Lewis Lawrence Griffin-GHM-126-18-Spalding County
Posted by: Sprinterman
N 33° 14.927 W 084° 15.717
16S E 755095 N 3682211
Griffin City Hall, East Solomon Street
Waymark Code: WM4GP6
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 08/22/2008
Views: 24
Born in South Carolina, October 3, 1974, Lewis Lawrence Griffin moved to Georgia with his widowed mother in the early 1800's. He fought in the Georgia Militia under General Daniel Newman in Florida and, later, under Generals John Floyd and Thomas Glascock in the Creek Wars. He was a country merchant, a General in the Militia, a legislator. In 1833 the Legislature chattered the Monroe Railroad Co. and he was made its president. In 1840 General Griffin auctioned off lots in the town which was named for him and through which the railroad would pass. He planned a great city with wide boulevards. A philanthropist, he gave generous lots to churches, schools, public buildings and a parade ground. He sacrificed a fortune attempting to save the railroad and the bank connected with it from financial ruin. Unsuccessful, he moved to Mississippi where he made another fortune and died in 1867.
When he visited Griffin in 1856 to receive a hero's welcome, the town newspaper commented: "He did more than any other man to arouse the people of Central and Western Georgia to a proper sense of the necessity of works of internal improvement. Every prediction that he made in reference to the beneficial results of his designs has been fulfilled."
Type of Marker: Highway
Marker #: 126-18
Date: 1959
Sponsor: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the marker, yourself at the marker, your gps at the marker, or anything specific to the text on the marker. And don't forget to enjoy your visit.