HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                          55

Mr. Trinkle and farmed on shares, his share of the crop in the fall
amounting to twenty-one dollars. The result was so discouraging that
he returned to Mr. Liston, with whom he remained until after the breaking
out of the Civil war.
    On October 29, 1861, Mr. Griffith enlisted in Company A, Forty—
third Indiana Volunteer Infantry; was with his regiment in Kentucky,
Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas, and
took part in several engagements, the more important being the battles
at Fort Pillow, Memphis and Island No. 10. In February, 1863, on
account of physical disability, he was honorably discharged, and after his
return home was unable to work for more than six months. Going in
the fall of that year to Knox county, Indiana, Mr. Griffith was there
married, December 6, 1863, to Sarah Chambers, who was born in that
county, April 18, 1831, a daughter of John and Mary (Hollingsworth)
Chambers. The young couple remained on the farm of Mr. Chambers
for two years, and then settled in Lewis township. In 1866 Mr. Griffith
bought the farm which he now owns and occupies, ten of its eighty acres
being cleared at the time of purchase, while on it was a log cabin, with an
addition built of poles, the whole roof being covered with boards rived
by hand. This cabin was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Griffith for two or
more years, and in it two of their children were born. By dint of per-
sistent toil, he cleared the timber from the remainder of the land, and
after a few years built a nice hewed log house, one and one-half stories in
height, and that in time gave way to the commodious frame house in
which the family now live. Successful in all of his undertakings, Mr.
Griffith wisely invested his money in more land, and has now one hun-
dred and thirty-seven and one-half acres of land in his farm, which, in
regard to its improvements and appointments, ranks well with any in the
community, his house, substantial barn and outbuildings being well
adapted to the purposes for which they are used. Mrs. Griffith died in
1889, and Mr. Griffith now lives, retired from active labor, on the home
farm, which is managed by his youngest son.
    Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Griffith, namely: John
Franklin and Richard Harland, now living; and Thomas and Claude, who
died in infancy. John Franklin Griffith, the oldest son, is a minister and
now has charge of the Missionary Baptist church at Spencer, Owen
county. He married Effie Trinkle, and they have two children, Flossie
and Edith. Richard Harland, who lives on the home farm, married
Viola Strahla, and they have three children living, Sarah Margaret, Will-
iam Oliver and Courtney Lee, one child, Orris Graeme, dying at the age
of twenty months. Mr. Griffith is a member of the Missionary Baptist
church, to which his wife also belonged.

    WILLIAM C. PRINCE, the present sheriff of Clay county, Indiana, is
a native of Ohio, born in Portsmouth, Scioto county, September 9, 1862,
son of Henry and Phebe Prince. His father was born in Darmstadt, Ger-
many, and died, at the age of fifty-nine years, in 1878. The mother was
a native of Wittenburg. Germany, and died, at the age of seventy-seven
years and nine months, in 1904. They were united in miarriage in Penn-
sylvania and the union was blessed with eight children, three of whom
are now living, their names being as follows: Emma, wife of John Ranch,
residing at Terre Haute, Indiana; William C., of this notice; and Phebe,
wife of Joseph Davern, living at Terre Haute. The father came to