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Robert Lee Griffin

Male, #11453, (18 January 1817 - 30 March 1895)

Birth*18 Jan 1817 Robert was born at Wayne Co., North Carolina, on 18 Jan 1817. 
Employment* Robert's occupation: farmer. 
Marriage*23 Nov 1843 He married Mary Ann Wise at Pike Co., Georgia, on 23 Nov 1843. 
Death*30 Mar 1895 He died at Clay Co., Alabama, on 30 Mar 1895. 
Burial* His body was interred at Old Lineville City Cemetery, Lineville, Clay Co., Alabama.1 
Biography* In an entry for a grandson, James O. Griffin on p. 253 of Vol 2 of the 1927 edition of the History of Alabama and Her People published by the American Historical Society, Inc., Robert Griffin "in middle life" moved from Pike Co, GA to Lineville, AL "where he engaged in farming and merchandising until his death." 

Family

Mary Ann Wise b. 5 Apr 1825, d. 26 Jan 1905
Marriage*23 Nov 1843 He married Mary Ann Wise at Pike Co., Georgia, on 23 Nov 1843. 
Child

Last Edited 5 Jul 2004

Citations

  1. Clay County Alabama Historical Society, Cemeteries of Clay County, Alabama, La Grange, GA: Family Tree, 1987.
    p 224.

William Henry Griffin

Male, #11454, (20 October 1847 - 21 February 1924)

FatherRobert Lee Griffin b. 18 Jan 1817, d. 30 Mar 1895
MotherMary Ann Wise b. 5 Apr 1825, d. 26 Jan 1905
William Henry Griffin|b. 20 Oct 1847\nd. 21 Feb 1924|p716.htm#i11454|Robert Lee Griffin|b. 18 Jan 1817\nd. 30 Mar 1895|p716.htm#i11453|Mary Ann Wise|b. 5 Apr 1825\nd. 26 Jan 1905|p716.htm#i11455|||||||||||||

Birth*20 Oct 1847 William was born at Lafayette, Chambers Co., Alabama, on 20 Oct 1847. 
 He was the son of Robert Lee Griffin and Mary Ann Wise. 
Census*1850 William was in the in 1850 census at Chambers Co., Alabama. 
Census20 Aug 1860 He was listed as a resident in the census report at Lafayette P.O., Chambers Co., Alabama, on 20 Aug 1860. 
Civil War*between 1864 and 1865 He served in the War Between the States between 1864 and 1865
(Billie served as a private in Company D, 3rd Alabama State Troops.).1 
Marriage*24 Oct 1867 He married Clarissa Eugenia Culpepper at Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, on 24 Oct 1867. 
Photographed*circa 1870 He and Clarissa Eugenia Culpepper were photographed circa 1870 at Good Hope (near Lineville), Clay Co., Alabama.2
Wm. H. & Clarissa (Culpepper) Griffin with daughter Dora
Photographed*say 1890 He was photographed say 1890 at Lineville, Clay Co., Alabama.3
William Henry Griffin
Death*21 Feb 1924 He died at Olive Branch, Clay Co., Alabama, on 21 Feb 1924. 
Burial*23 Feb 1924 His body was interred on 23 Feb 1924 at Old Lineville City Cemetery, Lineville, Clay Co., Alabama.4 
Biography* Census: 1870 Coppermine P.O., Clay Co., AL. \p. 236 (Wm. H. Griffin 22 AL $100 real estate)\ Census: 1880 Lineville, Clay Co., AL. \p. 3 #20 (W. H. Griffin 32 AL NC GA)\ Census: 1900 Clay Co., AL. \(William Griffin Oct 1847 AL)\
      According to an entry for his son, James O. Griffin, on p. 253 of Vol. 2 of the 1927 edition of the History of Alabama and Her People published by the American Historical Society, Inc., William Henry Griffin grew up in Chambers Co., AL and then moved to Clay Co., AL where he farmed in Lineville until 1920 and then moved to another farm near Ashland, AL. "He was a democrat, held office of the Justice of the Peace for many years, and at the time of his death was a member of the Clay County Board of Education. He belonged to the Missionary Baptist Church and the Knights of Pythais...." Mrs. J. W. (Lena Whatley) DeVaughn wrote 4 Dec 1978: Granddaddy Griffin was a man of medium height with brown eyes and hair. He was secretary at his church for 50 years or more. Also, he served as Justice of the Peace for at least 50 years. Was Chairman of the Board of Education for Clay County for 35 years. He was a very active democrat. He was a carpenter and a farmer. He grew all varieties of fruit and shared it with friends. Also, he served in the Civil War.
      Mrs. DeVaughn continued in a 2 Jan 1979 letter: Grandpa Griffin as far back as I can remember at church never sat on a bench at church. He always sat on the edge of the pulpit, leaned back against the wall of the church. The church was one large room. The men sat on one side of the pulpit on benches but he didn't.... The women sat on the other side of the pulpit. I can just see in my mind Grandpa sitting there.
      William Henry Griffin and Clarissa Culpepper began recording family records in a Bible. The Bible was published in 1870 by the National Publishing Company, Ziegler & McCurdy, Jones Brothers & Co., M. A. Parker & Co. In 1966, the Bible was in the possession of James M. Griffin and Ruth V. Griffin of Memphis Tennessee. The following is from Peter A. Brannon, Director of the State of Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery, AL: William Henry Griffin... was living in Clay County in 1907-1908, and he certified to the tax collector there that he served as a private in Company D, 3rd Alabama State Troops; that he enlisted, 27 September, at Selma and was paroled 11 April 1865 at Selma. He further certified that he was born, 20 October 1847, in Chambers County, LaFayette, Alabama. His post office in 1907 was Lineville.
      A grandson, James M. Griffin, wrote that he was about 12 years old when his grandfather died: The last I remember of him before his death was a time when I was there and he was chopping stove wood. He was a farmer, carpenter, Justice of Peace, member of the school board, politician, a life long democrat, and at one time had some kind of a mine.
      According to the Certificate of Death, File No. 9869, W. H. Griffin died 21 Feb 1924 at 9:00 p.m. of Lobar Pneumonia. The doctor had been treating the pneumonia since 16 Feb. The following obituary is from an unknown source: W. H. Griffin, Prominent Citizen of the County Dead W. H. Griffin, Chairman of the County Board of Education, died at his home in the Olive Branch community between Ashland and Lineville Thursday night. He was one of the county's most highly esteemed citizens, his usefulness being recognized, in affairs of church and state. He was 76 years of age and was a veteran of the war between the states. In 1867 Mr. Griffin was married to Miss Eugenia Culpepper who still survives him. To them were born a large family of children, nine of whom are now living. They're Mrs. W. T. Dean, of Ashland; Mr. J. O. Griffin, of Eclectic; R. L. Griffin, of Montevallo; Mrs. Ike Reeves, of Lineville; Bert Griffin, of Birmingham; G. W. Griffin of Washington, D, C; Mrs. Robert Whatley and Misses Lela and Maude Griffin of Lineville. Funeral services were held at Lineville Baptist church Saturday morning and a very large congregation attended. Interment was in the Lineville cemetery. In Memory of W. H. Griffin The Death Angel has again visited Camp Pettus, this time claiming as his victim our beloved Lieutenant, W. H. Griffin. In the still hours of the night he came and stole his breath away and our comrade was left a lifeless lump of clay, but we feel proud to know he was found on guard and at his post of duty, both as a citizen and soldier, watching and waiting for the roll call. We mourn his departure, but are comforted with the thought that he has a better place on the other side with those that have gone on before. Sleep on dear comrade and we will try to live so as to be like you when our names are called to be at our post, and, like ex-President Wilson, to say "Ready." To his wife and children: you have the sympathy of Camp Pettus and we commend you to the loving care of Him who cares for His own. Trust in Him and lean on His promises for He promises to be a father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow. Farewell brother comrade till we meet you in the sweet by and by. Turner Wright, Secretary, Camp Pettus.
      Mrs. Charles (Margaret Whatley) Lee wrote in a 5 Mar 1979 letter that "the old [Lineville City Cemetery] is across from the old high school at Lineville... west of town." 

Family

Clarissa Eugenia Culpepper b. 13 Apr 1848, d. 29 Nov 1947
Marriage*24 Oct 1867 He married Clarissa Eugenia Culpepper at Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, on 24 Oct 1867. 
Children

Last Edited 19 Mar 2009

Citations

  1. State of Alabama Department of Archives and History Montgomery, AL.
  2. Ellaree Dean Speer records, Ellaree Dean Speer to Lew Griffin, 1977-1994.
  3. Joe Inzer Griffin, Irondale, AL.
  4. Clay County Alabama Historical Society, Cemeteries of Clay County, Alabama, La Grange, GA: Family Tree, 1987.
    p 217 and obituary.

Mary Ann Wise

Female, #11455, (5 April 1825 - 26 January 1905)

Birth*5 Apr 1825 Mary was born at Oglethorpe Co., Georgia, on 5 Apr 1825. 
Marriage*23 Nov 1843 She married Robert Lee Griffin at Pike Co., Georgia, on 23 Nov 1843. 
Married Name23 Nov 1843  As of 23 Nov 1843, her married name was Griffin. 
Death*26 Jan 1905 She died at Clay Co., Alabama, on 26 Jan 1905. 
Burial* Her body was interred at Old Lineville City Cemetery, Lineville, Clay Co., Alabama.1 
Biography* Mrs. Ellaree Dean Speer wrote in a September 1991 letter: Mamma [Eldora Griffin] went to Lineville to school and stayed with her Grandparents, Robert and Mary Ann Wise Griffin, and she really loved her Grandma Mary Ann & said she had the best disposition & smooth temper & her husband thought she was perfect, said she was a wonderful cook - if her biscuits were too hard, he softened them with butter, if they were too soft, he hardened them with butter. 

Family

Robert Lee Griffin b. 18 Jan 1817, d. 30 Mar 1895
Marriage*23 Nov 1843 She married Robert Lee Griffin at Pike Co., Georgia, on 23 Nov 1843. 
Child

Last Edited 5 Jul 2004

Citations

  1. Clay County Alabama Historical Society, Cemeteries of Clay County, Alabama, La Grange, GA: Family Tree, 1987.
    p 224.

Clarissa Eugenia Culpepper

Female, #11456, (13 April 1848 - 29 November 1947)

FatherRev. Lewis Peek Culpepper b. 25 Aug 1816, d. 4 Jun 1915
MotherSarah Ann Culpepper b. 21 Nov 1817, d. 29 Mar 1858
Clarissa Eugenia Culpepper|b. 13 Apr 1848\nd. 29 Nov 1947|p716.htm#i11456|Rev. Lewis Peek Culpepper|b. 25 Aug 1816\nd. 4 Jun 1915|p2005.htm#i32077|Sarah Ann Culpepper|b. 21 Nov 1817\nd. 29 Mar 1858|p2016.htm#i32247|John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL|b. 1 Oct 1772\nd. 13 May 1855|p1973.htm#i31566|Nancy Gillespie|b. circa 1778\nd. 25 Jul 1848|p1974.htm#i31584|Joseph R. Culpepper|b. circa 1795\nd. 17 Dec 1876|p1973.htm#i31567|Silvia Geiger|b. 4 May 1800\nd. 29 Apr 1866|p2016.htm#i32241|

Birth*13 Apr 1848 Clarissa was born at Zebulon, Pike Co., Georgia, on 13 Apr 1848. 
 She was the daughter of Rev. Lewis Peek Culpepper and Sarah Ann Culpepper. 
(household member) 1850 Census1 Jun 1850 Clarissa listed as a household member living with Rev. Lewis Peek Culpepper on the 1850 Census on 1 Jun 1850 at Pike Co., Georgia.1 
Census19 Sep 1860 She was listed as a resident in the census report at Wesobulga, Randolph Co., Alabama, on 19 Sep 1860. 
Marriage*24 Oct 1867 She married William Henry Griffin at Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, on 24 Oct 1867. 
Married Name24 Oct 1867  As of 24 Oct 1867, her married name was Griffin. 
Photographed*circa 1870 She and William Henry Griffin were photographed circa 1870 at Good Hope (near Lineville), Clay Co., Alabama.2
Wm. H. & Clarissa (Culpepper) Griffin with daughter Dora
Census1870 She was listed as a resident in the census report at Coppermine P.O., Clay Co., Alabama, in 1870. 
Photographed*say 1890 She was photographed say 1890 at Lineville, Clay Co., Alabama.3 
Death*29 Nov 1947 She died at Ashland, Clay Co., Alabama, on 29 Nov 1947. 
Burial* Her body was interred at Old Lineville City Cemetery, Lineville, Clay Co., Alabama.4 
Biography* Census: 1880 Lineville, Clay Co., AL. \Beat 13 p. 3 #20 (C.E. 30 GA SC SC in hh of W. H. Griffin)\ Census: 1900 Clay Co., AL. \(Eugenia Apr 1848 GA in hh of William Griffin)\
      Clarissa Eugenia Culpepper was the youngest of her mother Sarah's five children. Her father recorded her birth in his Bible: "Clarrisa E. Culpepper was born April the 13th 1848." Clarasy, as she was called, was eight when her mother died, ten when her father remarried, and eleven when her family moved to Randolph Co. AL.
      In 1867 she married William Henry Griffin of Mellow Valley, AL at her home in Pinckneyville, Clay Co., AL (the marriage is recorded in Tallapoosa Co.) The couple settled in Lineville, Clay Co. AL to raise a family of ten children (one other died as an infant.) An early photograph shows a young Clarissa and her husband with their first child, Dora. Clarissa had blue eyes.
      A granddaughter, Mrs. J. W. (Lena Whatley) DeVaughn wrote, 4 Dec 1978: With reference to Grandmother Griffin, I consider her to be an outstanding individual. She was faithful to her church and always ready to help those in need. She set a wonderful example for her children and grandchildren. I am so thankful for the things she taught me when I stayed with them [the William Henry Griffin's].... Grandmother Griffin... became deaf in ... later years. She was tall and slender and very energetic. Older age did not affect her posture. She had beautiful blue eyes.
      Another granddaughter, Mrs. J. A. (Mildred Whatley) Kerley, wrote in a 23 Nov 1978 letter that she remembered her grandmother as "a very gracious person in her home. She was a great cook and I so enjoyed her good food."
      Mrs. Charles (Margaret Whatley) Lee, a granddaughter, wrote in a 14 Oct 1978 letter: I always remember her [Clarissa] as being very hard of hearing and she only had one eye. She got one of her eyes [her right eye based on later photographs] put out making lye soap when she was in her 20's. She always had rheumatism bad, which is called arthritis now. Aunt Maude and Aunt Lelia never married and they lived with her and did most all the work. She was a very proud person, very stern, and had little patience for wrong doing of any kind. She believed in being on the up & up in a big way. She used to come to my mother's house and spend the day quite often. She would come in the buggy. She always brought candy or something. She always had good cakes, etc. cooked when we visited her and would fix our favorite dishes.
      A great-granddaughter, Mrs. G. W. (Elaine DeVaughn) Mendenhall wrote in an 8 Feb 1979 letter that Clarissa "had quite a reputation as a stern disciplinarian." Jokes were told about her telling her son Olin that he was "not too old to whip" when he was himself a grandfather several times over.
      Emyl Griffin recounted his memories of his grandmother in a 1 Oct 1994 letter:
      MEMORIES OF MY GRAND MOTHER
      CLARISSA EUGENIA GRIFFIN
      BY: EMYL GRIFFIN After my fathers death in 1922 when I was four years of age my mother carried my brother and me to visit our grand mother Griffin at regular intervals perhaps every month or so. One of my memories [is] that she would always have Aunt Maude and Aunt Lelia get us something to eat such as cake, cookies, pie & etc. This was a practice until I finished high school. She was handicapped by eye sight from my first memory and later her general health declined. She was seventy years of age when I was born so I did not know her when she was completely active physically. I do remember her mind was clear until the very last years of her life. Another memory of her is the reunions held yearly as I recall beginning in the early years [of] my life until she was some 90 years of age. As I remember it came to the point that crowds somewhat bothered her so the reunions were discontinued and family members visited her at different times. The four living boys lived elsewhere out of Clay County, therefore, these reunions provided us the opportunity of seeing uncles, aunts and cousins that we would not see otherwise. Another memory of grandmother (and Aunt Maude) was the 1927 touring Ford car which Uncle Will drove down in from Washington, D. C. He and his brother-in-law had a Ford agency in D. C. He taught Aunt Maude to drive the car and she continued to drive it for some 50 years. I remember it was the talk of the community in the 1950's when most model T Fords had gone to the junk yard. A Dr. Owens, their family doctor in prior years, then living in Birmingham, bought the car, had it refurbished and carried it to antique car shows for a number of years. This Memory shows a loving heart in my grand mother. When I graduated from high school in 1936 she gave me money to buy a suit of clothes. I well remember this was the first suit of clothes that I had. With our family, especially during depression years, financial resources were limited, as was true with most families. She must have been aware of this, and, too, I always thought maybe she thought of me in a special way since my father died when I was so young. Anyway I remember my mother carried me to her uncle's store and we bought a double breasted solid grey suit. This suit lasted me through my college days and until I found employment.
      Clarissa preferred the "old ways" to modern conveniences such as electric lights. The following article about her 99th birthday is from an unknown source, possibly the Birmingham News-Age-Herald: MRS. W. H. GRIFFIN HONORED ON 99th BIRTHDAY Relatives and friends gathered at the home of Mrs. W. H. Griffin on Ashland, Route 1, on Sunday, April 13th, to honor her on the occasion of her 99th birthday. Mrs. Griffin was born in Pike County, Georgia in 1848; moved with her parents to Alabama at the age of 11, later removing to Clay County where she has resided for the past 80 years. She was married in October, 1867. Her husband died in 1924. Mrs. Griffin is the mother of eleven children, seven of whom are now living, they are: Mrs. W. T. Dean of Ashland, Dr. J. O. Griffin of Memphis, Tenn; Mrs. Ike Reeves of Lineville; J. A. Griffin of Sylacauga; G. W. Griffin of Lineville; Mrs. Robert Whatley of Lineville and Miss Maude Griffin, who resides with her mother, all of whom were present. She also has 31 grandchildren and 33 great great grandchildren. Although Mrs. Griffin's eyesight, is dimmed and her hearing is somewhat impaired, she is seemingly in the best of health and does her part in the work about the house. Her father, the late Rev. L. P. Culpepper, was 98 years of age at the time of his death. At the noon hour a fine luncheon was served. Pictures were made during the afternoon. The honoree received many useful gifts. Other relatives and friends present were Mr. W. T. Dean of Ashland, Mrs. E. A. Speer of Birmingham, E. G. Dean of Ashland, Otho Dean of Oak Hill, Miss Annie Maude Dean, of Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. Flora Griffin and C. M. Mason of Sylacauga; Mrs. J. W. Griffin, Mrs. J. T. Griffin and son, Emil [Emyl], Robert Whatley, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Vaughn and daughters, Misses Eloise and Elaine, Mrs. Mattie Reeves, W. L. Bell, De Hurst and Arnold Clark of Lineville; Mr. and Mrs. Charnell Middlecoff of Memphis, Tenn; Rev. J. W. Dean and son, Aubrey, of Cragford; Mrs. and Mrs. Billy Walker of Anniston, and Bill Street of Ashland
      Clarissa Culpepper Griffin remained active to within a few months of her 100th birthday, but died before reaching that goal after breaking her hip in a fall in 1947. The following obituary is from p. 14B of the Birmingham News-Age-Herald for Sunday, 30 Nov 1947: Woman Nearly 100 Succumbs; Son-In-Law Dies Soon After Ashland, Ala. Dec. [Nov.] 29--Mrs. W. H. Griffin who would have celebrated her 100th birthday next April 13 and her son-in-law, W. T. Dean, 77, died here Saturday morning after short illnesses. Joint funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Sunday at Ashland First Baptist Church. Mrs. Griffin will be buried in Lineville, while Mr. Dean will be buried here, Blair directing. Mrs. Griffin died about 3 a. m. Saturday, her son-in-law several hours later. Mrs. Griffin was honored at a luncheon and received many gifts as she celebrated her 99th birthday last April. Although Mrs. Griffin['s] eyesight became dimmed and her hearing somewhat impaired, she was active and assisted in work about the home in advanced years. BORN IN PIKE COUNTY, Georgia, Mrs. Griffin moved to Alabama with her family at the age of 11. She had lived in Clay County the last 80 years. Mr. Griffin, whom she married in 1867, died in 1924. Mrs. Griffin was the mother of 11 children, seven of whom survive her. There are three sons, Dr. J. O. Griffin, Memphis; G. W. Griffin, Lineville and J. A. Griffin, Sylacauga, and four daughters, Mrs. W. T. Dean and Miss Maude Griffin, Ashland and Mrs. Ike Reeves and Mrs. Robert Whatley, Lineville. Also surviving are 34 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Mr. Dean, a retired farmer, is survived by his widow; two daughters, Annie Maude Dean, Montgomery, and Mrs. E. A. Spear, Birmingham; two sons, Otho Dean, of Montgomery and Oak Hill, and Edward Dean, Butler, Pa. and four grandchildren.
      A granddaughter, Mrs. Charles (Margaret Whatley) Lee wrote 21 Jan 1990 about some pictures of Good Hope from the Lineville paper of 20 Jan 1990: You see the church? Well that's the church Grandmother and Granddaddy Griffin attended and all their children.... They have remodeled the church in recent years. They added the little steeple, the little porch & also put siding on the outside. Grandmother's children went to school there too. That headstone hasn't always been there. That church must have been there be before 1884. Every one of Grandmother's children was born there in Good Hope. You see the house in the lower right corner? Well I'm familiar with that house, you go on around that house to go to Grandmother's old home place. I doubt if it is still standing there. It was almost impossible to get to their home in a car the road was so rocky & rough.... I think the road going to the left in the picture goes to Pyriton.
      In a 12 Apr 1990 letter Margaret Lee added: Mildred [(Whatley) Kerley] drove down by grandmother Griffin's home place between Lineville & Ashland. The house is very old. No one lives in it, looks like it's about ready to fall in. 

Family

William Henry Griffin b. 20 Oct 1847, d. 21 Feb 1924
Marriage*24 Oct 1867 She married William Henry Griffin at Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, on 24 Oct 1867. 
Children

Last Edited 19 Mar 2009

Citations

  1. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 125, District 68, Pike Co., GA
    Lewis P. Culpepper, 33, M, Mill Wright, $400, SC
    Sarah A. Culpepper, 32, F, SC
    Joseph R. Culpepper, 9, M, GA
    Silviah A. Culpepper, 8, F, GA
    Sarah E. Culpepper, 6, F, GA
    Martha J. Culpepper, 4, F, GA
    Clarissy E. Culpepper, 2, F, GA
    Robert A. Vaughn, 6, M, GA
    Nancy Nabors, 76, F, SC.
  2. Ellaree Dean Speer records, Ellaree Dean Speer to Lew Griffin, 1977-1994.
  3. Joe Inzer Griffin, Irondale, AL.
  4. Clay County Alabama Historical Society, Cemeteries of Clay County, Alabama, La Grange, GA: Family Tree, 1987.
    p 217.