The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Lincoln Township, page 661
John W. Griffith, one of the prominent business men of Brownsburg, was born in Putnam County, Ind., March 10, 1835, a son of Samuel and Camelia R. (Witty) Griffith. His father was one of the pioneers of Putnam County, locating there in 1820. He died at Vicksburg, Miss., of cholera in 1837. The mother is now the wife of John Conley, of Franklin County, Ill. When fourteen years of age our subject began to work as a farm hand which he continued two years. When sixteen years old he went to Greencastle and began learning the barber's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then worked as a journeyman about ten years visiting mainly the towns on the Mississippi River. He has been a resident of Brownsburg since 1876, where he has built up a good trade. He is thoroughly conversant with all branches of his trade in addition to which he carries a stock of jewelry and does a watch-repairing business. Mr. Griffith was married Nov. 18, 1863, to Rebecca Steepleton, of Edgar County, Ill. Of the eight children born to them but two, the eldest and youngest, are living--Camelia E. and Carl. Mr. Griffith enlisted in July, 1861, in Company C, Eighth Illinois Infantry, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, Raymond, Jackson and others of less importance. He was a faithful soldier and was honorably discharged in August, 1864. Before the war he was a Democrat in politics but since the war has given his suffrage to the Republican party and is one of the most earnest workers in its ranks. He is a member of the Christian church.