Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/685

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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a farmer in calling, married Earsheba Allen, and had one son, Nathaniel, father of John T. Griffin.

Nathaniel (iriftin was hcjrn in 1806. in Nansemond county, and died in 1887. His first business venture was that of manufac- turer of wa<^ons and carriag'es and other products which a general blacksmith made in that time; finally abandoning this calling to give his entire time to the cultivation of land. He was know^n throughout the vicin- ity for the charity and kindness that per- vaded his whole life and were his most dis- tinguishing attributes, his piety and good- ness ruling his every act. A member of the Baptist church, he did not confine his well- doing to the regular channels of church work, but tirelessly sought opportunities for the relief and help of his fellows. His own life was a model of self-abnegation, and from his deeds of benevolence great good came, in example as in actual personal bene- fit to him in wdiose behalf aid was extended. Nathaniel Griffin married \''irginia Ann Guinn, and had children : \"irginia ; John Thomas, of w-hom further; James Henry, died in infancy.

John Thomas Griffin, son of Nathaniel and Virginia Ann Griffin, was born in Suf- folk, Virginia, February 5, 1838. His father moved to Churchland, Norfolk county, when John T. Griffin was a lad of six years. After obtaining a thorough preparatory education, he entered Columbian College, at Wash- ington, D. C. whence he was graduated in the class of 1859. receiving the degree Bachelor of Arts, and in i860 the degree of Alaster of Arts. Of the class that w^as graduated in. that year from Columbian College, there are besides yir. Griffin but two survivors (1914). His academic courses completed, ^fr. Griffin was placed in charge of the college preparatory school, holding this position until 1861, ha\ing during these three years continued studies in engineer- ing. In the second year of the civil war Mr. Griffin offered his services to the en- gineering corps of the Confederate States army, and was assigned to duty under Gen- eral Randolph. In the service he gained the rank of captain, although his appointment was never confirmed by commission, and he was an intimate friend of many of the lead- ers of the Southern cause. He was with General Lee at the final surrender.

Returning to Churchland at the close of

the war he became a teacher in the Norfolk county schools, at the same time filling the office of county surveyor in Nansemond county. He began farming on a rented tract and later purchased a farm of seventy- five acres. To this he has constantly added until liis possessions are now more than one thousand acres, and such immense propor- tions have the operations thereon conducted assumed that he incorporated the business as the John T. Griffin Truck Corporation, of which he is president, his son-in-law, Judge Charles \\\ Coleman, secretary and treas- urer. A ready market awaits the products raised on the projjerty of this company, and under Mr. (Irifiin's able direction the busi- ness has brought excellent returns. Mr. Griffin in 1870 was elected to the presidency of the Western Branch Draw-bridge Com- pany. His entrance into the financial world was made in 1885, when upon the failure of the Bain Brothers Bank, he was appointed one of the trustees to close up the aflfairs of the defunct institution. He was afterward elected to the presidency of tlie Merchants" and Farmers' Bank, of Portsmouth, and continues at the head of this solid institu- tion to the present time. As a financier he is known to be conservative and exacting, guarding the welfare of the depositors and customers of his bank with fidelity and zeal, enforcing the highest degree of strictness and regularitv in all of its transactions. The maintenance of the worthily high reputa- tion of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank is the end for which he strives, and to such good efifect that to it has been given, if pos- sible, additional firmness and stability. In 1907 he was appointed as receiver of the Peoples Bank of Portsmouth. For many years he held the office of justice of the peace, and in the organization of the Baptist church is a deacon. His record in Sunday school work reflects great credit upon his constancy, forty years being the time he has passed in the capacity of superintendent in the school of the church of wdiich he is a member.

Mr. Griffin is a gentleman of the old school, pleasing in manner, proper in speech, and courteous in bearing. In a social gather- ing his congeniality and affability are as natural as his calm dignity and confident bearing when presiding over a meeting of a board of directors, and in conversation his peer in agreeableness and interest is not to