GRIFFIN/FUTRELL

	This small plot is located on the ground that was once owned by a pioneer family
named Griffin, the knoll overlooks a valley which slopes down to the Mississinewa River
as it passes the U.S. Veterans Facility.  To the north east is Griffin Chapel and the now
abandoned Griffin School-house.  The family of Futrell used this spot as a burial ground
and that name is sometimes given to it.  Many sunken spots speak eloquently of a
forgotten citizen.  Some of the stones lie flat upon the ground.  Many of the small foot
stones bearing the initials of the deceased are scattered about.  One wooden marker is left
but time has erased any markings it may have had.  The marker erected to the memory of
James Griffin lies flat upon the ground.  It is a fine example of the tombstone style of the
60's.  The dimensions being about four feet long, two feet wide and three inches thick.  Of
plain white marble it has on the top a pair of clasped hands.  The inscription is on a carved
shield and a spray of ivy leaves are at the bottom of the shield.
	Another monument has a hand holding a vase of flowers, while two children's
graves are marked with a slab ornamented with a lamb lying down.  A large granite
monument of modern design marks the Futrell family plot.
	Whitson's history says of James Griffin "he built a flatboat loaded it with his team
and other possessions and poled it from Ridgeville to Mittank's Ford in Jefferson
Township.  He later sold his property and built a saw mill on Walnut Creek near Marion. 
He was a soldier of the War of 1812 and fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe."
	The above was written by the DAR in the 1940's.
	"This old family cemetery is located near the top of the hill at 'Tator Row', and is
west of the Garthwaite Road near the location of the Griffin home, on the east bank of the
Mississinewa River almost directly across from the Veteran's Facility, on the west bank of
the Mississinewa River."
	"This cemetery was severely damaged by the Palm Sunday tornado of 11 Apr. 1965
that crossed Grant County with complete destruction in its path."
	I visited this cemetery in the summer of 1996.  It is located in the N.E. 1/4 of
Section 21, Twp 24 N. Range 8 E.  I am not sure how this area got the name of 'Tator
Row', but it's location is 3/10 of a mile south of 38th Street just off the Garthwaite Rd. 
On the west side of the road is a very long lane back to 3 or 4 residences, the lane doesn't
have a number.  The cemetery sits on a small wooded knoll about a tenth of mile back off
Garthwaite Rd., overlooking a valley that slopes down to the Mississinewa River on the
west and Brookhaven Lake and sub-division to the north.  The family that owns the
ground keeps up the cemetery as best they can.  There is just not much left of this sacred
ground today.  Griffin Chapel and School are now gone, in the name of progress.  In the
1940's, twenty graves had been recorded, now there are only 8 stones.  I wander if the
tornado knocked down trees and drove these stones into the ground, or perhaps actually
carried away some of them.  I didn't find even one footstone, which I thought was rather
unusual.  The Futrell plot seems to be almost all that has escaped total destruction, save
for James Griffin.  His stone is probably still there because of the size of it.  But it too, is
lying on the ground.
	Mary (Ricks) Futrell was buried in this cemetery.  She was the daughter of Jordan
Ricks and Nancy (Griffin) Ricks and wife of Michael Futrell.  Mary was born Dec. 4, 1813
in Ohio and died Jan. 3, 1904 in Grant Co., Indiana.  Her death certificate states she was
buried in the Griffin Cemetery 6 Jan. 1904.  The Futrells as well as the Ricks and Griffins
all migrated from North Carolina through Clinton Co., Ohio and on to Grant Co., Indiana
together.  As you can see from the above mentioned Mary Futrell they were all related. 
Mary's mother Nancy was a sister of James Griffin who is buried in this cemetery.  I found
one monument without a name on it and also in the 1940's there was a wooden cross with
no name left on it.  Either, could have been for Mary Futrell, now one can only speculate.


	*Denotes a stone not found at this time.

GRIFFIN/FUTRELL CEMETERY

Burson,
*	William R. died June 28, 1866 aged 22y.11m.23d.
Cabe,
*	Thomas  June 8, 1806 - Nov. 16, 1887
		NOTE:  I found this stone in the Marion I.O.O.F. Cemetery 
		(now known as "Estates of Serenity")  I have no idea why it is
		in the Marion I.O.O.F. unless it was found after the tornado
		and just placed there because they didn't know where it went
		or his grave could actually have been moved there by a descendant
		at some point in time.
Futrell,
	Christina A. wife of Joseph Futrell  1841 - 1865
	Isaiah son of M. & M. Futrell died Feb. 21, 1860 aged 9y.4m.21d.
		S/S with Michael and Mary
	Manda A.  1862 - 1864
	Martin died Aug. 11, 1889 aged 23y.5m.18d.
	Mary dau of M. & M. Futrell died Aug. 17, 1854 aged 1y.1m.26d.
		S/S with Isaiah and Michael
	Mary J.  1860 - 1862
	Michael died Oct. 6, 1888 aged 77y.11m.24d.
		S/S with Isaiah and Mary
*	_____ dau of J. & C.A. Futrell died ___ 1, 186_ aged 2y.3m.27d.
		(this marker is broken and the figures effaced)
Griffin,
*	Eliza Jane dau of John and Mary J. Griffin died Feb. 2, 1869 aged 2y.3m.26d.
*	Ella Belle dau of John and Mary J. Griffin died Oct. 19, 1866 aged 8m.13d.
*	Infant son of R. & E. Griffin died Dec. 12, 1851
	James died May 14, 1862 aged 78y.8m.11d.
*	Maria dau of R. & E. Griffin died May 4, 1852 aged 7m.4d.
*	Martin son of R. & E. Griffin died Dec. 19, 1847 aged 4y.8d.
Morris,
*	Caleb died Mar. 10, 1858 aged 56y.11m.23d.
Poe,
*	Elizabeth died April 29, 1872 aged 77y.4m.4d.
*	Gabriel P. died June 2, 1872 aged 77y.7m.1d.
Stafford,
*	Sarah wife of Samuel Stafford died April 8, 1870 aged 64y.7m.20d.