, d. 1862 in Confederate service at Sharpsburg (Antietam).
6. Sarah Griffin b: 1844 in Pocahontas, VA, died at about age 16.
7. Margaret Griffin b: 1847 in Pocahontas, VA, married Claiborne McNeel; d. 1926. She was step mother to Nathan C. McNeel, State Senator of West Virginia.

Abraham and Nancy and most of their family lived in Pocahontas County all their lives, farming near Edray P. O. probably on the Jonathan Griffin farm on Stony Creek and land he purchased in the 1830s on Swago Creek. Nancy died before 1880, possibly in Buckeye, and Abraham may have lived even longer, as the last time we find him in census [1880], he is 72 years old.

2. MARGARET GRIFFIN, B. ABOUT 1810, D. ABOUT 1903. Married at about age 29.
Marriage Record:
7 Dec 1839 Bond: Isaac Hamrick, of Nicholas County, & Margaret Griffin. Surety, Isaac (x) Hamrick & William Griffin. Jonathan Griffin consents for daughter. Teste, Abraham Griffin & William Griffin. William Hamrick makes oath his son, Isaac, is 21 years of age. Teste, William Griffin & Benomi [sic] Griffin. 10 Dec 1839 Return: Isaac Hamrick & Margaret Griffin by John W. Osborne.

The family lived on Point Mountain, four miles above Webster Springs, in Webster County (formed in 1860 from Nicholas, Braxton, Randolph Co.)
Children:
1. Jonathan Griffin Hamrick, b. 1846, Nicholas Co., VA, married Rebecca Jane Hamrick, daughter of Peter Hamrick. Jonathan lived on Point Mountain where his father lived, then moved to St. Petersburg, FL.
2. Mildred J. Hamrick, b. 1852, Nicholas Co., VA, married Robert A. Lilly of Randolph Co.
3. Nathan Hamrick, b. 1855, Nicholas Co., VA, married Isabel Harrah.
4. Levi Hamrick, b. 1848, Nicholas Co, VA, married Almarinda Cogar, a daughter of George Cogar. He also raised his family and lived for a number of years near the home of his father.
5. Rachel Ellen Hamrick, b. 1843, Nicholas Co., VA, married Alfred R. Miller. They raised their family on the Back Fork of Elk River in Webster County.
6. Andrew Hamrick, died when young.

Isaac Hamrick died 11 February 1893, and is buried in a private cemetery near the Pleasant Grove Church. His wife, Margaret, who died about 1903, at the age of 93 years, is buried beside him.

3. WILLIAM GRIFFIN, B. 1812, D. 1889, EDMOND OKLAHOMA. Married at about age 26,
Pocahontas County, Virginia. We have a copy of the certificate, October 22, 1838, William Griffin m. Elizabeth M. Rodgers.

Children: Information comes from family Bible and census records.
1. Joseph N. Griffin b. 2 Aug. 1839, VA; d. 1861-62 Braxton Co, WV.
2. Samuel Young Griffin , b. 23 Sept 1840, VA; Union Soldier, Ohio Vols.; d. 1891, Sycamore, Montgomery Co., KS; married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Terry
3. James M. Griffin b. 7 Jan. 1842, VA; Union Soldier, Died in Service, 1862
4. Levi J. Griffin, b. 8 Aug. 1843, VA; Union Soldier, Died in Service, 1864
5. Adam Bland Griffin , b. 1844-1845, Sutton, Braxton Co., VA; d. 1925, Caldwell, KS; married Sarah Ann Wiggins
6. Andrew W. Griffin, b. 3 Oct. 1846, VA; married Zarah E. Mayfield; d. 1917, Montgomery Co., KS
7. Sarah A. Griffin, b. 22 Feb. 1848, VA; married Hugh McNutt; died Sept. 1937, Burbank, California.
8. Robert O. Griffin, b. 23 Oct. 1849, VA; died between 1860-70, unknown location.
9. Adonijah Harris "Nije" Griffin, b. 6 Aug. 1851, VA; married 1) Mattie 2) Ida Groseclose; died between 1928-30, Texas.
10. William F. Griffin, b. Jan 1853, Ohio; married Ellen Davis; d. 1922, Lincoln Co., OK
11. John Luther Griffin, b. 24 April 1855, VA; married Clara Odessa Piersol; d. Jan 25, 1925, Everett, WA
12. Rachel J. Griffin, b. 22 Oct. 1856 , VA; d. about 1868, location unknown.
13. Alpheus Griffin, b. 1 Jan 1859, VA; d. before 1870 location unknown.
14. Peter Charles Griffin, b. 20 Aug. 1860; never married; d. April 25 1934, Edmond, OK



4. BENONI GRIFFIN, B. 1814, D. 1888. Married at about age 20. His wife was Nancy Hamrick.
"Descendants of William Hamrick" says of William's daughter, Nancy:
"Nancy Hamrick, born March 17, 1815, married Benoni Griffin in 1834. [They] lived in Pocahontas County until 1852, when [they] moved to Wainville [near Laurel Creek] in Webster County. In 1862, [they] moved to Salem, Harrison County, where she was living at the time of her death." Benoni died Nov. 29, in 1888 and Nancy died Mar. 13, 1891. They are buried at the 7th Day Baptist Cemetery, Salem, Harrison Co., WVA.

The date of the family's move to Webster County (1852) coincides with the death of Benoni's father, Jonathan Griffin. Then the move in 1862 was probably because of the fact that they were Union sympathizers in a county where they were not welcome. The following is from "History of Pocahontas County", "Griffin, Benoni, b. 1814 in Nicholas Co., VA, d. in Harrison Co., WV. He lived at Laurel Creek in Webster, West Virginia until 1862. He was a Unionist and fought in the Federal Army during the Civil War. On 29 December 1861 he led a unit of the Union Home Guard on raids to Laurel Creek from Sutton. Several of his neighbors were wounded and killed and farms and homes burned."

William Hamrick [father of Nancy] started the first school in Webster County, West Virginia along with his brother Benjamin and James Dodrill and built a log school house on Benjamin Hamrick's land. Benoni Griffin was the first teacher.

Full Context of West Virginia Prominent Men :
Griffin, Benoni, Pocahontas County, Beech Bottom, House of Delegates 1863-'64.
Griffin, Isaac H., Webster County, Webster C. H., House of Delegates 1871. [Son of Benoni.]

Children:
1. Jane Griffin, b. 1836; d. about 1860 at age 24. She was unmarried.
2. William Griffin, b. 1838; d. about 1856, at age 18. He was unmarried.
3. Isaac H. Griffin, b. 1839; d. in 1914. He was a Union Soldier.
4. Rachael C. Griffin, b.1842; d. at the age of 2 years, in about 1844.
5. Charles R. Griffin, b. 1844; d. at the age of 18 years, in about 1862.
6. George C. Griffin, b. 1846; killed in action Union Service, 1863, at about age 17. He was unmarried.
7. Elizabeth R. Griffin, b. 1848; was unmarried.
8. Jonathan S. Griffin, b. 1850; was unmarried.
9. Newton J. Griffin, b. 1852; married Jane Haskins.
10. Vanlinden S. Griffin, b. 1855; married Susan Haskins.
11. Mary E. Griffin, b. ; died at age 17. She was unmarried.
12. Matthew W. Griffin, b. 1857; married a Miss Elliott.

5. RACHEL S. GRIFFIN, B. 1822, D. AFTER 1880, OHIO.
Married Charles Ruckman. He was a scholar, teacher, and Methodist minister. They moved to Ohio, because he did not approve of his brothers' support of the south during the Civil War. In his later years became a rheumatic invalid. It is believed that there are no living descendants.

Children:
1. Julia Ruckman, b. about 1842; d. 1939, Noble Co. OH. She was an unmarried schoolteacher, Sharon, Ohio.
2. Leonidas T. Ruckman, b. about 1845; d. 1915, Noble Co. OH. He was an unmarried schoolteacher, Sharon, Ohio.
3. Morgan W. B. Ruckman, b. about 1855; died 1870-80.
4. Jonathan D. Ruckman, b. about 1857; died 1870-80.


6. JONATHAN GRIFFIN, B. 1826, D. AFTER 1910. Married Margaret Rader.
Quote from website: "Jonathan Griffin, another son-in-law of John Rader, first settled at the Jack Paugh place on Mill Creek, after several years, he sold to his wife's brother, Adam Rader, who married a Riddle."

Children:
1. Nancy "Nannie" R. Griffin, b. 1861; d. bet. 1920-30. Married Solomon "Low" V. Hickman.
2. Laura Griffin, b. May 1855; d. ? Married James C. Ruddell.
3. Sarah Griffin, ?

7. SAMUEL GRIFFIN, B. 1828, D. AFTER 1880. (never married)

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.

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."

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.