San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1600
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 1/23/2010
MRS. ELLEN GRIFFIN
By no means all the pioneer citizens and successful characters have been men, and to omit the part which the women played in the development and the civic progress of this western country would be indeed a serious oversight. Among such women was the late Mrs. Ellen Griffin, a pioneer of the county, who after her husband's death managed with admirable executive ability and sagacity the large ranch located about eleven miles east of Stockton on the Sonora Road. She passed to her reward on May 29, 1909, mourned by her family and a host of loving friends. She was born in County Kerry, Ireland, January 4, 1831, a daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Ford) Commins, both natives of Ireland. When she was twenty-one years old, in 1852, Ellen Commins took passage on a sailing vessel and after a long and tedious voyage of six weeks and three days she landed in New York City. There on the twelfth day of the following October, she was united in marriage with John Griffin, who was born in County Kerry, Ireland, April 29, 1829, and who had preceded his betrothed to America by only a few months. The happy couple remained in New York until early in 1856, and then once more considerations of their own material welfare separated them for a short time. In that year Mr. Griffin came out to California, and after having decided upon a suitable location in San Joaquin County, he sent for his wife. She came around by the Panama route, and from San Francisco arrived in San Joaquin County in the same year of 1856.
Mr. Griffin with keen foresight purchased in San Joaquin County 480 acres of land at the site of the present ranch, which has been the home of the Griffin family since 1856, but this tract was only the nucleus around which his diligence and fine business management built up, by subsequent purchase, a large estate of 1980 acres, some of which has been sold since his death; and the well cultivated ranch of which his daughter Anna F. Griffin is now the owner and manager still comprises 1430 acres. Mr. Griffin was a stanch Democrat in politics, and he and his wife were very public-spirited and favorable to anything pertaining to the upbuilding and welfare of their community. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were members of the Catholic Church as were also their two daughters, Anna F. and Nellie C. The latter passed away five months after her mother, October 14, 1909. Miss Anna F. Griffin, the only survivor of the pioneer couple, is classed with the progressive, enterprising and successful agriculturists of San Joaquin County.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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