| Joseph Franklin Griffith was born January 20, 1839 in Hopkins County,
Kentucky, son of Daniel and Eliza Griffith. The entire family of
11 moved to Comanche County, Texas in 1858. Joseph Franklin, called
Frank or J. F., married Rosena Guess in Missouri about 1856. As they
were both quite young when they married, they remained with Frank’s family
for some time. He served the Confederate cause from July, 1863, until
the close of the war in Co. G 30th Texas Cavalry. Even though he
enlisted in Comanche, census records show that the family lived in Arkansas
from 1867-1876. In 1877, Frank and his growing family moved back
to Texas, to Coleman County. The family lived in the eastern part
of the county, raising cattle and hogs. Rosena apparently died in
Coleman County sometime after 1878, burial place unknown; Frank moved back
to Comanche County in 1886, where he married Arizona Hanson in 1887.
She was the daughter of Andrew Jackson and Martha Hanson. Arizona
was born April 12, 1870 in what is now Mills County. Frank Griffith
died July 24, 1898, Arizona died November 24, 1938. Both are buried
at Downing Cemetery, Comanche, Texas.
Children of Frank and Rosena were: William I. “Silvester,” born ca 1856;
Sarah, born April, 1860, married W. J. Shockley December 28, 1882 in Coleman
County; Joseph Henry, born May 30, 1861 (see Joe Griffith Family); Laura
C., born May, 1862, married Sylvester McIntosh ca 1887, and were living
in Wise County in 1900; John, born ca 1863; Mary May, born February, 1865,
married James Elliott ca 1890, and were living in Brown County in 1900;
Andy (March 17, 1866-January 19, 1949) married Polly Ann Coggin (December
31, 1965-November 12, 1943), November 1, 1885 in Coleman County, both buried
at Crosby Cemetery in Mason County; Nancy L. (July 8, 1869-June 8, 1893)
married Levi Cappis, November 28, 1885 in Coleman County, buried at Waldrip
Cemetery, McCulloch County; Melvina, born 1872, also married a Coggin,
died in New Mexico; Julia Ann Juline, born February 11, 1876, married William
M. Lobstein (see Lobstein family) May 1, 1892; Theodocia, (May 25, 1878
in Coleman County-December 29, 1949) married John M. Maupin (November 5,
1871-August 2,1934), in 1892, living in Coleman County in 1900 with children,
Benjamin J., Isom R., and Sarah E. Both Theodocia and John are buried
at Ackers Cemetery in Stephens County.
Of the seven children born to Frank and Arizona, only two lived in Coleman
County. Della Griffith married Oscar Terry, Sr. of Comanche and they
moved to Coleman County in 1931 (see Oscar Hill Terry). Her brother,
Albert Jack Griffith (March 19, 1895.March 7, 1973, buried at Coleman)
married Pearl Jane Dodson (March 29, 1898-May 6, 1966, buried at Coleman),
July 30, 1916 in Brownwood. Pearl was the daughter of John W. and
Carrie (Lobstein) Dodson. Their children, all but two born in Coleman
County, are: Carrie Imagene (June 26, 1917), married Thomas William “Buck”
Keeney, son of Doc Keeney (see Isaac Keeney); Luther Howard (June 2, 1919),
married Hattie Keeney, daughter of Doc Keeney (see Isaac Keeney); Mary
Louise (August 18, 1922), married J. D. Keeney, son of Doc Keeney (see
Isaac Keeney); Lillie Mae (September 23, 1924), married first Henry Francis
Atwater, second Earl Cartwright; Curtis Jackson (March 9, 1926), married
Iva Jean ?; Frank Leon (January 4, 1928), married Linnie Mae ?; John Elgie
(August 18, 1929), married Lou Ann Jackson; Billie Joe “Pete” (June 18,
1931-November 25, 1973, buried at Odessa), married Mary Ann Cajanck; James
Kenneth (January 24, 1933), married three times; Rita Mae (January 25,
1935), married three times; Reba Fay (twin-January 25, 1935), married first
Billy Wood, second Robert Neely; Jackie Wayne (December 17, 1936), married
three times; Lloyd Dale (March 7, 1939), never married; and Lois Pearl
(March 7, 1941- disappeared at Sweetwater, August, 1966), married Don Funderbird.
Some of these children and their descendants still live in Coleman County.
(Image to be added)
Joseph Franklin Griffith
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