I Finally Visited Eddie

I finally did something I’ve wanted to do for years, visit my Uncle Eddie Griffin’s burial site in San Jose, CA but life just seemed to get in the way. Two months ago, we dropped our motorhome off at Leale’s RV Service Center in south San Jose. Two weeks ago, we went back to tour Leale’s facility and check on the work that is being done. A few days before we left, I mapped the directions to the cemetery, and surprisingly, the service center was only two miles down the road. I think my Uncle was calling me. 

I took numerous photos of his burial site for my records. On the hill behind Eddie’s spot is a Pacific Bell tower. There is a memorial plaque commemorating when my Uncle Top (Columbus Utah Griffin) was killed while working on a Pacific Bell building in downtown San Jose, CA, but that’s a story for another time. I made sure the tower was included in a few of my photos. My mother, Wanda Lue (Griffin) Threet, had no idea the tower was there when she picked out the spot for Eddie. We found out later from my cousin Danny, Uncle Top’s youngest son. 

Eddie passed away April 15, 1988.[1] His memorial service was April 21, 1988 at Oak Hill Memorial Park in the Chapel of Roses building[2].  I remember attending the service. A lot of his friends attended along with most of our family. It was a beautiful service, and the weather cooperated that day. 

Eddie was only 3 years older than me. He was more like a cousin but always reminded his nieces and nephews he was our Uncle. He always carried school photos of each of us in his wallet and told his friends about us. Eddie and I remained close for most of his life. There were times I lived out of state or in Los Angeles, but we would write. If I went back to the bay area for work, I would stay at Grandma and Grandpa’s and we would try to hook up. He lived in San Francisco when he moved out of Grandma and Grandpa’s and at times, I would stay with him. We would bar hop or go to dance clubs….fun times. 

My mom, Uncle Top and Uncle Eddie are all siblings. There is a total of seven siblings in this order, Herbert Ray Griffin (died at the age of 2), Richard Lee Griffin, Columbus Utah Griffin AKA Top, Wanda Lue Griffin AKA Sis, Jimmie Dean Griffin, Reba Jean Griffin and Eddie Griffin (no middle name). I’m glad I finely visited him and now that nagging “thing” in the back of my head is gone. I think he was happy. I do miss him a lot but know he is with a bunch of our family members having a great time. Enjoy Eddie. I love and miss you tremendously. 

Photo is of Eddie, me and my cousin David. I'm guessing it's around 1961-1962. 

[1] San Francisco Department of Public Health, death certificate no 88, Eddie Griffin (d. 15 April 1988); issued to sister Wanda Lou (Griffin) Threet, then passed to her daughter Jacqueline Threet Henderson (Castro Valley, California) 2000. 

[2] Eddie Griffin Funeral Notice, San Jose, California, citing services on 21 April 1988; Jacqueline L. Threet Henderson Personal Papers, 1988---, privately held by Jacqueline L Threet Henderson, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Castro Valley, California. 

Assumption: But I Thought They Were Buried in Turlock

In the 1990’s my Uncle Jimmie Griffin was ready to pass on the family genealogy research he was working on. I inherited the binder he had, and it was full of family group sheets. This was during the time when the internet had just begun. I started collecting documents; birth, death, funeral, funeral programs, graduation information and any other documents I could get from family members. I kept anything that marked a family event. I put these items in that binder or file folders I created, then forgot about them. 

At some point I purchased the genealogy software Family Tree Maker. I started inputting the vital records information I had gathered and scanning items into Family Tree Maker. I still kept the paper versions if I had one. As of writing this post I still have A TON of documents I need to scan and update to Family Tree Maker. It’s a never-ending project. 

Since I retired in August 2019, I have been working on my genealogy research and writing skills by documenting family events, telling the story, and starting this blog. I have taken numerous classes, courses, attended institutes and seminars to improve those skills. 

Last week I started writing about my Grandma, Susan Bertha Alice (Landrum) Griffin. I needed to confirm a few dates and thought I’d look in Uncle Jimmie’s binder for the information. I went to the Griffin section and noticed I had funeral programs for both my Great Uncle Johnie Thomas Griffin and his wife Dulsa Wanda (Stewart) Griffin. I didn’t realize I had these! I didn’t know they both passed in 1994 and 4 months apart AND I had assumed they were both buried in Turlock, CA at Turlock Memorial Park! Well, you know what they say about assuming…They were buried at Lakewood Memorial Park (Restland Garden Area), Hughson, CA. 

Goes to show I can’t even trust what I did long ago but not surprised with everything I have learned in the past year and a half. UUUUGGGGGGG….is a do over in my future?

Happy Grandparents Day - Miss Them

There are times I miss my grandparents terribly. They were so much fun. Neither of them had favorites and I always loved visiting them as a child and even as an adult. As a kid I remember my cousins, siblings and I were always with our Grandparents. We were very close to our Grandparents and have many, many, fond memories we talk about even today.

I remember even as a child calling my grandparents to talk to them. My cousins and I knew their phone number by heart. My mom would say, “If you don’t want momma or daddy to know, don’t say anything around Jacqueline.” Mom claimed I would tell Grandma and Grandpa everything even when I became and adult.

The earliest memories I have of my grandparents is when they lived at 1606 White Oaks in San Jose, California. They lived here when my cousins and I were all in grade school. The backyard was dirt and there was a huge oak tree on the left-hand side. Grandma and Grandpa let us dig in the dirt and we would always make these cities with roads and houses. We’d use bricks and rocks to make buildings. We would make women out of hibiscus flowers and my grandparents didn’t care when we picked them. We’d turn them upside down and the flower was like a hoop skirt dress. Our families didn’t have a lot of money, so we didn’t have many toys. We always played outside and I don’t remember any of us ever fighting.

My grandparents always grew Kentucky Wonder green beans in the summer. I asked my Grandma one spring if I grew the same beans would she teach me how to can them. Of course, she agreed so I planted lots of Kentucky Wonder green beans. At harvest time we made a date and spent a day canning beans. She walked me through every step. She also told me of a few times the pressure built up and the pot lid would pop off and beans would be everywhere, even on the ceiling. I had heard these stories and I became a bit worried, but she assured me it would not happen. I still was not convinced and kept my eye on the pressure cooker. We ended up canning thirty jars that day and I have that wonderful memory of standing at my Grandma’s stove with her.

 

Our family use to go on many camping trips during the summer to Lake Shasta, Don Pedro Lake, and Lake Berryessa. At that time there were not official campgrounds. My grandparents had a black and white boat. Grandpa would anchor it off the shore about 50 feet and let us jump off the boat. He never cared if we jumped off the side, back or front. We always had a blast.

I have many more memories of my grandparents but I think the best is not a memory but a feeling of the love I felt from them even when I was not with them. I miss them to this day. 

Happy Grandparents Day Grandma and Grandpa. Love you bunches. 

Mary Lucinda (Dotson) Cradduck

My 3^rd Great Grandmother

The following information is from her civil war pension application under Moses M. CRADDUCK Private, Company D 1^st Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers. She  filed for Moses' pension after he died. 

He enlisted Nov. 19, 1862. He was honorably discharged August 23, 1865 and died December 17, 1886. She filed on July 24, 1890 and was living in Lancaster, Crawford County, Arkansas (AR). This helps clarify residency since the 1890 census records are not available due to a fire.

 

On November 16, 1917 she made the following statement in regards to Mary Ann Elizabeth (McCaslin) CRADDUCK (first wife) filing for Moses M. CRADDUCK civil war pension. Statement was taken near Frisco, Pontotoc Co., OK. Below is her statement from the pension file record from Mary Ann Elizabeth (McCaslin) CRADDUCK’s filing.

 

 “We lived a few years at Rudy Station, Crawford Co. [County], Ark [Arkansas]. Then one winter in Springfield, Greene Co.[County] Mo. Then a few months near Maysville, Christian Co., Mo [Missouri]. Then back to Rudy, Ark and lived five years, then to near Gainesville, Cook Co., Texas and was there not over one year. Then back to Rudy, Ark. And lived there until my husband died. Then I moved to Hanson, Ind. Ty[Indian Territory]. until 12 years ago, I have lived here 12 years.” (Near Frisco, Pontotoc Co. OK)

 

MY TIMELINE DATES APPX

1852 – 1859

Born 1852 near Maysville, Christian Co., Mo. Lived here until 2 years before the Civil War began. Then moved to around

1860 – 1869

Rudy Station, Crawford Co., Ark. for a few years. Lived here for a few years after marrying in 1869

    Springfield, Greene Co., Mo. for one winter Maysville, Christian Co., Mo. few months near this place

    Rudy, Ark and lived five years,

1876 to 1877

     Gainesville, Cook Co., Texas, and here appx one year then back to (James Clay CRADDUCK   was

     born while lived her so puts them here around 1876)

1880 - 1886

     Rudy Station, Ark. and lived there until my husband died  (Dec. 17, 1886)

1890

     Lancaster, Crawford Co., Ark (July 24, 1890 is when she filed her claim for Moses M.      

    Cradduck’s Civil War pension)

1886 - 1905

Then I moved to Hanson, Ind. Ty [Indian Territory]. Until 12 years ago. At the end of her statement she says she moved to Hanson, Ind. Ty. about 1895

1905 - 1917

  I have lived here 12 years. (Near Frisco, Pontotoc Co. OK)

 

RESEARCH ITEMS

1)   Her daughter, Josephine Ellen was living in Marysville, CA per pension statement from 1917

2)   Siblings whereabouts per her pension statement from 1917

a)    Rueben Alva Dotson AKA Bud in Oroville, CA

b.     Elaza Ann Dotson wife of “Gent” Pennington but does not know where or if she is alive