Henry Griffin

Quick Facts

Significance:

Louisiana Homesteader

Place of Birth:

Amite, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Date of Birth:

June 1858

Place of Death:

Bolivar, Louisiana

Date of Death:

June 17, 1931

Place of Burial:

on his property

Cemetery Name:

Big Creek Cemetery

Henry Griffin was a Louisiana Homesteader. He was born June 1858 in Amite, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana to Horace Griffin and Frances Briggs. Henry grew up with eight siblings: Cirilla, Scott, Forest, Horace, Nealy, Martha, William, and Charlie Griffin.

On November 15, 1877, Henry married Elsie James (born 1863) in Amite, Tangipahoa Parish. Together, they had ten children: Florence Griffin (1878) Boyd Horace Griffin (1882), Zerilla (Cerilla) Griffin (1884), Edward “Eddie” Griffin (1886), Lucena Griffin (1887), Henry Griffin, Jr., (1893), Mary Margaret “Maggie” Griffin (1894), Franklin “Frank” Griffin (1895), Samuel “Sam” Griffin (1896), and William “Willie” Griffin (1897). The couple enjoyed 54 years of marriage, during which Henry worked as a farmer.

At age 30, Henry filed Application No. 10625 under the Homestead Act of 1862 in the New Orleans Land Office on August 10, 1888. He claimed 120.98 acres in Bolivar, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. He paid entry fees in the amount of $13.05 for 120.98 acres of land located E ½ of SE ¼ Sec. 27 and NE ¼ of NE ¼ Sec 34, St. Helena Meridian. Henry “Solemnly swore” that he was a natural born citizen of the United States, over the age of twenty-one and the head of a family. He signed his name with an X.

Henry established residency on the land in November 1887 and resided there continuously. Along with his wife, Elsie and their seven children, they made significant improvements. These included a log dwelling house, stable, hen house, and fencing. He cultivated thirty-five acres and raised six crops, valuing the improvements at $600.

On May 23, 1894, Henry filed his intention to make final proof in support of his claim. This notice was published in the Florida Parish Newspaper in Amite, Louisiana for six consecutive weeks: May 30th, June 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, and July 4th.

Henry made his final proof on July 7, 1894, before G. McD. Brumby, Register. His witnesses Jonathan Grace, Floyd Brumfield, Lewis Jackson, and Frederick Downing affirmed his continuous residency and land improvements. His witnesses were all from Tangipahoa Parish. Having met all Homestead Act requirements, the New Orleans Land Office granted Henry Homestead Certificate No. 5860 on April 8, 1896, for 120.98 acres.

On September 27, 1898, Henry, now 40 years-old, visited the New Orleans Land Office where he submitted Application No. 19463 requesting an additional 40.32 acres under the Act of March 2, 1889, Section 5. The additional land was an addition to Entry No. 10625. Henry received Final Certificate No. 8690 on June 28,1900 for the land located: Township 002S SE ¼ NE ¼, Sec.34, St. Helena Meridian. He was now the proud owner of 161.30 acres of land.

Henry Griffin, Sr. passed away at age 73 on June 17, 1931, on his cherished property in Bolivar, Louisiana. He had returned home with a new car to surprise Elsie upon her return from a Gold Star Mother’s trip to France when he suffered a fatal heart attack at the gate. He is buried in Big Creek Cemetery located on his property. Elsie died six years later, on October 27, 1937, in Amite, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.

1.  Patent Details - BLM GLO Records
2.  Patent Details - BLM GLO Records

~ Contributed by Sylvia Lavonne Wonzo, descendant

More about the contributor: My name is Sylvia Lavonne Wonzo, I am the great granddaughter of Henry Griffin, Sr. Although I never met Henry Griffin, Sr., the oral history passed down from my father, Clarence Wonzo, and other family members paints a vivid picture of his life. My father often reminisced about the joy of his childhood spent with Henry and Elsie on their farm. Henry’s legacy of dedication, perseverance, and hard work deeply resonates with me, and I am honored to tell his story.

If I could meet Henry today, I would express my pride in being his great-granddaughter. His achievements, despite being unable to read or write, are truly remarkable. His contributions to his family and community have left an indelible mark. Henry Griffin was a respected and important figure among Southern Homesteaders, and I am committed to ensuring his legacy continues. I plan to continue researching his life and the chain of ownership of his land after his and Elsie's passing.

Henry’s daughter, Mary Margaret Griffin Wonzo, is my grandmother and the mother of my dad, Clarence James Wonzo. I am a retired elementary school teacher and I consider myself a family historian.