Joseph Henry (Joe) Griffith (see Joseph Franklin Griffith) was born
May 30, 1861, in Arkansas and came to Comanche County, Texas sometime prior
to marrying Mary Jane Wilson, October 4, 1883, born in Comanche County,
April 6, 1863. They had three sons, John Todd born July 20, 1884,
Jess V., May 6, 1887, and David William (Willie), November 3, 1893.
In 1903, Joe and Mary Jane along with their sons moved to Grosvenor.
In 1906, Joe, Mary Jane and Willie moved to Coleman County and settled
on a 320 acre farm 9 miles northeast of Santa Anna. About 1920, Joe
and Mary Jane moved into Santa Anna. He ran a wagon yard lot there,
then served as deputy sheriff under Dick Pauley. Uncle Joe, as he
was known, while performing his duty as deputy, was shot in the abdomen
and passed away February 17, 1924. Mary Jane continued living in
Santa Anna until her death June 21, 1951.
Joe and Mary Jane’s eldest son, John married Timy Boles while living
near Grosvenor. They soon moved to Coleman County near his parents
and farmed for a number of years. They had a girl, Ima, born March
11, 1914, and a boy, Joe, November 12, 1929. John drove a school
bus for a few years to Buffalo School. Upon retiring he moved to
Bangs and passed away October 2, 1966. Timy made her home with Ima in Santa
Anna where Timy passed away April 9, 1978. She and John are both
buried in Santa Anna, along with his parents. While living in the
Longview community, Ima married Roy Wood September 30, 1933. They
had two boys, Kenneth and Billy Rohn. They farmed near Santa Anna
a number of years. Ima is now married to Alton Brewer; they own a
place near where Bee Branch school once stood. John and Timy’s son
Joe, joined the Air Force upon graduating from high school and served 25
years. He married Jean Copeland from Burkett. They had two
boys, Lee and Randy Joe. Since retiring, they have lived in San Angelo.
Jess, married Eva Pearl Straughn, September 24, 1905, while living near
Grosvenor, but soon moved to Coleman County. They had a baby boy
that died at three weeks, another boy that died at four years, both buried
at Fairview Cemetery near Grosvenor. October 12, 1907, they had a
girl, Adrian, and May 18, 1915, they had a boy, Donnie Durl. Jess held
some jobs in town but seemed to favor farm life. About 1949, they
left the farm again and moved into Santa Anna, and ran a service station
before retiring about 1950. Eva passed away there February 6, 1966.
Jess continued living in Santa Anna until his death July 30, 1974, both
buried in Coleman. In 1923, Adrian married W.C. (Bill) Price, a Coleman
County man. They farmed in the county until his death in 1971.
Adrian still owns their farm in the Shields community, but makes her home
in Coleman. They had a boy, James, and a girl, Wanda. James served
in the U.S. Navy during WW II. He married a girl from Minnesota.
They had four girls. Sharon and Sheila were born in Coleman County,
Pennie and Paula were born in Minnesota. James now makes his home
in San Angelo. Wanda married Billy Campbell of Santa Anna.
They had one boy, Donnie. They farmed in the county a few years but
are living in Grand Prairie now. Durl Griffith married in October,
1934, Asa Pearl Brooks (see George W. Brooks), who was reared in Coleman.
They had one girl, Shirley (born 1935), then moved to Fort Worth.
They had a boy, Gary (born 1947), who was killed in an automobile accident
at the age of 15. Durl now resides at Lake Granbury.
On November 19, 1911, Willie married Mary Etta Mitchell, who was born
in Mills County February 23, 1891, sister of Archie Mitchell (see William
Michael Keeney). May 12, 1913, they had a boy, Odie, and July 15,
1919, they had a girl, Mary Lou. Willie and Etta farmed in the county
for about 33 years. During WW II, they moved to Orange and both were
employed in a cannery for awhile, later moved to Blake, near Rising Star,
and Willie worked in a gas refinery, moved back to Coleman to retire in
1955, where they still live. They maintained a home together for
over 71 years, but are presently making their home at Leisure Lodge Nursing
Home. Odie married Estherlene “Jackie” Lancaster December 4, 1932.
They farmed in the county until 1975. Due to Odie’s ill health, they
sold their farm and moved into Coleman where they now reside. Odie
has been employed with an oil company since 1953 (see Lancaster Family).
They had one daughter, Linda Joyce, born February 11, 1947, married a Coleman
boy, Wesley Dority, and have two children, Doyle, September 23, 1965 at
Stamford, and Linda Denise, November 19, 1974 at Brownwood. Linda and Wesley
are employed with General Telephone, presently living at Frederick, Oklahoma.
Mary Lou Griffith married Tom Medcalf June 24, 1934. They had W.
L., May 19, 1935; J. W., August 15, 1936; Mary Eloise, January 26, 1939.
In 1944, they moved to Kermit to work in the west Texas oilfields.
Mary Lou died there September 6, 1958, buried in Coleman.
(Images to be added)
Mary Jane and Joseph Henry Griffith
Jess, Eva, Etta, Mary Jane, Willie, Timy, and John Griffith
Odie, Willie, Etta, and Jackie Griffith - 1982 Odie and Jackie ‘s
50th Anniversary, Will and Etta ‘s 71st.
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