My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT S. GRIFFIN, M. D., a prominent and successful medical practitioner of Cass County, Mich., has been permanently located in Edwardsburgh since 1875, and aside from the demands of his professional cares has efficiently discharged the duties of Postmaster since 1889. Our subject is a native of Griffinsville, Erie County, N. Y., and was born September 25, 1828. He is the son of James W. and Sallie (Abbott) Griffin. His paternal grandfather, Obadiah Griffin, was a direct descendant of three brothers Griffin, who emigrated from Wales to England and thence to America in Colonial times. Grandfather Griffin was one of the hardy and enterprising pioneers of Erie County, N. Y., and late in life journeyed to the then far West and with his son, Robert S., located in Niles, Mich., where he died some six years later, passing away in about 1832. He had reached four-score years of Christian usefulness, and was in religious persuasion a Quaker. He twice entered into the bonds of wedlock. His first wife bore him one child, Peter. His second wife became the mother of three sons and two daughters. Isaac died aged nine years; Robert S., who died in Iowa, was buried in Niles; James W. was the third in order of birth. Obadiah Griffin went to Canada and took up lands after the War of 1812, but finally returned to New York.

James W. Griffin, the father of our subject, resided for a time in Canada with his parents, but after the War of 1812 came back to the United States and settled in Griffinville, where he and his brother Robert engaged in business and operated farms. The village, then named Griffin’s Mill, is now called Griffinsville. The father was a Colonel of Militia in New York, and was a leading man in his part of the State. In the spring of 1832, he decided to try the broader fields of the West, and journeyed to Detroit by water, thence traveled by team, and settled one mile east of Niles, Mich. He entered one hundred acres of land from the Government and immediately began the cultivation of the homestead. In 1838, he again made a change of residence, locating at Racine, Wis., where he took up another one hundred and sixty acres, and as before industriously planted wheat in the fall. In the spring the crop proved a failure. There was sickness in the family, and, discouraged, they returned to their old locality in Michigan. Father Griffin bought a farm in Ontwa Township, and yearly tilled its fertile soil until 1850, at which date he sold this property and went to Wisconsin, where he died.

During his long career of usefulness as a citizen he occupied many responsible positions of trust, and was intimately associated with the development and progress of Cass County. He served with ability as Supervisor, was an excellent Justice of the Peace, and, placed upon the Bench as Associate Judge of the county, was equal to all the requirements of his honored office, and also a member of the State Legislature for one term gave great satisfaction to his constituents. In political affiliation he was a Democrat. Fraternally, he was a valued member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. The father of our subject was twice married. Miss Catherine Abbott became his first wife. Of their children, Rachel McOmber is deceased; George died in California; Obadiah died in Chicago, the victim of a terrible accident, being crushed while starting the machinery of a boat; Jonathan A. was killed in California while asleep in a mine, supposed to have been murdered for his gold; Ira is a resident of Missouri; and Hiram of Wisconsin. The second wife was the mother of six children: Catherine, deceased; Robert S., our subject; Mariette Buouy, of Nebraska; Charlotte Conklin, deceased; Eli, deceased; and Albert, a citizen of Wisconsin.

The mother of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, and late in life, making her home in Nebraska with a daughter, died in the West. The maternal grandfather, Jonathan Abbott, a prosperous farmer, lost his wife in New York, and later came with his son to Michigan and, constantly residing within the State from 1832, passed away mourned as a public loss. Dr. Griffin was educated in the practical routine of study pursued in the district schools, and, having decided to embark in professional life, at nineteen began to read medicine with Dr. Lockwood, of Edwardsburgh. In 1848-49, he enjoyed the benefit of a course of lectures at Indiana Medical College, located at Union, Cass County, and after two years completed his studies. He spent the three succeeding years at Edwardsburgh, and in 1855 made his home in Lainton, in 1873 removing to South Bend. He finally returned in 1875 to Edwardsburgh, where he has since devoted himself mainly to the practice of his profession. Politically, our subject was until 1854 a sturdy Democrat, but since that date has been an active Republican. He has held with faithful ability various official positions, and as Postmaster of Edwardsburgh, appointed in 1889, has given universal satisfaction to his fellow-townsmen.

Dr. Griffin was united in marriage with Miss Amanda M. Hewitt, a native of Pennsylvania and the daughter of Dethic and Louisa (Ainsley) Hewitt. The parents of Mrs. Griffin came from the Quaker State to Calhoun County, Mich., and thence removed to Cass County, where they spent their remaining days. Mr. Hewitt was a blacksmith by trade, an upright and industrious man and, esteemed by his friends and neighbors, served for years as a Justice of the Peace in Calhoun and Ontwa. His wife, a devoted Christian, was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject and his estimable wife have been blessed by the birth of four children, two sons and two daughters: Egbert H., of San Francisco, Cal., an able optician; Ida E., Carrie M., and Fred, who died at twenty-six years of age. Dr. Griffin is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church and has been a member of the denomination since he was eighteen years old. Mrs. Griffin united with the church at sixteen and has ably assisted in the work and social enterprises of that religious body. Dr. and Mrs. Griffin are prominent factors in all matters of mutual welfare in their home locality and possess the high regard of a large circle of old-time friends, tried and true.