From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

page 827

John Griffith was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1813. He was reared a farmer and attained his majority in his native county. In 1839 he was married to Jemima Gossage, a native of the same county, born in 1812. In 1850, with a view to bettering their condition, they came to Indiana and located in DeKalb County, entering 160 acres of land in Franklin Township. Nine children were born to them, seven in Ohio and two in DeKalb County -- Susan is the wife of Jeremiah Kepler; Lewis; Nancy, wife of Hiram Oberlin; Leman, who enlisted in Company H, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga, and after spending some time in the hospital was offered his discharge but refused, and after a furlough of a few weeks returned to his regiment and served till the close of the war, although his death in 1866 was the result of his wound and disease contracted while in the service; Lydia is the wife of George H. Carpenter; Frank B.; Catherine died at the age of fifteen years; John B., and Sarah, who died in 1858. In 1857 Mr. Griffith became a partner of his brother Lewis, who was in trade in Hamilton, and continued there three years, when they traded their stock with Nelson Earl for 227 acres of land in this township. John Griffith bought his brother's interest and lived the remainder of his life on this farm, selling his property in DeKalb County to Mr. Haverstock. He was an active, pushing man, a good citizen and much respected. His death occurred in September, 1860. His wife survived him and was cared for by her son B. F. and his wife on the old homestead till her death, Dec. 22, 1884.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com