Yolo-Lake County CA Archives Biographies.....Griffin, Joseph 1818 - before 1891
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 6, 2007, 11:50 am

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

JOSEPH GRIFFIN, deceased, formerly a farmer of Yolo County, was born February 6,
1818, in Frederick County, Virginia, a son of George and Nancy (Johnston)
Griffin, natives of Virginia. As he grew up he learned the carpenter and
joiner's trade and followed it up to within the last thirty years of his life.
He left Virginia at an early age, spent a short time at Cincinnati, and then a
period in Ralls County, Missouri, and then purchased a farm in that State, upon
which he continued to reside until the spring of 1850, when he came overland to
California with ox teams, in company with Mr. Ely, a brother of Mrs. Griffin.
After spending a short time in the mines, he returned to Missouri with the
intention of remaining there; but in 1857, the thoughts of the excellent
features of the Golden State had wrought him up to such a pitch that he had to
come again, to remain; and he came as before, with ox teams, with Mr. Ely, and
this time had serious encounters with the Indians, losing some of their stock
-and many times narrowly escaping with their lives. Stopping in Yolo County, Mr.
Griffin purchased land on Cache Creek near Knight's Landing, where he was
engaged about ten years. He then bought near Winters, Yolo County, and lived
there until his death, making all the improvements on the place. The tasteful
residence was built in the fall of 1877. At the time of his death he owned about
1,000 acres in Yolo County, and about 180 in Lake County. He was a man marked by
traits of energy and perseverance. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Nancy Ely, a
native of Missouri; they had twelve children, seven of whom are living, namely:
Thomas D., George W., Annie E., wife of J. Spencer; James B.; Mary J., deceased;
Margaret, deceased; John F., Amanda B., wife of J. D. Rice; Mary A., deceased;
Robert E. Lee, deceased; Emma, deceased, and Joseph. Mr. Griffin was a member of
the Masonic fraternity at Winters, and is remembered by all who knew him as a
worthy and upright citizen. Mrs. Griffin still survives, and is enjoying a
degree of health that promises long life.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


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