Philinda Minerva Griffin

We have written previously of the journey Minerva Griffin took with her family from Vermont to Fillmore County, Minnesota. We thought we would post a few of the documents from the life of this remarkable pioneer woman. Minerva’s husband David Brainard Griffin was killed in the Civil War. His collection of letters and memorabilia titled “Letters home to Minnesota” is part of the collection of artifacts at the Chickamauga Battlefield Historic Site. In the letters he refers to her as Nerva. Found in the history of Fillmore County is a brief notation “D. Brainard Griffin, of Vermont, came from Illinois, and his place was in section 15. He died in the service of his country during the Rebellion. Almon Griffin has a claim in section 16 and died during the war.” With the death of her husband and parents Minerva became matriarch to the extended Griffin clan living on one of the scattered homesteads on the Minnesota Prairie. With the aid of her two brothers, Allen and Henry, and nephew Horace Churchill, she was able to keep kit and kin together. The combined homesteads contained over 360 acres, which represent the two original grants plus additional acreage purchased by her father Almon. The plat map does not represent the original land holders but is from a much later date. She was able to maintain the homestead, passing it to her daughters in her will, which we have posted. She oversaw the marriage of her daughters Alice and Ida and the marriage of her sister Catherine’s daughters Helen and Eliza. She was to suffer another tragedy when her nine-year-old son Edgar Lincoln died by accidental poisoning on April 28, 1870. Minerva married William Andrews in 1868. Her death is recorded in the country records on February 9, 1895. The record notes her father as Almon Griffin.