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Up Dated 25 September 2008
Lomer was born 22 April 1772, in Granby, Hartford, Connecticut, and married first 15 April 1797, in Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut, Charity MOORE the daughter of William MOORE. She was born 9 August 1766 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, and died about 1830 in Harrisville, Medina, Ohio.
He married second 13 January 1831, in Harrisville, Medina, Ohio, Charity BLODGETT, the widow of Burnham LYMAN, and daughter of Caleb BLODGETT and Charity WALBRIDGE. She was born 9 July 1790 i Randolph, Orange, Vermont, and died before 1844 in Ohio. She married 9 September 1807 in Chester, Hampden, Massachusetts, Burnham LYMAN and had the folling children by him:
Lucinda b: 9 Nov 1808; in Batavia, Genesee, New York.
Electa b: 17 Jun 1811; in Batavia, Genesee, New York. Charity b: 15 Jun 1814; in Kingsville, Ashtabula, Ohio. md: 20 Sep 1832; in , Medina, Ohio Thomas Dennis GRIFFIN. (her step brother) See their page Below. Andrew B. b: 28 Aug 1815; in Kingsville, Ashtabula, Ohio. George B. b: 28 Aug 1818; in Kingsville, Ashtabula, Ohio. Ann S. b: 15 Dec 1827; in Kingsville, Ashtabula, Ohio. d: 4 May 1849;
He married third 7 November 1844 in Kingsville, Ashtabula, Ohio, Jemima TAFT. She was born about 1805 and died after 1787.
Chedrolomer died 16 September 1787 in Lodi, Medina, Ohio.
The Last Moments of Lomer Griffin, the Oldest Living Inhabitant in the Union -Still Lives, but Unconscious.
In view of the momentarily expected demise of Lomer Griffin, the oldest man in American, who has been lying at the point of death at his home in Lodi, in this county, for the last few weeks, we will present our readers with a brief biographical sketch of this remarkable man, who has outlived five generations and attained an age which does not fall to one in millions. The precise age of the subject of this notice has long been a point of dispute, and probably has never been quite satisfactory to all of his friends and more intimate acquaintances. His age at present has been variously placed from 106 to 119 years. After many researches into the old man's history, we are convinced that the former is probably the correct one, and certainly it is a most astonishing and wonderful age, and almost seems beyond the human possibilities. We assume the former to be the correct age of Mr. Griffin, from a copy of his birth record in our possession, taken from the court archives in Litchfield, Litchfield county, Conn., received from Mr. Loomis, city clerk of the latter city. In it is recorded that Chedor Lomer Griffin, son of ---- Griffin and Abigal Griffin, was born in Granby, Litchfield county, Conn., on April 22d, 1772. Some investigations were lately instituted in the pension department at Washington, to which Mr. Griffin lately had made application for a government pension under a late act of Congress, giving a pension to the soldiers of the war of 1812, in which Mr. Griffin served for several months. These investigations put his age at 106 years. The information has been furnished us by Mr. W. F. Ford, one of the heads of Bureaux in the pension office, who has given the case particular attention. Many others, intimate friends and acquaintances of Mr. Griffin, and the old people in Lodi, his home for nearly fifty years, rank his age higher, some placing it at 120 years and under.
As already stated, Chedor Lomer Griffin was born in Granby, at present one of the wards of Litchfield, Con., on April 22d, 1772. No events out of the common run ever occurred in his life. He remained at home, doing the work which naturally falls to the lot of a farming body. He married for the first time about 1796, and of that union had six children, some of whom are still alive and live in and near Lodi, and have become great-grandparents. During the war of 1812 Lomer Griffin entered a Connecticut militia company, commanded by Capt. Moses Hayden, and served until Sept. 16th, when the company dissolved, the war having closed.
We have not been able to learn the exact date when he moved into Ohio; it must have been sometime between 1825 and 1828. He settled in Harrisville township, about 1 1/2 miles from Lodi, where he lived up to within ten years, when he moved into the latter town, where he has resided ever since. In 1830, shortly after being settled in this county, he lost his first wife, who lies buried in the cemetery at Lodi.
About 40 years ago he lost his right arm by a falling branch from a tree he was felling in the woods. He has jogged along without this most useful member of the body for these long years, doing the usual amount of hard farm work, and it is said of him by his neighbors that he has been one of the hardest working men in his neighborhood.
He has been married twice since he lost his first wife, his third wife being about 50 years his junior, living with him now, and she has been the tenderest of nurses during this, as is thought his last sickness. This about completes the events in his wonderful long career of life.
Some three weeks ago the worthy old man suffered a sever fall, with which he began to fail, and he has now been living at death's door for nearly a week, and all chances of his recovery seem gone. He is unconscious, blind, and takes no nourishment. There is nothing but a slow, heavy breath to indicate signs of life. He was still alive on Monday Evening.
DEAD.
A note from our Lodi correspondent received this morning states that Lomer Griffin died last night (Monday) at y o'clock. The funeral will take place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. A general invitation is extended to the public to attend the services.
Note: He was buried in Wooster Street Cemetary, Lodi, Ohio.
1
Event: Milit-Beg 10 JUL 1812 Litchfield Co., CT
Event: Nickname Loamer, Lomer
Event: Biography 01 MAY 1875
The oldest man in the Union, in all probability, is Mr. Lomer Griffin, of Lodi Medina County, Ohio, whose portrait, with that of his third son , Willis Griffin, we give on this page. Reports differ a little as to Mr. Griffin's precise age. His present wife, his third, whom he married about twenty-five years ago, allots him a hundred and three years; but other evidences and testimony make him out to be about a hundred and fifteen. He was born on the 22d of April, 1759, or thereabout at Granby, Litchfield County, Connecticut. In spite of his advanced age, he is still hale and intelligent, and well remembers the localities and scene of his early days. He recalls distinctly the departure of his brothers, one younger than himself, for the Revolutionary army, to take part in the great contest for independence and liberty, while he remained behind to assist in taking care of the homestead.
Mr. Griffin has always taken an active interest in public affairs. Strange to say, he appears to have missed voting for General Washington, his first vote, so far as can be gathered from his own conversation, having been cast for John Adams. Since then he has acted with the Whig and Republican parties. There is nothing peculiar in his personal habits. He has lived plainly, in farmer style; has never used tobacco in any shape; but for about a century was accustomed to take his bitters with -treat regularity, until the "crusaders" induced him to quit the practice. It is said, however, that the old gentleman's chief reason for "swearing off" was the high price of whisky, and that he intends to resume whenever it comes down to the old rates. About forty years ago he lost his right arm by the fall of a tree, but still works in his garden, swings an axe quite easily with his left hand, and still shaves himself. His wit is still quite keen. He rather dislikes to be bothered by inquiries about his age, and when a newspaper interviewer questioned him too closely a short time since about Noah's ark and the Tower of Babel. The old gentleman quite testily resented the impertinence, and advise the interviewer to "go West and kill grasshoppers." But after a little persuasion and coaxing he became quite communicative, and talked without reserve of his early days and experiences, of the times when only a narrow strip of territory along our eastern sea-board was inhabited, and the greater of part of our country was still in the hands of the dusky and savage aborigines. What wonderful changes have taken place all over the world in politics, science, and the industrial arts since he was old enough to take an interest in the progress of public affairs! He has lived through changes which we know only from books, and with his own eyes has witnessed the growth of America from its colonial state to its present commanding position among the great nations of the world. An effort will be made to have Mr. Griffin present at the Centennial celebration next year. There are no present indications that he will "stop living" for a long time yet.
(Footnote: Loamer was actually born on 22 April, 1772. His name was Chedorloamer Griffin. Loamer or Lomer was a nickname.)
2
Residence: 1818 In Spring, Moved to, Harrisville Twp, Medina Co., OH
Note:
The Medina County Gazette, a series ran in 1946, on The History of Homer
Township and Harrisville Township by Jessie Jason Rufner, states "In the
Spring of 1818 came several more families. Among them were Lomer
Griffen, John Jason, ....
3
Note:
Arrangements made to take Lomer Griffin, of Lodi, age claimed to the 120
years, to the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, to remain there as
an age curiosity.
4
Census:
14 AUG 1850 Harrisville Twp., Medina Co., OH
R Estate Where
Name Age Sex Race Occupation Value Born
Lomer GRIFFIN 69 M ---- farmer $ 1,500 Connecticut
Jmima " 45 F ---- ---------- -------- New York
Julius " 17 M ---- ---------- -------- Ohio
Lucius " 15 M ---- ---------- -------- Ohio
Amanda " 4 F ---- ---------- -------- Ohio
William " 1 M ---- ---------- -------- Ohio
Isadore " 1 F ---- ---------- -------- Ohio
Abnor A. Teft 20 M ---- Tailor -------- Michigan
5
..................another personage, perhaps the widest known the world over, is Lomer Griffin. A few years ago, the world knew him as one of the most remarkable men of the day. He attained an age that no man with well-authenticated record of birth and age had ever reached before. afew years ago, at the time of Mr. Griffin's death, the writer prepared the following obituary, which was published in the leading journals of America and England:
"the last mortal remains of Lomar Griffin, the man whose life covers a century, and who has exceeded the Scriptural allotment of years given to man by nearly two scores, have been borne to their final resting-place. There are but few mortals to whom such a rich harvest of years are given. He was contemporary with times and events that have gone into history generations ago. When he first saw the light of day, this Republic, whose existence now covers a period of over a hundred years, was unborn, and was yet but the dream of a few brave men. The grand straggle for freedom, on this side of the Atlantic had not yet commenced. He was yet a boy when those burning lines that gave birth and liberty to a great nation were indited and proclaimed to mankind, and, as a boy, he shared in the triumphs and glory of the Revolutionary host. The vast domain west the Alleghenies was yet one unbroken wilderness, and the numberless treasures hidden within them were undreamed of by man.
The old man is dead now, and he rests well in his grave. His last breath passed from him on Monday evening, and he died peacefully. Life ebbed slowly away. It was an easy, natural death. He clung to life as long as there was spark of vitality left in him, and it was some days after parts of his body had turned cold that he fell into the never-ending slumber. "Just seven weeks ago to-day, Mr. Griffin walked out in his back yard on a rainy morning to split some kindling wood, and do a few chores, as was his wont. He was found prostrate on the ground shortly after, having met with a fall. He was carried in the house and placed in a bed, from which he never rose again. He lingered along bravely, but, within a week or so, it became apparent that he could live no longer. The machinery of life was worn out, and, on Monday evening, the news passed out the Lomer Griffin, the oldest man in America, was gone forever. The funeral took place in the Congregational Church in Lodi on thursday afternoon, September 19, 1878, and was conducted by the Rev. William Moody, of La Fayette, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Whitman, of Chatham. After the services, the corpse was placed in a convenient spot in the open air, to give the large crowd of mourners who had gathered, a parting look of the remains. after the viewing of the body, it was conveyed to the village cemetery, followed by a large procession. The following gentlemen, all advanced in years, old settlers of this county, acted as pallbearers: Albert Harris, Dyer Strong, John Holmes, B.F. Criswell, Albert Brainard and Henry Obers. The body was placed by the side of his first wife, who died in 1830, and lies buried in these grounds.
"The precise age of the deceased, which has long been under dispute, has,
at last, been conclusively settled, and he was, beyond a doubt, now, one
hundred and six years, six months and twenty-tive days, on the day of his
death. Mr. Griffin was born in Granby (formerly Simsbury Litchfield Co., Conn. We have been furnished with a copy of the family record of the Griffin family, as recorded in the Archives at Granby, and we give that part of the record pertaining to the birth of Lomer Griffin:
'Chedorloamer Griffin, the son of Nathaniel Griffin, by Abigail, his wife. was born in Simsbury the 22nd of April, A.D. 1772.'
"The reason that this record of the birth was not sooner discovered and all disputes about his age at once settled, was that he had been given such a singular name, 'Chedorloamer,' which was abbreviated and corrupted into the short 'Loamer' and investigators were led to error in the difference of these
names.
We have been furnished some very interesting information in regard to the ancestry of this remarkable man, and find that the family is widespread, and, in many instances, some of its descendants have held high social rank. John Griffin came from England about the year 1640, and first settled with a party of emigrants in Dorchester, Conn., and afterward moved to Windsor, in the same state. He stopped some time in Windsor; but, hearing that there was plenty of pine timber over the mountains west, he started on an excursion in that direction, passing through the gorge at Loupville, and settled down on the north bank of Tunxus River, in a region which the Indians called Massawa, where he established a manufactory of pitch, tar and turpentine. The Indians burnt up his works, and, to settle with him, gave him a deed of the land in that region. He gave away several tracts of land to settlers from Windsor, but reserved for himself a tract three miles square' which was for many years known as 'Griffin's Lordship.' In year 1647, John Griffin married Anna Bancroft, and by her had six daughters and four sons. The names of the sons were John, Thomas, Ephraim and Nathaniel. The last, Nathaniel, was the youngest, and was born May 31, 1693. This Nathaniel had a son Nathaniel, who was the father of Chedorloamer, the subject of this sketch. This finishes the genealogical tale of the first ancestors of Lomer Griffin from the time they left England. "as already stated, Lomer was born in that part of the village of Simsbury which is now known as Granby, Conn., on 22d of April, 1772.
No surprising events marked his boyhood days. His father was a sort of farmer, and the boy's life passed along as farmers' boys lives usually do. The first event in the life of Lomer Griffin, of which we have any information and record, is his marriage to Miss Charity Moore, which occurred April 15, 1797, from which union there were seven children, namely, Parley. Willis, Ralzimond, Andrew, Thomas, Lydia and Harlow, of whom three, settled in Harrisonville Township, are still alive.
Another event which has lately been brought prominently before the public, as, in some respects, proving his age, was his enlistment in the Connecticut militia company commanded by one Capt. Moses Heyden, in August, 1813, and serving until October of the same year. On the strength of this enlistment, he, in the year 185O, made an application to the Government for bounty land, which stands in the Pension Office at Washington, and was recently brought to light by another application made by Mr. Griffin last spring for the same service in the militia company, under an act of Congress passed last winter, giving a pension to soldiers of 1812. Mr. Griffin's application was at once made special, on account of the extreme age of the applicant, and his claim was granted. He has been drawing a pension since last spring, and was the oldest pensioner on the list in the Government offices.
In the beginning of the year 1818, early in the month of January, Lomer Griffin, who had by that time become the proud and happy father of five children, collected his family treasures about him, loaded a large box on bob-sled runners, drawn by a pair of oxen, and moved out West. During the latter part of March, he arrived in Harrisonville Township, and at once went to work and put up rude log cabin on a part of the Harris farm, two miles north of Lodi, which is now known as the Hoag farm. The rest of this man's life is given in the history of the township in which he lived to the day of his death, taking a lively interest in its affairs. During the last five years of his life, he became a celebrity, talked about the world over as the American Centenarian."
1820 Census Harrisville, Medina, Ohio Page 93
Lomer GRIFFIN
Under 10; 10 to 16; 16 to 18; 16 to 26; 26 to 45; 45 & Up
Males: 2 1 1` 3 -------- 1
Females: 1 -------- xxxxxxxx -------- -------- 1
1820 Census Painesville, Geauga, Ohio Page 120
Burnham LYMAN
Under 10; 10 to 16; 16 to 18; 16 to 26; 26 to 45; 45 & Up
Males: 1 -------- -------- -------- 1 -------
Females: 2 1 xxxxxxxx -------- -------- -------
1830 Census Harrisville, Medina, Ohio Page 199
Lomi GRIFFIN
Under 5; 5 to 10; 10 to 15; 15; to 20; 20 to 30; 50 to 60
Males: ------- ------- -------- 1 1 1
Females: ------- ------- -------- 1 -------- 1
Note: form the Age in the census for the female 50 TO 60
would be Charity MOORE
1840 Census Kingsville, Ashtabula, Ohio Page 216
Lomar GRIFFIN
Under 5; 5 to 10; 10 to 15; 15 to 20; 40 to 50; 60 to 70
Males: ------- 2 -------- 1 -------- 1
Females: ------- ------- 1 1 1 --------
Note: form the Age in the census for the female 40 TO 50
would be Charity BLODGETT
1850 Census Harrisville Twp., Medina, Ohio Page 172
R Estate Where
Name Age Sex Race Occupation Value Born
Lomer GRIFFIN 69 M ---- farmer $ 1,500 Connecticut
Jmima " 45 F ---- ---------- -------- New York
Julius " 17 M ---- Farmer -------- Ohio
Lucius " 15 M ---- Laborer -------- Ohio
Amanda " 4 F ---- ---------- -------- Ohio
William " 1 M ---- ---------- -------- Ohio
Isadore " 1 F ---- ---------- -------- Ohio
Abnor A. Teft 20 M ---- Tailor -------- Michigan
1860 Harrisvile Twp., Medina, Ohio Page 71
R Estate Personal Where
Name Age Sex Race Occupation Value Value Born
Gomer GRIFFIN 76 M ---- Farmer $ 2,500 $ 0,429 Ohio
Jemima " 54 F ---- ---------- -------- -------- New York
Wm " 11 M ---- ---------- -------- -------- Ohio
1870 Harrisville Twp., Medina, Ohio Page 6
R Estate Personal Where
Name Age Sex Race Occupatopn Value Value Born
Lomer GRIFFIN 98 M W Farmer $ 1,500 $ 0,200 Connecticut
Jemina " 64 F W Keeping House -------- -------- New York
1880 Census Lodi, Medina, Ohio ED 188 Page 6 Line 5
Marr | Place of Birth |
Name Race Sex Age Relation Stat Occupation |Self Father Mother|
GRIFFIN Jemima W F 75 -------- Wd Keeps House N. Y. N. Y. Penn.
TAFT Avery W M 56 Son M Laborer N. Y. N. Y. N. Y.
MELCHING August W M 31 -------- M Shoemaker Han. Han. Han.
" Malina W F 25 Wife M Keeps House Ohio Ohio Ohio
" Edith W F 1 Daughter ---- ----------- Ohio Ohio Ohio
" Lillie W F 10M Daughter ---- ----------- Ohio Ohio Ohio
Note: Han = Hanover
Name: Lomer GRIFFIN Company: Shepard's REGIMENT, CONECTICUT STATE TROPS. Rank - Induction: Private Rank - Discharge: Private Roll Box: 86 Roll Exct: 602
CHILDREN of Chedrolomer GRIFFIN and Charity MOORE:
+ 1. PARLEY F. b: 9 Feb 1799; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: Bef 1830; , , .
Hannah _______
+ 2. WILLIS b: 8 Mar 1801; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: 19 Jan 1826; Harisville, Medina, Ohio
Julia M CASE
md: 3 Jun 1844; Harrisville, Medina, Ohio.
Jane E. HUBBELL
+ 3. RALZIMOND b: 22 Feb 1803; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: 1825; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
Sarah JASON
d: 10 May 1889; Lodi, Medina, Ohio.
4. ANDREW CRATYON b: 10 Feb 1805; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
d: Died Young ; , , Ohio
+ 5. THOMAS DENNIS b: 13 Dec 1907; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: 20 Sep 1832; , Medina, Ohio.
Charity LYMAN.
6. LYDIA MILLIE b: Nov 1810; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
+ 7. HARLOW b: 10 Oct 1813; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: 25 Mar 1835; , Medina, Ohio.
Marietta UTTER.
d: Nov 1840; , Shelby, Illinois
CHILDREN of Chedrolomer GRIFFIN and Charity Blodgeth LYMANT:
+ 8. JEWELL JULIUS b: 13 Feb 1832; Harrisville, Medina, Ohio.
md: 16 Apr 1854; , , .
Mary Desire ELLIS.
+ 9. LUCIUS BLODGETT b: 13 Mar 1835; Harrisville, Medina. Ohio.
md: Abt 1856; , Medina, Ohio
Harriett A. ELLIS.
d: 29 Jul 1919; , , Ohio.
CHILDREN of Chedrolomer GRIFFIN and Jemima TAFT:
10. AMANDA b: 1846; Harrisville, Medina, Ohio. 11. WILLIAM b: 1849; Harrisville, Medina. Ohio. 12. ISADORE b: 1849; Harrisville, Medina, Ohio.Back to Nathaniel GRIFFIN Jr's Family Page.
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