JOHN W. GRIFFIN.

JOHN W. GRIFFIN.
John W. Griffin, who passed away on the 13th of April, 1918, was for many years a well known hotel man of the west. He was born in Ireland, October 23, 1849, a son of Thomas and Johanna (Murphy) Griffin, who spent their entire lives on the Emerald isle. In their family were fourteen children, two sons and twelve daughters. John W. Griffin was educated largely in the school of experience, for he had to go to work when still quite young, and from that time forward was dependent upon his own resources. His father died during the early childhood of the son, who was only thirteen years of age when he left home and crossed the Atlantic to the United States, landing in New York city on the 14th of April, 1862. He there remained until the 6th of July, 1862, during which time he was employed in various ways. He then removed to Pennsylvania, where he was employed, utilizing every advantageous business offer, and on the 20th of November, 1867, he arrived in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at that time a part of Dakota territory. He was connected with the Union Pacific Railroad Company as night foreman of the car shops until the fall of 1871. He then removed to Sidney, Nebraska, and took charge of the car shops, remaining there with the company for two years. He next engaged in the cattle and hotel business under the firm name of Griffin & Harkson. This partnership continued for seven years and was then dissolved. In 1881 Mr. Griffin sold out and returned to Cheyenne, where he purchased the Metropolitan Hotel, which he then opened. In the meantime, before coming to Cheyenne, he owned and conducted the Metropolitan and Grand Central, Hotels in Sidney, Nebraska, but eventually disposed of both of those. He continued to conduct the Metropolitan Hotel in Cheyenne from the 5th of May, i881, until the 5th of July, 1910, or for a period of almost thirty years, at the end of which time- he turned the hotel over to his son, who conducted it until a short time ago. In 1910, John W. Griffin retired from active business and spent the remainder of his life in the enjoyment of a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved, occupying an attractive and comfortable residence at No. 300 East Twenty-second street. On the 18th of November, 1869, in Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Griffin was united in marriage to Miss Margaret McInerney. Their children were: Thomas Francis, who died in Cheyenne; John Albert, proprietor of the Hotel Normandie; Frederick Edward, who died at the age of four years; Mary Ellen, who passed away when twenty-one years of age; James, who died at the age of eight months; Joseph H.; Genevieve Maria; Edna C., who died at the age of fourteen years; and Dr. W. C. Griffin, who has spent six years in the government service as veterinary surgeon and is now a lieutenant in the United States army. The family are Catholics in religious belief and Mr. Griffin was connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He served for eighteen years as a member of the city council of Cheyenne and he was ever greatly interested in the development of the city and its substantial upbuilding. Mr. Griffin was truly a self-made man and one who deserved much credit for what he accomplished. He worked his way steadily upward as the years went by, and although he started out with limited educational opportunities and with no capital, he advanced step by step and became widely recognized as one of the prosperous residents and respected citizens of Cheyenne.

John W. Griffin, who passed away on the 13th of April, 1918, was for many years a well known hotel man of the west. He was born in Ireland, October 23, 1849, a son of Thomas and Johanna (Murphy) Griffin, who spent their entire lives on the Emerald isle. In their family were fourteen children, two sons and twelve daughters.
John W. Griffin was educated largely in the school of experience, for he had to go to work when still quite young, and from that time forward was dependent upon his own resources. His father died during the early childhood of the son, who was only thirteen years of age when he left home and crossed the Atlantic to the United States, landing in New York city on the 14th of April, 1862. He there remained until the 6th of July, 1862, during which time he was employed in various ways. He then removed to Pennsylvania, where he was employed, utilizing every advantageous business offer, and on the 20th of November, 1867, he arrived in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at that time a part of Dakota territory. He was connected with the Union Pacific Railroad Company as night foreman of the car shops until the fall of 1871. He then removed to Sidney, Nebraska, and took charge of the car shops, remaining there with the company for two years. He next engaged in the cattle and hotel business under the firm name of Griffin & Harkson. This partnership continued for seven years and was then dissolved. In 1881 Mr. Griffin sold out and returned to Cheyenne, where he purchased the Metropolitan Hotel, which he then opened. In the meantime, before coming to Cheyenne, he owned and conducted the Metropolitan and Grand Central, Hotels in Sidney, Nebraska, but eventually disposed of both of those. He continued to conduct the Metropolitan Hotel in Cheyenne from the 5th of May, i881, until the 5th of July, 1910, or for a period of almost thirty years, at the end of which time- he turned the hotel over to his son, who conducted it until a short time ago. In 1910, John W. Griffin retired from active business and spent the remainder of his life in the enjoyment of a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved, occupying an attractive and comfortable residence at No. 300 East Twenty-second street.
On the 18th of November, 1869, in Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Griffin was united in marriage to Miss Margaret McInerney. Their children were: Thomas Francis, who died in Cheyenne; John Albert, proprietor of the Hotel Normandie; Frederick Edward, who died at the age of four years; Mary Ellen, who passed away when twenty-one years of age; James, who died at the age of eight months; Joseph H.; Genevieve Maria; Edna C., who died at the age of fourteen years; and Dr. W. C. Griffin, who has spent six years in the government service as veterinary surgeon and is now a lieutenant in the United States army.
The family are Catholics in religious belief and Mr. Griffin was connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He served for eighteen years as a member of the city council of Cheyenne and he was ever greatly interested in the development of the city and its substantial upbuilding. Mr. Griffin was truly a self-made man and one who deserved much credit for what he accomplished. He worked his way steadily upward as the years went by, and although he started out with limited educational opportunities and with no capital, he advanced step by step and became widely recognized as one of the prosperous residents and respected citizens of Cheyenne.