><^ 



SAMUEL GRIGGS, 



Samuel Grigo'S wat^ born at Heotor, Tompkins Co., N. V.^ Feb. 10, 1794. 

 His father, John Griggs, was of Welsh origin, a Revolutionary soldier, 

 taking part in the battle of Bunker Hill. In the retreat after that action 

 he carried Benjamin Chamberlain, a wounded comrade, three-quarters of a 

 mile to safety. This generous action injured his health so seriously that 

 he never after was a well man. By his first wife he had two children, Seth 

 and Anna. For his second wife he married Mrs. Thoaias, whose maiden 

 name was Mary Smith. She was born Dec. 13, 1756. Of this union were 

 born Samuel, Polly (Mrs. Razey Baker), Caleb, Abigail, and Elijah. Mrs. 

 Griggs survived her husband (who died about 1800, in Elkland, Pa.) many 

 years, marrying a Mr. Smith. She died Dec. 6, 182G, aged seventy years. 



Samuel Griggs was brought up by his brother-in-law, Samuel Cady, who 

 married Sally Thomas, from the age of nine. Mr. Cady resided in Troups- 

 burgh. In 1814, Mr. Griggs, accompanied by his brothers Caleb and 

 Elijah, went to Cincinnati, Ohio. Caleb was soon drafted as a soldier 

 against the English, and Samuel, under the rigid laws of Ohio, was ap- 

 prenticed to a baker who supplied the army with '^'hardtack." After two 

 years he returned to Troupsburgh, where he pur(;hased the farm— one 

 hundred acres — now owned by Philander Wilcox. lie married Amy 

 Church, Oct. 13, 1819. She was born in Hiilsdale, Columbia Co., N, Y., 

 Feb. 27, 1803. This union was blessed with twelve children : Sabrina 

 (deceased), born May 1, J 820,- Harriet (deceased), June 8, 1821 ; William 

 N., Feb. 8, 1823; Amy Caroline, Jan. 30, 1825; Samuel W., Feb. 20.1827: 

 Luther C. (deceased), Dec. 8, 1828; llhoda P., March 3, 1830; John E. 

 (deceased), Jan. 7, 1832; Wilson S., Dec. 7, 1833; Mary Jane, Nov. 16, 

 1835; Martha M., Dec. 19, 1837; and Emma Minerva (deceased), Aug 

 31, 1839. 



Mr. Griggs had very limited opportunities for education, being self-edu- 

 cated, pursuing his studies at night by the light of pine-knots that he 

 gathered in the day, and in this, as in other directions, showed -the force 

 of his character, qualifying himself, under these disadvantages, as a teacher, 

 and teaching several terms. 



From his marriage he employed himself in agriculture, clearing about 

 four hundred acres of its heavy timber. In 1836 he engaged in merchan- 

 dise at Troupsburgh Centre, and in company with his son, W. N., con- 

 tinued in trade until his death, which occurred Jan. 9, 1864. 



Mr. Griggs was a man of marked character, and would have been suc- 

 cessful in any avocation. He amassed a fine property, giving his children 

 the opportunity of commencing life in a different manner from the pri- 

 vations of his early life, when for many days the chief sustenance of the 

 family was "bran bread." Of large business capacity and thorough 

 honesty, he had the entire confidence of the community, and was en- 

 trusted with oftlcc from his first vote. He held at various periods every 

 office in his town ; was supervisor for six ycaro ; wu5 elected member of 

 Assembly in 1837, serving with honor to himself and satisfaction to his 

 district. 



Mr. and Mrs. Griggs joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1828, and 

 ^ never ceased their allegiance to that faith. Hand in hand for many years 

 they walked, giving their personal iufluence and pecuniary assistance un- 

 sparingly to the cause of religion, and much of the success of Methodism 

 in this locality is due to their eftbrts. 



From his first connection with the church until his death, Mr. Griggs 

 was steward or class-leader. Mr. Griggs was greatly interested in the 

 cause of education. He was the father of Troupsburgh Academy, to which 

 he contributed eighteen hundred dollars, and he had the satisfaction of 

 seeing his children well educated, his sons holding various positions of 

 honor and trust, and all, sons and daughters, consistent Christians. His 

 son, AVilliam N., is now (1879) the supervisor of the town, which ofiice he 

 has held two terms. 



Politically, Mr. Griggs was an active Democrat, believing the perpetuity 

 of the Republic depended on the carrying out of the principles of that 

 party, and that every deviation from its teachings brought danger to the 

 land. His sons are also true to their allegiance to the same principles. 



Luther Church, father of Mrs. Griggs, was of English descent, and born 

 in Barrington, Mass., in April, 1781. He removed to Madison Co., N. Y., 

 thence to Troupsburgh in 1816, where he died March 28, 1858. He mar- 

 ried Rhoda Darrin in 1802. She was born November, 1784, and died 

 Jan. 17, 1861. This union resulted in fourteen children, Mrs. Griggs and 

 her brothers David, Ira, Luther, and Sylvester now surviving. Mrs. 

 Griggs is, at the age of seventy -six, hale and hearty, carrying her years 

 lightly, and waiting patiently the call to meet her departed husband in the 

 "Better Land." 



