Son of Burrel Griffin & Sarah Throckmorton, married Mary Ann Hamlin, died from the shock of watching his home burn. Occupation, wagon maker & carpenter. Fought in the Indian Wars.
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Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, Ore., Thursday, April 18, 1901
Mr. William Griffin's house caught on fire from a defective flue last Saturday and burned to the ground. They were unable to save anything. Mr. Griffin was in bed sick from a hurt received a few days previous. He was carried out of the flaming building and died in a few minutes from excitement and suffocation.
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(Date unknown)
DIED -- GRIFFIN -- At his home near Wilderville, Saturday, April 13, 1901, Wm. M. Griffin, aged 71 years, 2 months and 11 days.
Mr. Griffin, whose sad death in being rescued from his burning dwelling was chronicled in our last issue was one of the old and very highly respected residents of Josephine county. He leaves a wife and eight children, of whom one resides in Crescent City, one near Medford and the remainder at their home on Rogue river near Wilderville.
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Medford Mail Tribune, April 19, 1901
A serious misfortune with accompanying results particularly sad occurred to the family of Wm. Griffin, of Josephine County, who formerly resided on Griffin creek, west of Medford, last Saturday. The family were eating dinner when one of the daughters went outside to the well for water and discovered the house on fire. She ran back to the dining room and sounded the alarm, which proved so great a shock to her aged father, who had not been in good health for some time, that he collapsed completely and had to be carried from the house. He was carried a short distance from the burning building and the other members at once returned to carry out what things they could from the rapidly burning house. They expected Mr. Griffin would soon recover his composure after being carried out into the fresh air, but it was soon found that the shock was greater than anticipated, and while the building was still burning he died where they had placed him when he was carried out. The house and all its contents were entirely destroyed. As soon as possible the afflicted family secured help from the nearest neighbors and the remains of Mr. Griffin were taken to Grants Pass. They were brought to his old home on Griffin creek Monday and buried in the family burying ground at that place. Mr. Griffin was one of the oldest pioneers of Jackson County, coming here over thirty years ago. He was the father of a large family of children, eight of whom, with his wife, survive him. He was about seventy-one years of age. It is not known whether he had any insurance on his house or not.