Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

abcth Griffin, his cousin, daughter of
Ephraim » iriffin.
i \ i Seth
EN CYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Griffin, son of Lieutenant
Nathaniel Griffin, was born in 1717. in
Granby, and served in the Eighteenth
Regiment Militia under Colonel Phillip-,
who defended the coast in [780. This
regiment served in New York from Au-
gust 25 to September 25, 1776. Seth Griffin
married, September 10, [772, Mary
Beower, a woman of French descent.
Seth Griffin died March 26, 1817, and his
widow, April 6, [833.
(VI) Aristarchus Griffin, son of Seth
Griffin, was born in 17S7, and died March
i;v [866. He followed the occupation of
fanner, and was a man of strong religious
instinct ;
a Christian who believed in prac-
tical religion. When there was no church
in his section of Granby, he opened his
house to Methodist preaching. The outgrowth
of those meetings was the present
Copper Hill Methodist Church of East
Granby. Mr. Griffin married Jael, daughter
of Chauncey Gillett, and they were
the parents of ten children.
(VII) Gilbert Griffin, son of Aristar-
chus Griffin, was born in 1816 or 1819, in
what was known as the Hungary district
of Granby, and died in January, 185 1. He
was a farmer in Granby. He married
Harriet Yicts, daughter of Captain Daniel
Yicts. of Granby, a descendant of one of
the oldest families.
GRIFFIN, Gilbert Benjamin,
( VI
Agriculturist, Tobacco Grower.
II) Gilbert Benjamin Griffin, son of
iriffin, was
Gilbert and Harriet (Viets) »
born July 13, 1850, in Granby. His boyhood
and youth were spent in a rural en-
vironment, and he early became accustomed
to farm life, thus building up a
strong physique. During the intervals
between the growing Of the crops and
busy farm seasons, he attended the dis-
trict schools and for a short tune was a
indent at the \\ ilbrahain Academy. He
was only a youth of about twenty years
when he started out for himself. Pos-
sessed of much determination and will,
he soon was achieving success, and in
1870, in company with Oliver llolcomb,
his brother-in-law, he purchased a Farm of
three hundred acres in Granby. In addi-
tion to the general crops much tobacco
was raised. Subsequently Mr. Griffin took
over the north half of the farm, and for
about ten years continued to cultivate
this section. In 1880 he purchased his
present farm, consisting of one hundred
and fifty acres. During the past thirty
eight years he has cultivated this vast
area with tobacco as the chief and largest
crop. Through his skillful management
and busine-s acumen he has won a place
of pr< eminence among the growers of Con-
necticut tobacco, and he is held in high
esteem among his fellow-citizen-. Mr.
Griffin finds needed relaxation and pleas-
ure in hunting and fishing. He has ever
been a lover of these sports, and during
the latter years has maintained a winter
home in Florida, and there has had splen-
did opportunities to indulge in these pas-
times.
Mr. Griffin married Margaret Fleming,
daughter of Charles Fleming, of Glasgow,
Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin are the
parents of four children: 1. Fred B.,
whose sketch follows. _'. Charles Flem-
ing, whose -ketch follow-. 3. Gertrude,
wife of Clifford Briggs, resides in Buffalo,
Xew York. 4. Emma, wife of Ray Case,
of Granby, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs.
Griffin attend the Congregational church
of Granby. and to its charities they do-
nate liberally. Among the most progressive
and up-to-date farmers of his com-