Jeremiah Griggs, the oldest son of Jeremiah Michael Griggs by his first wife, was born in Henry County, September 25, 1800, and died May 6th, 1871.
He early in life took great interest in public affairs and was prominently identified with every movement for the advancement of the county’s welfare. He had only the local advantages of education usual in those days, and never entered college. However, he was a great student of nature and of men. He was quiet and modest in demeanor, but acquired much learning, and had great abilities as displayed in his every undertaking. So unassuming was he that scarcely no one knew he possessed a library however it was learned that after his death he possessed many rare old volumes of English classics.
The public trusted him implicitly and soon called him into public life. In 1841-42, he was a member of the legislature of Virginia from Henry County. Here he demonstrated his abilities as a legislator.
For many years he was a colonel of the Virginia Militia, and although past sixty years of age when the Civil war broke out, he gave generously his worldly goods and his time and talents to the Confederacy. A good portion of his ready cash went for flannel to make shirts for the soldiers. He was at first opposed to leaving the union, but when his native State withdrew, he followed wholeheartedly in the cause. He made many expeditions to the army, helping the soldiers, and his widow, Mrs. Alzira Griggs, has told interestingly of many of these trips to the front and on his return of his having to be disrobed and “deloused” at the gate in order not to spread infection within doors of his home.
He was Clerk of the County Court of Henry for years and held the office till his death. His official acts are recorded for all time in his own handwriting here, which were eminently satisfactory to his countrymen.
He was a member of the Baptist church, and a Blue Lodge mason, and served his lodge at Martinsville many years as chaplain. His dying words give a good character sketch of the man, — “I have always done the right as I saw the right, and I die at peace with God and Man.”