Thomas M. Griffith

• Death Notes

  The following tribute was written by his son:
  
  Rev. Thomas Griffith was born near Vernon, Jennings co., IN, on Oct. 3, 1838 and died at his home in Windsor, IL, on Aug. 13, 1914 His parents moved to Kentucky in 1850, thence to Illinois in 1855, and built up a house on the prairie three miles southeast of where Shumway, IL now stands. After the war his father deeded him 80 acres off the old homestead and here my father and mother labored hard to build up for themsevles a future home. They lived here until 1886, when the family moved to Chester, IL, remaining there nearly six years, thence moving to Windsor in 1892, which has since been the family home, except for two years' residence in Moweaqua, IL He was united in marriage to Martha A. Tarrant, Jul. 11, 1858, and to this union were born 12 children, Paris, Louisa, Eugene, Carrie, May, William W., Rosa, Viola, Gertrude, Thomas L., Bertha, and Florence. Paris, Eugene, Carrie, Gertrude, and Bertha died when quite young, Thomas L., dying in Windsor, Illinois at the age of 33 years. Mrs. Louisa Bafford of near Strasburg, Mrs. May Jones and William W. of Windsor, Mrs. Rosa Marshall of near Moweaqua, Mrs. Viola Jckson of near Windsor, and Mrs. Florence Sargent of Decatur; and his faithful wife and our mother remain of the family. He has one sister, two half sisters, and one half brother and a host of relatives, mostly in Indiana. My father was always a great student and took an active interest in everything about him, so long as consciousness remained. When a boy he studied by the light of a fire place to get an education and while he lived in Kentucky he had the advantages of an academy at Georgetown, where he studied the higher branches, learning surveying, in which science he became rather proficient. Moving to Illinois, he began to teach school before he had reached the age of 18. He continued to teach school for a number of years, teaching in the winter months and farming through the summer. He, at one time, farmed, taught, and preached, but he has often said that the call of the gospel was so strong, that he gave up all for the ministry.
  
  In 1870 he became converted and united with the Blue Point Baptist church and remained a consistent and ardent Baptist until his death. On May 11, 1873, he was ordained a minister of the gospel, since which time he has preached at various places and at each place his whole heart was thrown into the work. In 1886, he was appointed as chaplain of the Southern Illinois Prison, which position he held for nearly seven years. But in all these years hardships and disease had been making inroads upon my father's health and he was forced more than eight years ago, to give up all active work. In 1861 he felt his country's call so much that he left home and family and went to fight for the perpetuity of the country he always loved so much. He enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Illinois Infantry, and remained in the service for three years. His request was that the flag of his country and his Holy Bible be placed in his casket; also he requested Rev. Harman Etter, pastor of the Baptist church of Strasburg, where my father had his membership, to preach his funeral. His funeral services were beautiful and sacred and the day was ideal, well fitting the closing of a life so useful and so dear to us.
  
  He suffered much and more patiently than it is almost impossible to conceive how the last few days his suffering must have been intense, but in it all he always expressed a firm belief in God and a hope of eternal life. Faults my father had, but who has them not? Virtues he had, and they far out weighed the faults. It was his wont to throw all his energies and resources into whatsoever he undertook and foul weather nor fair, opposition nor praise, never caused him to swerve from what he considered the path of duty and righteousness. He trusted everyone and was often imposed upon, but no man, woman or child ever came to him for help in vain, came to him for comfort and went way empty. Goldsmith's ‘Village Preacher' in his ‘Deserted Village' seems a fitting tribute to my father. His field of acquaintances was extensive, his circle of friends wide, and enemies he had but few, for once he had offended, he was always willing and ready to meet a man more than half way to make overtures of peace. He loved his family and was always zealous for their welfare. Mother has lost a dear and loving husband; we have lost a kind, sacrificing, and indulgent father; what you have lost each must of himself know. His son, W. W. Griffith