Surnames: GRIFFITH REIBLE BACHHUBER CHURCHILL

----Source: LOYAL TRIBUNE (Loyal, Clark County, Wis.) 01/07/1915

Griffith, Leonard (22 Jul 1841 - 31 Dec 1914)

Mr. Leonard Griffith quietly passed away at his home in the town of Sherman, Clark County, Wis. on Thursday, Dec. 31, 1914, at the age of 73 years, 5 months and 9 days. Following is an obituary of Mr. Griffith's life as dictated by him a short time before his death:

"My parents were both natives of New York State. I was born on July 22, 1841 during a temporary residence of my parents in Canada. In 1843 my parents came to Wisconsin and settled in Waukesha County seven miles from the ridge of Hartland. When I was 6 years old they settled in the southwest corner in the town of Aishford in the County of Fond du Lac.

The country was a heavily timbered wilderness. All the steams were full of fish and the woods were full of game, from bears to red squirrels. Three tribes of Indians roamed the Country, the Chippewa, Menominee and Winnebago.

When I was 12 years old my parents settled in the town of Williamstown, Dodge Co., where I lived until I was 21 years of age. I enlisted Aug. 28, 1862 and went for a recruit for Company C, the first Wis. Cavalry. I joined my regiment at Cape Girardeau, Mo. In Sept. 1862. I served with my regiment in Mo. And Arkansas until the following June, when my regiment was transferred to Tenn. and became part of the army of the Cumberland, commanded by Gen. E. D. Cooke.

I served with my command in Kentucky, Tenn., Alabama, East Tenn., Georgia and was taken prisoner by the enemy near Lovehoay Station, Georgia.

Our Division lost 600 dead, wounded and prisoners. I was sent to the Confederate Prison of Andersonville, together with 23 others of my company, 20 of who died there.

I returned home from the South April 1, 1865 and was discharged from the service on June 6, 1865.

I was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Reible in Jun 1867. Six children were born from this union."

The children are as follows: Effie M., deceased, Mrs. Dr. L. M. Bachhuber of Mayville, Dodge Co., Wis., Mrs. F. A. Churchill of Bay Point, Cal., R. C. Griffith of Brentwood, Cal. L. A Griffith and J. A. Griffith of the town of Sherman.

Mr. Griffith came to Clark County, Wis. in 1869 and has lived in the town of Sherman ever since. The five youngest children were also born there.

By speical request he was dressed in his G. A. R. uniform and buried from the Methodist Church of Loyal with interment in the Loyal Cemetery, the funeral taking place last Saturday afternoon, Rev. W. P. Powell officiating.