Obituary of Robert Griffin, Pawnee County, KSGenWeb Digital Library

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THE TILLER AND TOILER, 22 February 1929

Obituary of ROBERT GRIFFIN

Death of Robert Griffin
Pioneer Was Born in London, Eng.,
Was a New York Newsboy, and
Participated in the Battle of
Bull Run

Robert Griffin, aged 86 years, 10 months and 2 days, died at this home in Larned, 809 North Johnson street, last Saturday, as a result of old age. Mr. Griffin suffered several strokes of paralysis.
Mr. Griffin was born in London, England, April 14, 1842, and when he was about ten years old came to the United States with his parents. The lived in New York City for a number of years, where Mr. Griffin’s father was a tailor, and Mr. Griffin’s was apprenticed to a tailor shop in New York City, and when a boy was a newsboy on the streets of New York. When the Civil War began he enlisted in the 36th New York Infantry. He was mobbed at Baltimore when his regiment went through that city. He was at the battle of Bull Run, and served in the Army of the Potomac, and was wounded at the battle of Malvern Hill. In this battle he received a ball in the calf of his leg, which he carried to his grave. He was invalided home after he was wounded and never returned to the service. His service covered a period of two years, during which time he was in some of the most important engagements of the war. His father enlisted at the same time as his son, and on the war records, his name appeared as Robert Griffin, Jr., and that of his father as Robert Griffin.
After the war he came to Illinois, and settled near Mattoon on a farm. He came to Kansas in 1878, and settled on a farm near Macksville in Stafford county. He engaged in farming for a year or two, and used to ride back and forth to Larned when he was employed in the Bennyworth sugar factory west of Larned. He came to Larned to live in 1879, where he obtained the contract for carrying the mail until the railroad came and the route was discontinued. His service as mail carrier covered a period of several years. His first wife, Sarah Baker, whom he married in Illinois, died in 1885. All his five children were born in Illinois except one, and three children survive. He was marred to Angie Washburn in 1886 in Pratt county. There were no children by his second marriage. Clyde Washburn, of Elkhart, is a stepson of Mr. Griffin. “He was the same to me as a father,” Mr. Washburn said when here this week. “My own father could not have treated me with more consideration and kindness..” Mr. Griffin is survived by his widow and three children. They are: Mrs. Amanda Benton, Mrs. Delia Cadmen and Charles Arthur Griffin, all of St. John. Mrs. Griffin is also survived by a brother, Edward, whose whereabouts are unknown.
For many years Mr. Griffin was in the feed and grain business in Larned, his business location being at the southeast corner of Sixth and Broadway.
Mr. Griffin was a member of no organizations except the B. F. Larned Post, of which he was one of the original members. Mr. Griffin was an exceptional story teller and his tales of the early days were always eagerly listened to. He was a sterling husband, father and neighbor and a worthy citizen in all the phrase implies. His religion was upright living and justice to all men. He was a constructive pioneer, who contributed much to the upbuilding of the country and the winning of the wilderness. When he came here Pratt, Macksville and Belpre did not exist. His monument is a life well lived, and in his death the community suffers an important loss.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Beckwith Mortuary, conducted by Rev. G. H. Cosper of the Methodist church, and burial was in the Larned cemetery. Many of his old comrades of the G. A. R. and members of the American Legion attended the funeral services.
Among those from out of town who were here to attend the funeral services were Clyde Washburn, of Elkhart. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Benton, Mrs. Delia Cadman and family, Arthur Griffin and family, all of St. John, and many friends from the St. John neighborhood.

Transcribed and Contributed by Richard Schwartzkopf

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