Hugh Griffin Biography

 

 

Hugh Reginald Griffin was born on September 11, 1913 in Dover Township, (now Westlake) Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He was born in the farm home of his parents, Charles Augustus and Mary May (Mitchell) Griffin at what later became 24772 Center Ridge Road.  His birth was attended by the then country doctor of the community, who failed to file a birth certificate at the courthouse, thus there is no recorded document of his birth, other than the school records which show him to be six years old at the time he entered first grade.

 

At the time of his birth, this was a dirt road, very dusty in summer, frozen ruts in winter and a muddy mess during rainy seasons. The road was barely wide enough for two horse-drawn wagons to pass without scraping each other, or the bushes and weeds at either side of the road.

 

He attended school at Dover Center, in the small, brick one or two room school that has since been incorporated into the present Jenkins Funeral Chapel in Westlake.  He was graduated in 1932 from the old Dover High School, (no longer standing) which was located on the west side of Dover Center Road, north of Center Ridge Rd.

 

In 1935, Hugh married Elizabeth Rose Miller, of Lakewood, the daughter of Ira Alphonso & Ethel (Richardson) Miller.  In due course they had two daughters, Katherine (called Kate) and Jean.

 

In January 1944 they bought a farm in Townsend Township, Huron County.  This farm was located on three corners of the intersection of U. S. Route 20 and DeRussey Road and was previously owned by Mrs. Grace Wright of Cleveland.

 

Shortly after moving to the farm, Hugh found that although fires in the township were handled by neighboring communities, the township did own a small fire truck.  It was lodged in the rear of Weisenberger’s Garage,  had a dead battery and all of the tires were flat.   After some discussion with township trustees, the fire truck was removed from its location and supplied with battery and tires.  Since there was no place to keep it, Hugh offered to house the truck in his barn, and it stayed here for about two years, until enough money was raised to build a small fire station at Townsend Center just behind the town hall.

 

In addition to storing the truck, Hugh and another young farmer, R. J. Jarrett, were the first to attempt to form a volunteer fire department.  This was accomplished within a reasonable amount of time, and Hugh became the first assistant chief, under Chief Fred Liles.  Hugh became chief after Liles retired, and held this position until he retired from the department in 1965.

 

In 1948, Hugh Griffin was elected to the Townsend Township Local School Board and was a board member for 15 years, serving several terms as board president.  He was instrumental in the formation of the present Western Reserve Local School District, which today comprises all of Townsend and Wakeman townships as well as portions of Hartland and Clarksfield townships.

 

During the 57 years Hugh lived in the township, he also served for several years on the Collins United Methodist Church board and, in later years, on the township zoning  appeals  board and was on the board of directors of the Collins Farmers Elevator Coop until it was sold to its current owner.

 

He and his first wife were divorced in 1965 and he subsequently married Mrs. Betty (Hoffman) Gibson, a local widow.  She had five daughters, April, March, Scott, Schuyler and Willough Gibson.

 

During the winter of 2000, they sold the farm, had a large auction sale to disperse of unwanted or no longer needed items, and moved to a new home in Norwalk.  He became ill in May 2000, was diagnosed and treated for cancer and lived until December 11, 2000.

 

He died at home, and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Norwalk. 

 

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