Ashley Griffin, b. 10 Mar 1822

AUSTIN, HADLEY, HUGHES

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/20/2004 at 11:24:43

~ ASHLEY GRIFFIN ~

Ashley Griffin, a retired farmer, living on his pleasant homestead in Andrew, is numbered among the representative pioneers of Jackson County, and now, in the closing years of his long and useful life, can look with pride and pleasure upon the result of the marvelous changes wrought throughout the county since he became one of its first citizens. In its development from a wild, uncultivated country, inhabited by wild beasts and game of all kinds, to a State holding high rank among its sister commonwealths, our subject has taken an active part, having cleared and improved many acres of land within the county limits, and while building up a competence for himself, has assisted in advancing the general prosperity of this section of the State.

Mr. Griffin is a native of New York, born in Moira, Franklin County, March 10, 1822. He is of Welsh origin, his great-grandfather having been born in Wales, whence he emigrated to America, locating first in Rhode Island, and afterward in Vermont. He became a devoted citizen of this country, and fought for its independence. Asel Griffin, grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in Vermont. There he learned the carpenter's trade, but in 1810 removed to New York, became a pioneer of Franklin County, and bought eighty acres of land, on which he cleared a farm and made his home until his death. He was a true citizen, zealously devoted to his country, and in the War of 1812 faithfully performed his duty as a soldier in the army.

Sylvester Griffin, father of our subject, was also a native of the Green Mountain State, born in 1800, and was ten years of age when his parents removed to New York. He was reared on the home farm, and in addition to farm work, learned the trade of a shoemaker. In 1832 he removed to Seneca County, Ohio, and bought a farm near Tiffin, on which he lived several years. In 1843 Mr. Griffin pushed farther westward to the territory of Iowa, locating in Perry Township, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. On the breaking out of the Mexican War his martial spirit asserted itself, and going to St. Louis, he enlisted, and was mustered into service under Capt. Shields. He served throughout the war, bringing back as a memento a sword, which is now in the possession of our subject. After his return from Mexico Mr. Griffin resumed farming, which he carried on until 1851, when, seized with the gold fever, he started on foot for California. On the journey he stopped at Salt Lake City, and spent a short time there working for Brigham Young. He then proceeded to California, and for a few months engaged in ranching near Stockton. After remaining in California nearly a year, he returned by way of Panama and New York, to his home in Perry Township, and resumed farming. Upon the breaking out of the late Civil War, although sixty-one years of age, his patriotic blood was again stirred to activity, and in November, 1861, he enlisted, and was mustered into service at Dubuque, Iowa, as a member of Company K, 12th Iowa Infantry, under command of Col. Woods. He was in the battles of Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson. He was subsequently smitten with small pox, and taken to the hospital at Paducah, Ky., where he recovered, and rejoined his regiment three days before the battle of Shiloh, in which he took part, and at the Hornet's Nest, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon of April 6, 1862, was shot through the left lung and hand, and was mortally wounded. He was taken to the hospital at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where his death occurred May 26, 1862, and on June 8th he was laid quietly to rest in the cemetary at Andrew. He was a consistent man, and a strong believer in the universal salvation of all mankind. In politics, he was a stanch Jackson Democrat.

The maiden name of his wife, mother of our subject, was Matilda Austin. She was of English descent, born in Vermont in 1800, being a daughter of Peleg Austin. Her father was a farmer in Vermont, and served in the War of 1812. Subsequently removing to New York, he located in Franklin County, where his death occurred at the ripe age of ninety-five years. His father was a native of England, and, emigrating to the United States, lived for awhile in Rhode Island, and from there removed to Vermont, where he spent his last years. He fought in the Revolutionary War, and was under the direct command of Gen. Washington. Mrs. Griffin died at the homestead in Perry Township, May 7, 1857. To her and her husband were born seven children, five of whom are how living; Ashley, Ira, and Edward, in Jasper County, Mo., Asel, in Ft. Riley, Kan.; Lucinda Hawkins, in Rowley, Buchanan Co., Iowa. Ira and Edward served bravely throughout the Mexican War, and Asel, the youngest of the four sons, answered his country's call for help during the great Rebellion, by enlisting, in 1861, in Company K, 5th Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was a courageous, efficient soldier and took part in twenty-six battles, besides numerous skirmishes, being wounded in the thigh at the battle of Spanish Fort.

Ashley, of whom we write, was a lad of ten years when his parents removed to Ohio, where he was reared and educated. That section of the country was then sparsely populated, and its school advantages were necessarily limited and our subject was obliged to walk three miles through the woods, following a lonely path, indicated by blazed trees, to reach the log cabin where he obtained the rudiments of his education. He remained at home assisting on the farm until nineteen years old, when he determined to seek his fortune in the far West. He came by boat to Bellevue, being two weeks on the way, thence on to Andrew, arriving here June 8, 1841. He took up a claim of 160 acres in Perry Township, on which he built a log cabin, and began clearing and improving a farm. He was at that time a poor man, without a dollar at his command. In common with many of his fellow pioneers, he has met with some losses and reverses, yet he has been generally successful in his undertakings. In 1844, while raising a log house, he had the misfortune to break his leg, which crippled him for life, and four years later he lost most of his property by fire.

In 1854, Mr. Griffin sold his land in Perry and moved to Richland Township, bought 100 acres of land near La Motte, and there continued his agricultural pursuits. He prospered in his new home, and in 1861 built a house worth $1,000; and from that time, as he could afford it, bought land adjacent to his homestead until he had a farm of 280 acres; 180 of this was under cultivation, improved by three dwellings. He carried on farming and stock-raising, gradually increasing his business until the fall of 1884, when he sold out. The following spring he purchased 105 acres of land in Prairie Spring Township, on which he resided until April, 1887, when he sold all but twenty acres, and removing to Andrew, bought his present residence, in which he lives retired from active work. He has been a hard working man, and has met with a just recompense for his many years of toil, being now able to spend his declining years in ease and comfort. In his younger days he was an expert wood chopper, having chopped thousands of cords and split hundreds of rails. Up early in the morning, working steadily day by day, he accomplished an amount of work that would astonish the members of this generation. His industry, perseverance, and thrift, coupled with ability and fair-dealing, have won for him not only a comfortable annual income, but that which he treasures more highly, the respect and esteem of the entire community.

Mr. Griffin has served in various local offices, and while a resident of Richland Township, was Supervisor of Roads fifteen years, and for twelve years did faithful duty as a member of the School Board. His intellect is as vigorous as ever, but his failing eyesight is a great affliction to him, for, notwithstanding that he has patiently undergone several painful operations, he is almost blind. He is a man of broad, progressive views, and in religious matters is very liberal. In politics, he is a strong Republican, and an ardent advocate of temperance principles. He has been a delegate to county and State conventions, and has served on the Grand and Petit Jury. Mr. Griffin was married in Perry Township Feb. 23, 1846, to Miss Naomi, daughter of Nehemiah and Anna (Hughes) Hadley. Mrs. Griffin was born near Melmore, Seneca Co., Ohio, March 19, 1828, and there lived until eleven years of age, when her parents removed with their family to Jackson County. She remained under the parental roof until her marriage with our subject, when she became to him a true helpmate, and a most amiable companion. To them were born ten children, five of whom, Lawrence, Nehemiah, David, Jane and Emily, grew to man and womanhood. Of these Lawrence, Nehemiah, and Emily now live; Lawrence, in Riley County, Kas., where he is farming; Nehemiah, in Andrew, Iowa; and Emily, at home with her parents. Lawrence wore the Blue in the war of the Rebellion, serving one year in Company I, 7th Iowa Infantry, was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and through the Carolinas and Virginia; Nehemiah was also a soldier; he enlisted in February, 1865, when only sixteen years of age in Company H, 147th Regiment Illinois Infantry, and served one year in the Army of the Cumberland.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)