The New York herald., 1878-09-23
ONE HONDRED AND SIX YEARS OLD.

DEATH OF LoMER GRIFFIN, THE OLDEST MAN
IN THE UNITED STATES.
Erom the Cleveland Herald, Sept col
LODI. Ohio. Sept Is, 1873.
To-day the last mortal remains OF Lomer Grinln,
tho man whose life covers century and who has
exceeded the scriptural allotment OF years given Ia
man by nearly Two score years, were bcrne to their
nna resting place. When he first light this Re.
public was only the dream OF a few brave Ma
poleon was yet obscure student at ST. Cyr and
Frederick tue Grcat was marshalIng the troops Of
Prussia.
Just seven weeks ago day Mr.. grimm walked out
In his back yard . rainy morning TO split some
ding and to do a few chores, his
won't lie was found lying PROSTATE on the ground
shortly after, having met with faL He
risd In the house and placed in bed, from which
never again arose. He fingered along bravsly, but
within u week or SO 1t became apparent that
no could live longer. The machinery oi
lilo was worn out, and ON Monday evening the
news passed out that Lomer Griffin, the oldest
In America, was gone forever. Tho funeral took
pls &c this afternoon the Congregational Church In
this town and conducted by the Rev. William
Moody OF Lafayette, Disciple minister, assisted by
the Rev. Mr.. Whiteman. of Chatham. Alter che scr
vices the corpse was placed convenient spot IN
the open air give the large crowd ol nournors wno
had gathered parting look AT tuo remains Alter
the viewing body it conveyed 10 the village
cemetery, followed by large procession The follow.
tug gentlemen, all advanced IN years ana OLD setter
OF tns cou " acted pail bearers: Albert Harria
Dyer Strong, John Holmes, B. f. Crisswel Albert
BrAinarn ana Honry ODerA The body was placed BY
tno siao his first wife, who died IN 1880, and lea
Inc precise age Of The deceased, which mas long
been under disputc has AZ last been oonclusvsy se
tied, and he was, beyond duuOt now lO6 years,
months. and twenty live days OLD ON the Jay Of his
death. Mr. Griinn was born IN GranOy formerly
simsoury), Litchnoid county, Conn. We nave been
iurnishcd with . copy Of the iamily record ol the
Grirn aaily as ecorasd in the archives AT CRANKY
and we lay copy of that pir OF the record pertain.
Ing TO Loier Griu before tho readers VI the Herald:
'Chsdorioamer Griffin, the son OF Nathaniel Griin.
ny Abigail, his wife, born Simsbury the 22t o
The reason tuat this record OF tho birth of LomeI
Griffin sooner discovered and all disputei
about his age at settled was that lie had bceI
gwen such u singular name, 'Chedorioarner," wnior
abbreviated and corrupted INTO :bo shor
.Lomsr,' aud Investigators were led to In
difference oil these namcs We have been furnished
some very Interesting information In regard 1
ancestry Of this remarkable man, and find that
Iam,y Is widespread, and in many instances sone ol
its descendants hold hign social rauk. John ritiia
IRON England about The year 1870 and fiji
with party 81 emigrants IN Dorchester, Conn.
He stopped some 'ime In Windsor, but hearing that
there was plenty OF pine TIMBER over tho mountains
west he started excursion in that direction,
passing through the gorge OF LoupviIle, ana sol,ed
down The north bauK OF Tunxus RIVER IN a reg0u
which the Indians called Massawa, where he cstab
lshod manuiaclory oi htcn, tar and turpentine.
The Indians burned his works, and to settle with
him gave him deed oI me land 10 that
settlers from Windsor, but reserved Tor himself
tract three miles square. which Tor many years
known ''Grifin's Lordship" In the year 1641
John Griffin married Anna Bancroft, and by her had
SIX daughters and iour sous. The names Of the
were JOhn, Thomas, Epnraim anu Nathaniel Tue
Iast Nathaniel wus the youngest child and born
May 81, 1693 THIS Nathaniel had u son Nathaniel,
who was the iaiher 0i Chcdorioamer, the subject
OF TINS sketch. TINS finishes the genealogical tale
OF the first ancestors Of Lomer Grhn from the time
As already stated Lomer was born In that part
OF the village OF Sims0ury which - now known az
CRANKY, Conn, on toe 22d OF April, i772 NO sur
a OF iarmor, and the boys life passed along
iarmers' boys lives usually do. The hrst evont Ia
the lifo Of Lomer Grlan, Of which we have any In
formation and record, his marriage 70 Miss Charity
Moore, which occurred April Is, 1897, from which
Willis, RaZ,mond, Andrew, Thomas. LYDIA anu har.
low, OF whom three, ssed IN this vicinity, are still
prominently before the public. as some respects
proving his age, was his enlistment III the Con-
tain Moses Hayden. August 1873 and serving until
October OF the same year. On me strength of this
government Tor bounty land, which stands recorded
IN the Pension ONCE, At Washington, and ives re-
Gently brought TO hgnt by another Application made
bv Mr. Gn last spring for Tho same service IN The
miitia company, under aa act OF Congress- passed
last WINTER giving pension 10 SOLDIERS Of inc war Of
| 1872 Mr.. Grnln's application was ut once made
special account OF tho sxrome age OF the appii.
can't and his claim VIA. granted. He mas been draw.
ing pension since last spring, and WAS the Oldest
offices. In the beginning OF tho year 1919.
| early In the month OF January, Lomer GriE
do, who had by that ,,.ne become tho
proud happy father OF Ave children, collected his
sled runners, drawn by pair oi oxon aud moved
West. During the latter part OF March he arrived
IN harr'svilie township, Medina county and ut ono:
the Harris iarm now known NJ the Hoas iArn, abous
two miles north OF Lodi He lived ON this with his
family for numocr years. La the fall oi 1880 ms
loving and faithiul wne Charity, who had come with
him from Old Connecticut, and had shared all tas
Whoever win seven grown up chiIdren mos, OF whom
had married and gone 10 homes Of thetr own. Jane
| whom ne children, whom she, TOO, dicd and
left him more = widoweI Afer several ycars hs
who Was aOou. orty years bis JUNIOR survives
bis death There wore three children by shs marriage.
%..E him 1ss 80 al Ss isnef i.,% q, :~s'. oS msw.a sn
with his wife into town, whore no had
| bought himself comfortable homestead, and
this Is the place whore spent his last moments.
accident happened to him shortly after hrs second
marriage which caused MIN the loss OF hrs right arm.
heavy storm wnsn a broken branch OF ireo struck
him the right shoulder iracturing his shoulder.
badc and otherwise injuring his arm SO that u had
10 DO smputated, and notwithstanding this msior.
no has always been able 10 put In good days
work 10 within a lew years OF his death.
The diet, manner ana habit Of one having grown 20
abnormsy old viii always BE- Of the greatest interest
lew inquiries reaard to the old gentiemau's style
OF living. He had always used stin uanss and liquors
70 WITHIN iour years OF hia death. -Four years ago
no passed resolutions TO abstain, and he stack As
sm informed resoiutoly to this audable resolve the
praise worthy account OF tho ago OF the re.
former. He drank and coneo ut various timos ol
mis- nie bot DID not tobacco
Another fact In wonderful mans lifo 10 that be
has never sck-asidc IRON some trivial indspo.
sition now Shen single day all hrs long years.
HIS sickness, which cuimnatsd in his death,
considered any radicai disease ne only reuiy
died old age, supcrinduced by fall, which had
| caused y serious shock to his nerves
As tar as could hear IRON his children. somo OF
wnom have already passed three score and ten,
found that he mad always aSen very lively interest
In political AFFAIRS aud that lie hts maideu vote
Tor Washington his second ascension 10 the Proc
idency. 17p3 He first federal ticket,
democratic, aud shortly alter he bad moved oui Ia
OHIO ne Joined tho whigs gong over With tuem INTO
tue republican party IN 1853, aud he was always
strict republican HIS last vote cast Tor town
ship trustee TINS spring. He voted tho entire rspub
can ticket last tall. Ana thts little old man who
dehed lime death long, aud with such good
IN for. Iadi ali mo nj a