STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 16, 1898, pg.4,col.5 DEATH OF DR. DANIEL BRIGHTON GRIFFIN Deceased was born in Whittingham, Windsor county, Vermont, July 27, 1814, and died in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 11, 1896, aged 84 years, 3 months and 14 days. He was the last of a family of thirteen children, and in his death leaves an aged wife, three daughters and four grandchildren. His remains were brought to Angola, his former home, and services were held in the Christian church, conducted by Elder C. S. Medbury. Burial in Jordan cemetery, north of Angola. Dr. Griffin was a pioneer of Steuben county. Judge S. A. Powers, president of the Old Settlers' Association, was asked to make some remarks at the funeral regarding the life of the doctor, and spoke as follows: Personally, I knew Dr. Griffin from the time I was a small boy. I always esteemed him as a conscientious, good man, and a man of more that ordinary capabilities and ability. I have sometimes thought what a grand thing it would be if all the pioneers of Steuben county would write out a brief history of their trials, their sufferings and their achievements from the time they first came into the county. Fortunately in this case we have preserved some facts and incidents related by Dr. Griffin, himself, and it seems to me proper that I should use his own language and let him tell to you, today, his experiences as a pioneer of this county. It suggests a thought to me; that maybe, all our thoughts and acts and deeds, whether worthy or unworthy, are taken down and preserved somewhere that they may confront us as the plain portrayal of our manhood and womanhood. It is the little things in life which are nearer our hearts. It is the simple annals which illumine the pathway of the pioneer. Using Dr. Griffin's language: " I came into Steuben county in March, 1839. I stopped first at Willow Prairie, Brockville was the name of the post office. The village then consisted of six or seven small houses, part of them frame and the others log cabins of humble mein. Just outside the limits of the village Jeremiah Tillotson had erected a neat two-story frame house which added very much to the appearance of the village. There was no blacksmith, wagon, shoe, tailor, tin, or any other shop of any kind in the place. The land was much of it oak openings. I frequently saw large herds of deer running through these openings, which was a splendid sight to me. Wild turkeys were common. I have seen large flocks of them, but I was no hunter and never killed a deer or turkey. The Pottawottomie Indians frequently centered around Brockville. They would camp and build their wigwams, then come to the village to sell their furs and venison. One time in Fremont a man accused a boy of stealing some thread, then he took a raw hide and whipped the young man. I could not help taking an interest. In the first place I believed the boy innocent, and in the next place the boy was weak in both body and mind and needed a friend, and in those days I was just the man to befriend such a one. The man who whipped the boy was properly punished." These are only a few incidents in the life of Dr. Griffin, but they show that he had the manhood and the sterling qualities of the early pioneers. He was a brave man. His sympathies were easily aroused and he had the courage to protect the weak against the strong. He was an honest man, he was honorable to his fellow men, he went about healing the sick, comforting the afflicted, doing good. His life was well spent and at the age of 84, he is dead. The day is past and gone, The evening shades appear, O, may we all, remember well, The night of death draws near. The soul, of origin divine, God's glorious image, freed from clay, In heaven's eternal sphere shall shine, A star of day. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Dr. Griffin married Susan B. No last name available. "Infant son", died 17 Sep 1840, Fremont cemetery. Catharine Griffin, died 22 Feb 1844, aged 5 days, Fremont cemetery. Mary A. Griffin, died 12 July 1846, aged __y. 4 months and 25 days, Fremont cemetery. Arel Griffin, died 03 Apr 1847, aged 5 weeks, Fremont Cemetery. Julia (Griffin) Pew, died 03 Jul 1886, aged 27 years, 8 months and 1 day, was the 2nd wife of Luther Pew whose 1st wife was Flora Elizabeth (Jagger) Pew, who died 06 Nov 1875 aged 23 years, 7 months and 12 days. Julia and Luther are buried at Jordan cemetery, "Cemeteries of Steuben Co., Ind., 1990" by Audree Sieble Lewis, Vol. I, pages 775, 776, 777; Vol. II, page 1442. Submitted by Mona Hilden-Beckwith e-mail: hilbeck123@att.net