Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/750

 656 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI sketch has a secure place in the confidence and esteem of the community. He is also in- terested with his brother in the conducting of a prosperous mercantile business at Lead- wood, in the same county. He is vigorous and alert as a business man, liberal and progressive as a citizen, is a Republican in his political proclivities, and is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. On the 27th of June, 1909, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. ]Miller to Miss Minnie ]Iagidson, of St. Louis, who presides most graciously over their pleasant home, which is further brightened by the presence of their little daughter, Mildred. Dr. Edward Griffin. Among the prom- inent and valued citizens of Plat River and Saint Francois county stands Edward Grif- fin, who is particularly well entitled to a place in this volume devoted to representa- tive men and women of southeastern Missouri as a talented member of his profession — the dental — and as president of that flourishing monetary institution, the Miners & Merchants Bank. By no means one to be content with the theory of "letting well enough alone." he is a constant • student of his profession and has well succeeded in keeping in touch with the stead.y march of progress which is the re- sult of dental investigation. The bank of which he is the head holds a position of prominence among the monetary institutions which emphasize and exert marked influence in conserving the financial stability and com- mercial prestige of the city. Dr. Edward Griffin is still to be numbered among the younger generation, his birth hav- ing occurred in Sainte Genevieve countv, March 20, 1879. The father, George Griffin, was born in Knoxville. Tennessee, in 1841, and was a soldier of the Civil war, serving for the whole four years in the army of General Thomas and participating in many notable engagements, among them being the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Shiloh, and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. After the war he came to the state of Missouri and located in the west- ern part of Union township, in Sainte Gen- evieve county, where he has ever since been engaged in farming, although his fine ability has by no means been solely devoted to the great basic industry. He was judge of the Sainte Genevieve county court for two years and has the distinction of having been the first Republican judge ever elected in that county. A man of fine citizenship, he is widely known and everywhere honored. He was married in 1866 to Sarah J. Haines, of Knoxville. Tennessee, and to their union eight sons and daughters were born. Dr. Grif- fin being the seventh in order of birth. The early education of Edward Griffin was obtained in the public schools of Sainte Gen- evieve county and he attended for one term the old Baptist College at Farmington. He went thence to the Dental College at St. Louis and there prepared for the work he had elected to follow. In the year 1901 he was graduated from the Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri, taking the degree of D. M. D., and soon thereafter he located at Flat River and there hung out his profes- sional shingle, and in the intervening decade has Iniilt up a large and enthusiastic prac- tice as one of the leading dentists of the sec- tion. In 1906 he became director of the Miners & Merchants Bank and two years later he received the compliment of being elected to the presidency of that financial in- stitution. Dr. Griffin previously was secre- tary and treasurer of the Flat River lee & Cold Storage Company, but upon becoming identified with the bank he has severed that association to devote his attention to his other concerns. Although by no means an office seeker. Dr. Griffin is active in local politics, giving hand and heart to the man and meas- ures of the Republican party, to which he has given his suffrage since his earliest voting days. At the time of the recent Prohibition campaign he acted as president of the Amendment County Committee of Flat River. On the 7th day of April, 1903, Dr. Griffin formed a happy life companionship by his union with Marietta Sebastian, of Flat River, daughter of R. Sebastian, a blacksmith and wagon maker of this place. Their home is one of the popular gathering places of the community and they are particularly val- uable factors in society. They are members of the Christian church, the subject being a deacon of the same. Dr. Griffin is a member of the ancient and august Masonic order and is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. ISA.c N. Daffron. a widely known and highly esteemed citizen and public official is Isaac N. Daffron, county collector of Wayne county, Missouri, and a blacksmith by trade. With the expiration of his present and third term in the responsible position mentioned he