Nansemond County-Chesapeake City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Griffin, John T., 1920 

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm
************************************************

JOHN THOMAS GRIFFIN 

JOHN T. GRIFFIN DIED LAST NIGHT 

ONE OF WEALTHIEST, MOST INFLUENTIAL AND WIDLEY KNOW CITIZENS IN THE TIDEWATER 

BORN IN SUFFOLK; CIVIL WAR VETERAN 

COLONEL GRIFFIN SUCCESSFUL AS EDUCATOR, TRUCKER AND PORTSMOUTH BANKER. 

   John Thomas Griffin familiarly known as Colonel Griffin, president of the 
Merchants and Farmers’ Bank of Portsmouth, one of the wealthiest and most 
widely known men in Tidewater Virginia, died at his home in Churchland last 
night at 9:35 o’clock, surrounded by his wife and three children, who, while 
long expecting the end, were none the less grief-stricken.

   Born in Nansemond county eighty-two years ago, Colonel Griffin came to 
Norfolk county with his parents when a boy six years of age, and has lived in 
this county, therefore for three-quarters of a century.

   He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Julia Armistead Griffin, and by three 
children, Thomas B. Griffin, Mrs. C.W. Coleman, and Mrs. J.V. Carney.

   Colonel Griffin had a remarkable record in many ways.  He was a graduate of 
the old Columbian University, of Washington, D.C., and served as captain of 
engineers in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

DEACON FIFTY YEARS 

   After making his residence in Churchland, where he has lived during his 
seventy-six years of residence in Norfolk county, he became affiliated in 
early life with the Churchland Baptist Church, and his been a deacon in that 
church for fifty years, and the superintendent of the Sunday school of the 
church for fifty consecutive years - an unparalleled record in religious 
service in connection with any one church.

   In business life Colonel Griffin was perhaps best known as the president of 
the Merchants and Farmers’ National Bank, of Portsmouth, but in later years 
has been equally as prominent as the president of the Southern Produce Company 
and of the Griffin Trucking Company.  He was the leading truck grower in 
Tidewater Virginia, and has accomplished wonders in promoting that important 
industry in this section.

   Colonel Griffin became the president of the Merchant’ and Farmers’ Bank, 
when it was organized and the bank has never had any other president but him. 
Even during his declining health he would drive to the bank almost daily and 
attend to some banking duty with astonishing vigor and lively interest. It was 
only recently that he was compelled to give up his visits to the bank, but 
even when confined to his home he continued to manifest a keen interest in the 
affairs of that institution and in the larger events of life.

BORN IN SUFFOLK 

   Colonel Griffin was born in Suffolk, Nansemond County, February 5, 1838, 
and is a son of Nathaniel Griffin and grandson of Luke Griffin.  The deceased 
was six years of age when his father moved to Norfolk County.  He entered 
school in this county in 1855 and later was graduated from the Columbian 
University in Washington.  After graduating from that institution in 1859, he 
taught the preparatory department there for several years and then returned to 
Norfolk County.

   It was in 1862 that Mr. Griffin served as captain of engineers on General 
Randolph’s staff and subsequently with other officers.  He was on the defense 
of Petersburg after the evacuation of Norfolk and served until the surrender 
at Appomattox, when he reported to General Lee.  His parole was signed by the 
adjutant of General Lee, Walter H. Taylor, of Norfolk.

   During the two subsequent years, 1865 and 1866, he taught school in 
Churchland, and then served as a surveyor in Nansemond County.

SUCCESSFUL TRUCKER 

   Mr. Griffin became engaged in the trucking business in 1867 and immediately  
made a great success.  From year to year he added to his vast landed 
possessions and at the time of his death owned six large truck farms in 
Norfolk County all in a highly modern state of cultivation and excellence, and 
provided with every possible modern convenience.

   It was in December, 1885, that he was chosen president of the newly 
organized Merchants’ and Farmers’ Bank and has been president of that 
institution continuously during all the intervening years.

   Mr. Griffin marriage took place in 1865, his bride being Miss Julia Armistead 
Benn, who was born in Nansemond County and was the daughter of Thomas Benn, an 
ensign in the War of 1812.  They were a devoted couple and their long years of 
union have been fraught with mutual love and happiness.

   Funeral arrangements will be announced today.

******************************************************************************** 

John T. Griffin 

Griffin was born in Suffolk on February 5, 1838, the son of Nathaniel and 
Virginia Ann Gwinn Griffin.  His father moved them to Norfolk about 1844. 
Griffin graduated from Columbia University in Washington, D.C. in 1859 and 
taught there until 1861.  During the war he served as a engineer on General 
Randolph's staff.

After the war, he taught school at Churchland Academy during 1865-1866.  In 
1865, he married Julia Armistead Benn (b.10-16-1842, d. 01-16-1902), daughter 
of Thomas and Nancy Benn, an ensign in the War of 1812.  He served two years 
as surveyor of Nansemond County and in 1867, he was elected president of 
Norfolk Storage Company.  In December 1885, he was president of the Merchants 
and Farmers Bank and a director of the Atlantic and Danville Railway.

He had been living in Churchland several years when he died April 14, 1920, 
and is buried in Churchland Baptist Church Cemetery.


Col. John Thomas GRIFFIN, Confederate veteran, 
bank president, civil engineer & truck farmer, 
b. 5 Feb 1838, Suffolk, d. 14 Apr 1920, at home, Churchland, 
interred in Churchland Baptist Church Cemetery*, Norfolk Co. (now Chesapeake), 
"The Virginian-Pilot & Norfolk Landmark," Apr. 15, 1920, p. 7 

*His parents are also buried there. 
   Churchland listlist [incomplete], an extension of the 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/holbap.txt 

Two photographic portraits posted with Find a Grave Mem. #9925722. 

His mother's obit ("Virginian-Pilot," Dec. 16, 1900, p. 22) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/g615v1ob.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/g615j1ob.txt