THE ALBIA UNION
Tuesday, April 4, 1916

A GOOD MAN CALLED

John W. H. Griffin, One of the Best Known Citizens of Monroe County Passes to His Reward

John W. H. Griffin was born at Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, June 27, 1833. He died at his home, No. 225 North Second street, Albia, Iowa, of heart strain, superinduced by over exertion, Thursday, March 30, 1916, at 11:20 o'clock p.m., aged 82 years, 9 months and 3 days.

He was a son of Berry Green Griffin and Lucy Ashbury-Griffin. He received a common school education and later attended Old Masonic college at Lexington, Missouri, of which institution he was a graduate. He taught school when he was only seventeen years old, and in young manhood, engaged in various other business pursuits. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar, but practiced that profession only a short time.

During the early years of his life he lived with his parents and family at Columbia, Lexington, St. Louis, and other places in Missouri. In 1858 and 1859, he with his brother, Berry G. A. Griffin, edited and published The Richmond, Missouri, Mirror, a weekly newspaper.

In the 24th of June, 1858, at Richmond, Missouri, he was united in marriage with Fannie Hall Morse. To this union were born ten children, six sons and four daughters, one of whom, Nellie Elizabeth, died in infancy, October 25, 1867.

After his marriage and before coming to Albia to live, he with his family, lived successively at St. Joseph, Missouri; Bellvue and Omaha, Nebraska, and Knoxville, Iowa. With his family on the 18th of April 1865, he came to Albia, which has, ever since, been his home.

On the 4th of April, 1866, he entered the office of Clerk of Court, in Albia, as deputy under Henry Miller, and almost continuously from that time until his death, he was employed in that office, either as clerk of deputy, having been elected clerk for ten consecutive terms of two years each. There has not been a year since 1866 in which he was not employed in the clerk's office at least a part of the year. He taught the business of the office to six different clerks. During the recent years he has issued a few marriage licenses to grandchildren of some of those to whom he issued marriage licenses when he first went into the clerk's office. His service in that office covered a period of almost fifty years.

He had never been confined to his bed a full day in his life since babyhood until the 19th of March last; having always enjoyed good health. He was asked recently what his doctor bill had likely been during his entire life time, and he answered casually: "About five or six dollars I should imagine." On Friday, the 17th of March last, he strained his heart by over exertion, but not until the following Sunday, did he become confined to his bed. He remained in bed a week, and seemed to have recovered his normal health. He worked in the clerk's office a part of the last three days of his life, having been so employed the morning of the day of his death.

He was affiliated with the Masonic Order in former years and at the time of his death was an active member of Monroe Lodge, No. 81, I.O.O.F. of Albia. He had been a member of the Christian church at Albia and elsewhere for about fifty-eight years.

While he was of a most gentle disposition, he was a man of strong character. He possessed a broad education and was progressive in spirit. He was a man of strictest honesty and integrity. He was ever ready and willing to help those in need, to the extent of his ability. He loved the right an loathed the wrong. He was a devoted, loving and faithful husband, a kind, loving and indulgent father and a loyal and steadfast friend. He has left to his children who survive him, a legacy - his honored name and noble record - more to be prized by them than a legacy of gold and lands.

He was preceded in death by his faithful wife, his companion for a little more than fifty-five years, July 2, 1913; by his oldest son, Charles Eldridge, January 4, 1914, and by his oldest daughter, Mrs. Lina M. Low, October 23, 1914.

He is survived by five sons, William B., Frank S., Harry A., Fred I., and Doctor John M.; two daughters, Miss Lucia and Mrs. Anna L. Jones; one brother, Berry G.A., of Quincy, Ill.' one sister, Mrs. Matilda Jane Carson of Denver, Colorado; eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A very impressive sermon was preached by Rev. C. V. Pearce and J. C. Mabry paid a glowing tribute to the life and character of the deceased.

Appropriate selections were sung by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilkinson, with Mrs. Princess Nelson at the piano.

The pall-bearers were ex-clerks of the district court, D.W. Bates, Thos. Hickenlooper, Boyd Miller and O. U. Conwell, and attorneys, J. C. Mabry and N. E. Kendall.

The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful and gave fitting testimony of the high esteem in which the deceased was held.

The Monroe County Bar Association, the county officials and Monroe Lodge No. 81, I.O. O.F. attended in a body.

Thus one more pioneer Albia citizen has gone to his long rest. His life was one of usefulness, gentleness, worthiness and spirituality and his memory will be cherished as an example of fidelity to duty, to home and friends and may those he leaves to mourn his departure emulate his virtues, his higher mental qualities till time no longer needs their services here below. May his ashes rest in peace.

THE ALBIA UNION
Tuesday, April 4, 1916

A GOOD MAN CALLED

John W. H. Griffin, One of the Best Known Citizens of Monroe County Passes to His Reward

John W. H. Griffin was born at Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, June 27, 1833. He died at his home, No. 225 North Second street, Albia, Iowa, of heart strain, superinduced by over exertion, Thursday, March 30, 1916, at 11:20 o'clock p.m., aged 82 years, 9 months and 3 days.

He was a son of Berry Green Griffin and Lucy Ashbury-Griffin. He received a common school education and later attended Old Masonic college at Lexington, Missouri, of which institution he was a graduate. He taught school when he was only seventeen years old, and in young manhood, engaged in various other business pursuits. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar, but practiced that profession only a short time.

During the early years of his life he lived with his parents and family at Columbia, Lexington, St. Louis, and other places in Missouri. In 1858 and 1859, he with his brother, Berry G. A. Griffin, edited and published The Richmond, Missouri, Mirror, a weekly newspaper.

In the 24th of June, 1858, at Richmond, Missouri, he was united in marriage with Fannie Hall Morse. To this union were born ten children, six sons and four daughters, one of whom, Nellie Elizabeth, died in infancy, October 25, 1867.

After his marriage and before coming to Albia to live, he with his family, lived successively at St. Joseph, Missouri; Bellvue and Omaha, Nebraska, and Knoxville, Iowa. With his family on the 18th of April 1865, he came to Albia, which has, ever since, been his home.

On the 4th of April, 1866, he entered the office of Clerk of Court, in Albia, as deputy under Henry Miller, and almost continuously from that time until his death, he was employed in that office, either as clerk of deputy, having been elected clerk for ten consecutive terms of two years each. There has not been a year since 1866 in which he was not employed in the clerk's office at least a part of the year. He taught the business of the office to six different clerks. During the recent years he has issued a few marriage licenses to grandchildren of some of those to whom he issued marriage licenses when he first went into the clerk's office. His service in that office covered a period of almost fifty years.

He had never been confined to his bed a full day in his life since babyhood until the 19th of March last; having always enjoyed good health. He was asked recently what his doctor bill had likely been during his entire life time, and he answered casually: "About five or six dollars I should imagine." On Friday, the 17th of March last, he strained his heart by over exertion, but not until the following Sunday, did he become confined to his bed. He remained in bed a week, and seemed to have recovered his normal health. He worked in the clerk's office a part of the last three days of his life, having been so employed the morning of the day of his death.

He was affiliated with the Masonic Order in former years and at the time of his death was an active member of Monroe Lodge, No. 81, I.O.O.F. of Albia. He had been a member of the Christian church at Albia and elsewhere for about fifty-eight years.

While he was of a most gentle disposition, he was a man of strong character. He possessed a broad education and was progressive in spirit. He was a man of strictest honesty and integrity. He was ever ready and willing to help those in need, to the extent of his ability. He loved the right an loathed the wrong. He was a devoted, loving and faithful husband, a kind, loving and indulgent father and a loyal and steadfast friend. He has left to his children who survive him, a legacy - his honored name and noble record - more to be prized by them than a legacy of gold and lands.

He was preceded in death by his faithful wife, his companion for a little more than fifty-five years, July 2, 1913; by his oldest son, Charles Eldridge, January 4, 1914, and by his oldest daughter, Mrs. Lina M. Low, October 23, 1914.

He is survived by five sons, William B., Frank S., Harry A., Fred I., and Doctor John M.; two daughters, Miss Lucia and Mrs. Anna L. Jones; one brother, Berry G.A., of Quincy, Ill.' one sister, Mrs. Matilda Jane Carson of Denver, Colorado; eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A very impressive sermon was preached by Rev. C. V. Pearce and J. C. Mabry paid a glowing tribute to the life and character of the deceased.

Appropriate selections were sung by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilkinson, with Mrs. Princess Nelson at the piano.

The pall-bearers were ex-clerks of the district court, D.W. Bates, Thos. Hickenlooper, Boyd Miller and O. U. Conwell, and attorneys, J. C. Mabry and N. E. Kendall.

The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful and gave fitting testimony of the high esteem in which the deceased was held.

The Monroe County Bar Association, the county officials and Monroe Lodge No. 81, I.O. O.F. attended in a body.

Thus one more pioneer Albia citizen has gone to his long rest. His life was one of usefulness, gentleness, worthiness and spirituality and his memory will be cherished as an example of fidelity to duty, to home and friends and may those he leaves to mourn his departure emulate his virtues, his higher mental qualities till time no longer needs their services here below. May his ashes rest in peace.