Daughter of William Griffin & Mary Hamlin, married Forrest Grove.
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Grants Pass Courier -- December 31, 1927
FATHER OF MRS. GROVE FOUGHT ROGUE INDIANS
(By Mrs. S. A. Griffin Grove)
My parents were among the early pioneers of southern Oregon, my grandfather Griffin having crossed the plains in 1848. He stopped in the Willamette valley for a while, coming to Jackson county in March, 1852. He took a donation claim of 320 acres southeast of Jacksonville on a creek afterward called Griffin creek.
My father, William M. Griffin, enlisted as a volunteer in the Rogue River Indian War in 1852 and served until the war closed in 1856. My grandfather, Captain B. B. Griffin, was wounded in the war soon after enlisting. Their home was located near the foothills and they were in danger of Indians making a raid on their home at any time. My father said there was a squaw who used to come to their house every day and ask for something to eat. They thought she was a spy so the last time she came grandmother gave her something to eat. In the meantime they had been getting ready to go to Jacksonville to the fort, so they captured her and took her with them. Before they got out of sight of their place the Indians set fire to their house and killed some of their valuable stock.
My mother's people came to this country in 1852 and settled on a place about five miles east of Jacksonville. I was born in Jackson county and lived there until I was 15 years of age. My parents then moved to Josephine county, near Shan creek, which derived its name from a man, Shan Evans by name, who used to mine there.
Neighbors were scarce at that time and Wilderville, which was eight miles distant, was our postoffice. We were fortunate in having one a half mile from us. Kerbyville was the county seat and was 26 miles distant. Our nearest store was at Grants Pass, at least 18 miles distant, and we had to cross Rogue river at the Vannoy ferry and ford the Applegate.
Our first school was a subscription school of three months' term. A man by the name of William Stone taught and there were about 15 scholars who walked from one to three miles to school. Later after district was divided a Professor Farley, taught a three months' school in our neighborhood, I think the only school he ever taught in Josephine county, but he taught 26 years and three months in Jackson county. Mrs. Lou Wade Hood and Mrs. Lulu Day Caldwell were among our early teachers, although at this time there were enough children who drew school money, so we were able to have a district divided and, I think, a longer term.
The only amusement we had for several years was dancing. These were usually on the holidays and we had to go several miles to attend them. Often a crowd of young people would go together in a farm wagon.
In case we wanted to cross the river we had to cross in a small boat kept where the county ferry is now run by Billy Frankum. Two of my brothers crossed the river in a small boat to go to school and walked from three and a half to four miles. Malon Wheeler was the teacher.
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Grants Pass Courier, Grants Pass, Ore., Saturday, October 5, 1935 (Front page)
SALLIE A. GROVE TAKEN BY DEATH
Mrs. Sallie Alice Grove, 75, died at her home, 322 West Bridge street, Saturday morning about 8:15 o'clock following a lingering illness.
Mrs. Grove was born September 4, 1860, in Jackson county. Funeral services will be held Monday at 1 o'clock in the Church of God, it was announced by the L. B. Hall funeral home, where arrangements were made. Interment will be at Griffin Creek about five miles from Medford off the Jacksonville highway.
Mrs. Grove is survived by her husband, Frank Grove.
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Notes from Merle Griffin, 1978 "It is hard for me to describe my uncles and aunts. They were ordinary folks. Sallie (Grove) lived and died in Grants Pass, Ore. She was kind and considerate in her way but not having any children of her own she sometimes failed to understand the shenanigans of her nephews and nieces. She is buried at Griffin Cr."