My Genealogy Hound

C. A. Griffin was born in Fayette County, Penn., and is a son of W. P. and Mary Ann (Gans) Griffin, who were also natives of the “Keystone State.” The father was of German-Welsh descent, and was by occupation a farmer and sheep-raiser. Eleven of the thirteen children born to him and wife are as follows: Dr. Griffin, of Lamar; C. A., a farmer, of Newport; Mary L., the deceased wife of G. W. Hanna; N. R., a farmer and liveryman of Fayette County, Ohio; H. E., widow of a Mr. Harris, of Fayette County, Penn.; George, a resident of the same; Mrs. Em, wife of Clark Hess, of Penn.; Libbie, wife of L. D. Ramsey, of that State; Annie, wife of John Emery, a farmer, of Fayette County; and Flora, at home with her parents; and Addie, who is deceased. Mr. Griffin and wife still reside on the old home farm in Pennsylvania, and are hale and hearty, although advanced in years, he being eighty and she seventy-seven years of age. In politics Mr. Griffin was formerly a Democrat, then became a Whig, and is now a Republican. He and wife are active workers in the Christian Church. C. A. Griffin was reared on a farm, and received a somewhat limited education, owing to the poor facilities in his boyhood days, but afterward took a course in an academy, and since, by much reading and contact with business life, he has become one of the well-informed men of the county. His birth occurred on the 27th of March, 1839, and in 1866 he came to Missouri, having previously served three years in the U, S. A., being a private one year in the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and the second year was transferred to the U. S. Signal Corps, from which he received his discharge in September, 1864. He participated in twenty-one engagements, among which are: Fredericksburg (first battle), Bull Run (second battle), Harper’s Ferry, South Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, the seven days fight under Grant through the Wilderness, and Petersburg, receiving his discharge at the latter place. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner. After coming to Missouri in October, 1866, he and his brother and another gentleman purchased 1,000 acres of land in Newport Township, and his first winter was spent in getting out house logs, and erecting a house in 1866-67. In September, 1868, he was married to Miss E. J. Franks, of Fayette County, Penn., and remained in his native State until the following spring, when he returned to Missouri, and began farming in connection with his brother, N. R., being also engaged in the saw-mill business. He now owns about 600 acres of land, and on his home farm is erected a handsome residence with a fine lawn and shade trees, and his out-buildings are also excellent. His wife was born on the 18th of December, 1841, and they are the parents of these children: Ira, born March 15, 1874; H. B., born March 30, 1876; and Pearl, born March 7, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a liberal contributor to churches, schools, etc.