JOHN GRIFFIN, now residing at Griffin's Corners, in Middletown, where he is well known and highly respected, was born eighty-six years ago in Fishkill, Dutchess County, N.Y., son of Ezekiel and Charlotte [White] Griffin, and grandson of William Griffin, who came from England and settled on Long Island. At the time of the breaking-out of the Revolutionary War the grandfather owned a large property; but, refusing to take up arms against his native country, his property was confiscated. After the war he removed to Westchester County, where he died, leaving four sons: William, Jr.; Ezekiel; Solomon; and John.

Ezekiel was born on Long Island, but removed to Fishkill Mountain. In 1833 he came to Middletown, Delaware County, and invested in a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, now belonging to the Benjamin Crosby estate. He married Charlotte White, daughter of John White, a prosperous farmer. This couple had these children- Eli, Murray G., Joseph, John, Matthew, David, Eliza, Pamelia, and Alice. The father was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and an adherent of the Whig party. He lived to be seventy-two years old, his wife dying when she was fifty-eight years of age.

John Griffin received his education in the district school of Fishkill; and after engaging in agricultural work for others for some twenty years, he at last purchased seventy-five acres of land in the town of Halcott, Greene County, where he lived for fifty years. His first wife was Hannah Miles; and they were blessed with nine children, as follows: Charlotte married Samuel Hassard, and went to Illinois. Daniel married Betsy Hosier, and resides in New York. Margaret is the wife of Levi Streeter, and lives in Minnesota. Charles lives in Michigan. Phebe Jane married William Griffin, of Halcott. Lewis married, and made his home in Michigan. Clarissa became the wife of J. Barnum. David married Harriet Cole. William is also married. The mother of these children dying, Mr. Griffin married in 1867, Martha Jane Munger, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth [ Carpenter] Munger. Samuel was the son of John Munger, a Revolutionary patriot, and was born in Dutchess County. He lived to be forty-four years old, his wife dying when thirty-four years of age, leaving six children; Susan, who married John Frey; Phebe C., who became the wife of G. B. Stone; Mary; James E., who lives in Nebraska; Henry J.; and Martha J. In 1874 Mr. Griffin and his wife removed to Griggin's Corners. Here at Eto Cottage, pleasantly situated about seventeen hundred feet above tide-water, three-fourths of a mile from the railway station, forty rods from post-office and churches, Mrs. Griffin accommodates summer boarders. Mr. Griffin has held many positions of trust, being appointed as Sheriff in Dutchess County, and is numbered in the ranks of the Republican party. In religion he is liberal in his views, advocating progress in thought as well as in action.

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