Gordon and Adaline Griffin’s biography, Kalamo Township, Eaton County, 
Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the 
USGenWeb Archives.  
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A HISTORY OF KALAMO TOWNSHIP
KALAMO TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY-1989
Page 5
GORDON B. & ADALINE (LOVE) GRIFFIN

Another early settler was Gordon B. Griffin, who was born in 1816 in New 
York State and came West in 1837, settling in Eaton County, Michigan. He 
met Adaline Love, oldest daughter of William and Lucinda Love. She had 
been born in Vermont and came to Michigan with her parents. Gordon and 
Adaline were married at Kalamo on April 14, 1839 by Henry Robinson of 
Charlotte. It was the first wedding in Eaton County and the first marriage 
ceremony ever conducted by Mr. Robinson. The groom was 23 and the bride, 
15.

In 1841 the Griffins located on a farm (known as the William Wildt place) 
in Kalamo Township. Here they lived and began to raise a family.

Four years after they were married this advertisement appeared in an Eaton 
County newspaper: "For Sale: My 166-acre farm, one half mile from Hyde's 
Mill in Kalamo. 55 acres cleared and 15 chopped, timber block house, frame 
barn and outbuilding. Well watered. 45 acres in crops, crops and farm 
utensils and animal stock also to be sold. Gordon B. Griffin."

It is unclear whether or not the farm was sold, but it gives an idea of 
living conditions at the time.

The Griffins remained in the Kalamo area, for the 1850 census lists Gordon 
Griffin, age 34, as a farmer with real estate valued at $2,000; wife 
Adaline, age 26, and children Edward 7, William 6, Francis 5, Albert 3, 
and Willard 1.

Later four more children were born to the couple: Laura who died in 
infancy in 1850, Ella born in 1851, Joseph in 1854 and Frederick, 1856. 
The father passed away on November 16, 1856, leaving his wife at age 32 to 
rear a family of eight children alone.