Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Chisholm Griffith ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Chisholm Griffith
LAST NAME: Griffith FIRST NAME: Chisholm MIDDLE NAME:  NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
TITLE:  GENDER: M MILITARY: 
BORN: 11 May 1806 DIED: 11 Apr 1891 BURIED: 13 Apr 1891
ETHNICITY:   OCCUPATION:  Farmer
BIRTH PLACE:  Kentucky
DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
NOTES: 

IOOF - Shilholm Grifiths [sic], age 84 y's 11 m's. died in south Salem of lagrip.

BIOGRAPHICAL: "Of the immigrant caravans leaving Missouri in the year 1850, bound for the land "where rolled the Oregon," was Chisholm Griffith and family. This intrepid pioneer was a native of Kentucky, having been born there on May 11, 1806. The good wife who accompanied him on this long journey was Mariah Willis Clayton before her marriage. She was from the fine old Virginia families of Willis and Clayton. Her father was a teacher and Mariah was his able assistant before she married Mr. Griffith. Mrs. Griffith was a natural born leader, while her husband was of the quiet, more retiring type. The Griffith family always kept colored servants and that left Mrs. Grififth free from the ordinary housework and much care of the children, so she could do fancy weaving. She enjoyed this work very much and became an expert at the loom. Many beautiful bedspreads found their way into the hands of grandchildren to be cherished and admired by them. The colored folk always called Mr. and Mrs. Griffith "Mars Crissie and Miss Mariah." 
Of their trip across the plains not much is known except the trains they started out with. A man by the name of Riggs was captain. Their party was badly scourged with cholera, many dying along the way, while marauding Indians continually stole their stock, until many families became discouraged and turned back. At Fort Hall what was left of this weary train joined forces with the train of Dr. John Savage, Williams and others, with Captain Lewis in charge, and finally wended their way over the mountains to the Willamette Valley. The first winter, however, they spent at Fort Vancouver, Washington, where two of the children, John and Elizabeth, died and were buried there. In the spring the family moved up the Willamette river and made settlement in the Waldo hills, near Macleay, where the parents lived until their passing. 
Mr. Griffith died on April 11, 1891, and his wife on December 20, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith were members of the Methodist church and very much interested in all its religious activities. Mr. Griffith was a republican as to politics. A large family of children were born to this worthy couple, namely: Thomas, who married Cynthia Williams. Lewis, who married Susan Savage. Mary, who married Charles Scriber, of Salem, Oregon. Rebecca, who married Mr. Clemens of Goldendale, Washington. Minerva, who married Isham Burnett, of Cottage Grove, Oregon. Julia, who married King Hibbard of Waldo hills. John and Elizabeth, who died at Vancouver, Washington. 
The marriage of Rebecca to Mr. Clemens followed an elopement. The story goes that because Mr. Clemens was very much older than the charming Rebecca, her parents objected to their union. One night Rebecca stole out of her father's house, took the saddle horse from the barn, going as far as the Santiam river, where she swam her horse and arrived at the home of her brother, Thomas, who lived near the river. A minister was summoned and the wedding took place under her brother's friendly roof. Contrary to the ending of most elopements, they "lived happy ever after." 
From: Steeves, Sarah Hunt, BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE OF MARION COUNTY, OREGON, PIONEERS 1840 - 1860, Portland, Oregon, The Berncliff Press, 1927 (Source: Adelaide Scriber and Helen Hibbard Paget, Macleay, Oregon.), pp 192-193

OBITUARY: 

GRIFFITH -- At the residence of C. W. Scriber, South Commercial street, Salem, at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 1891, C. Griffith, of Goldendale, Wash., aged 84 years and 11 months. Deceased was the father of Mrs. C. W. Scriber and had been visiting here for a couple of months. Two weeks ago he was taken ill, since which time he had been growing gradually weaker until death brought to a peaceful close a long and eventful life. He leaves six sons and daughters to mourn his death. The funeral arrangements have not been completed. 
Daily Oregon Statesman 12 April 1891 4:4 

Chisholm Griffith, a pioneer on the wagon train of 1850, died at his home in Waldo Hills on Saturday, April 11, 1891, a month short of his 85th birthday. He was born in Kentucky, on May 11, 1806. He was married to Mariah Willis Clayton, whose father was a teacher and Mariah was her father’s associate before she married Mr. Griffith. Their wagon train crossed the plains with Mr. Riggs as captain. Their party was badly scourged with cholera, many dying along the way. Marauding Indians continually stole their stock, until many families became discouraged and turned back. At Fort Hall, what was left of their train joined the train of Dr. John Savage and others with Captain Lewis in charge. They finally made their way over the mountains to the Willamette Valley. The first winter was spent at Fort Vancouver, where two of their children died, and were buried there. 
In the spring the family settled in Waldo Hills. Mrs Griffith died Dec. 20, 1863. They were both members of the Methodist Church and were interested in all its activities. In addition to John and Elizabeth who died in Vancouver, the following children were born to the couple. Thomas, who married Cynthia Williams; Lewis, who married Susan Savage; Mary, who married Charles Scriber; Rebecca, who married Mr. Clemens of Goldendale, Wash.; Minerva, who married Isham Burnett; Julia, who married King L. Hibbard. 
Scrapbook in Silver Falls Library, Silverton, OR.

INSCRIPTION: 

Chisholm Griffith 
Born in Kentucky 
May 11, 1806 
Died April 11, 1891 
Father

SOURCES: 

LR 
LD 
IOOF Register of Burials 
DAR pg 70 
Steeves, BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE, pp 192-193 
Scrapbook in Silver Falls Library, Silverton, Oregon 
Mount Hope Cemetery and Pioneers of the Waldo Hills, by Ferne Hibbard Hellie, Howard Mader, and Addie Dyal Rickey. DOS 12 April 1891 4:4

CONTACTS: 
LOT: 725 SPACE: 2 SE LONGITUDE:  LATITUDE: