Griffith, Ezra

Born: 1789-09-05 New York

Died: 1860-05-08 Fayette County, Illinois

Flourished: Fayette County, Illinois

Ezra Griffith was a farmer, mill owner, postmaster, and pioneer settler of Otego Township, Fayette County, Illinois. In 1830, Griffith moved from Otego, New York to Fayette County, Illinois, where he purchased 160 acres of public land near what would become Brownstown in Otego Township, northeast of Vandalia. Between 1831 and 1837, Griffith acquired an additional 200 acres in the area, and he also bought eighty acres near Howard's Point near Avena. In 1834, he constructed the first frame home and the first water-powered flour and sawmill in Otego Township. In March 1834, Griffith became the first postmaster of what was then called Cumberland, a position he held until the post office was discontinued in July 1860. He was also among the first justices of the peace in Otego Township. In 1850, Griffith was engaged in agriculture and owned real property valued at $10,000. In 1852, he received warrants for 160 acres of public land on Sefton Township, west of his land at Howard's Point.

History of Fayette County, Illinois (Philadelphia: Brink, McDonough, 1878), 87; Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales, Fayette County, 145:16, 19, 29, 43, 48, 154:232, 818:97, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1832-1844, 12B:448; 1845-1855, 18:54, National Archives Building, Washington, DC; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1835 (Washington, DC: Blair & Rives, 1835), 262*; The Biennial Register of all Officers and Agents in the Service of the United States (Washington, DC: Blair & Rives, 1838), *277; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1839 (Washington, DC: A. B. Claxton, 1839), *259; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, from the Thirtieth September, 1841, to the Thirtieth September, 1843 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1843), 538*; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1845 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1845), 384*; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1847 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1847), *409; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1849), *471; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851), 528*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), 500*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1855 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1855),*331; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1857 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1857), 330*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1859 (Washington, DC: William A. Harris, 1859), *57; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1861 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1862), *359; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Fayette County, IL, 404; Gravestone, Griffith Cemetery, Brownstown, IL.