John F. Griffin, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of John F. Griffin
JOHN F. GRIFFIN was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on May 14, 1884, he son or John and Elizabeth (O'Connor) Griffin, the former a native of New York City and the latter of County Kerry, Ireland. They settled in New York where they were married and subsequently the father of our subject became superintendent of the lumber mills in Holyoke. To their marriage were born three sons: William, John, and George. In 1893 John F. Griffin came to Valparaiso with his brother George, and here resided with an aunt, Catherine O'Connor. He attended the parochial schools of Valparaiso, and the Valparaiso High School and later attended Valparaiso University. He subsequently became asociated with the Chicago Mica Company, at Valparaiso, becoming cost accountant and bookkeeper. In 1913 he was selected as the general manager, secretary and treasurer of that concern; he has since served in that position. In 1921 the Fibron Insulation Company was organized, and Mr. Griffin became general manager, secretary and treasurer of that concern; it is an Indiana corporation capitalized at $250,000 and engaged in the manufacture of laminated sheet material, rods, tubes, etc., for electrical and mechanical use. The Chicago Mica Company enjoys national patronage, and its products consist of insulation for electrical machinery and for industrial motors and other devices, such as insulation for automobile lighting and starting systems. Mr. Griffin is at present a director of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, serving for three years. Mr. Griffin was married to Julia, daughter of Michael and Anna Fleck of Hobart, Indiana. Mrs. Griffin completed the teacher's course at Valparaiso University. To their marriage were born two sons, Robert and John, Jr. Mr. Griffin is in every sense of the word a self-made man; his parents having passed away when he was but a young lad, he was forced to secure the lessons of life by actual contact with the world. Sometimes this contact was very trying to the young lad, but being made of the proper "stuff" and having a native determination to make a name for himself, he gradually climbed the heights and largely through his own efforts has reached the summit.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 635-636
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook