History of Old Vincennes And Knox County, Indiana Greene Volume l & 2 1911 Surnames in this biography are: Griffith, Young, Boland, Langston, Dishman, Lackey, Martin, Medlin, BENJAMIN B. GRIFFITH, M. D. Possessing advantages of education and training at the best medical institutions of the country and having engaged successfully in practice for more than twenty-five years, Dr. Benjamin B. Griffith has gained a well earned reputation as a practitioner of clear judgment and high standing. Seeking to know the cause of his success, we find that it has been gained through concentration, energy, a persistent purpose and unquestioned integrity. The application of the principles here named have enabled him to attain a record in every way worthy of emulation. Dr. Griffith was born at Paducah, Kentucky, on the 10th of October 1861. He is a son of George and Mary F. (Young) Griffith, the former born on a farm ten miles from Paducah, McCracken county, Kentucky, in 1825. Mrs. Griffith was born in North Carolina, in 1831. The father was a valiant soldier of the Civil war and served in the Second Kentucky Regiment of volunteers. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh and died within twenty-four hours from the effect of his wounds. The grandfathers of Dr. Griffith on both sides of the house served in the patriot army in the Revolutionary war, one as an officer and the other as a private. Grandmother Young's brother, Dr. Benjamin Boland, was also made of good fighting material. A little girl named Jett was murdered by an Indian at an early day in the history of Kentucky near the present town of Bandana, Kentucky. Dr. Boland, alone and fully armed, took up the trail of the murderer and followed him into Missouri and into the cane-brakes of Arkansas and there captured the Indian, the circumstances of the pursuit and capture being one of the interesting stories in the annals of the border. The brave Dr. Boland brought his prisoner back to the scene of the murder in Kentucky, where the prisoner was tried by a jury of white men, confessed to his crime and was there executed. Thus is outlined in a few sentences one of the thrilling occurrences of early life in Kentucky, which conveys an idea of the resolution and courage of the remarkable men of those times. Three children were born of the marriage of George and Mary Griffith: Benjamin B., the subject of this review; Reese, who died at the age of twelve years; and William G., who married Alma Langston and is the father of two children-Urey and Isabella. Dr. Griffith received his preliminary education in the public schools of Paducah, Kentucky, and in the high school at Lebanon, Ohio. Having a strong inclination for the pursuit of medicine, he entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1883. A similar title was granted by the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis in 1884, his regular medical studies being followed by post-graduate work extending over three years in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, serving in the Willard Hospital of New York city, the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, and the St. Joseph Infirmary of Chicago. After having thoroughly prepared for his profession by contact with the greatest medical teachers in America, and also by practical application of the principles of medicine and surgery in the great hospitals, Dr. Griffith began practice at Paducah and, taking up special work, came to Vincennes, September 15, 1909, and opened a suite of offices in the La Plante building, where he has since continued. In 1885 Dr. Griffith was united in marriage to Miss Isabella Dishman, who was born in Marshall County, Kentucky, and was a daughter of B. and Rachel (Lackey) Dishman. Mr. Dishman is a well-known farmer, and is now living retired. He is president of the State Road Company, and also of the Ballard Gravel Road Company. Four children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Griffith: Carrie Soule, who is the wife of H. A. Martin, of Paducah; Benjamin B., now in the employ of Albert Pick & Company, of Chicago; and Mary Bell and Rachel Grace, both at home, the former twelve and the latter nine years of age. Mrs. Griffith departed this life in 1907, and our subject, was again married in February, 1909, the lady of his choice being Miss Cora Maude Medlin, of Harrisburg, Illinois. Dr. Griffith was one of the early members of the Southwestern Kentucky Medical Society, and he was also a charter member of the McCracken County Medical Society and of the Old Paducah Medical and Surgical Society. He is now a member of the American Medical Association, the Kentucky State Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and the Knox County Medical Society. He is held in high respect by his brother practitioners and has gained an enviable reputation by conscientious application to his calling. Believing in the authority of the Bible, he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and socially he is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Being a gentleman of fine social qualities, he meets with a cordial greeting, not only among his brethren of the fraternal orders, but in the best homes of the city. Dr. Griffith began in his career with high ideals. He has closely adhered to the standard he then set and he has found no cause to regret the selection of Vincennes as his permanent home. He cheerfully gives his aid to philanthropic work and as a patriotic citizen assists to the extent of his ability in the permanent up building of the community.