Jesse R. Griffin enlisted as a private in the Civil War on August 17, 1861 with Company G, 1st Regiment, Decatur County, Georgia. He was mustered out at Augusta, Georgia, on March 18, 1862. He reenlisted as a private in Company B, 8th Regiment, Florida Infantry on May 10, 1862. He was appointed to be the musician. Later he was transferred to Company F and was appointed 1st Sergeant on January 1, 1864. Griffin received wounds in 1864 and was treated in General Hospital at Howard's Grove, Richmond, Virginia, from May 10-June 3, 1864 for contusion of his right hip. He surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. After the war he lived in Carrollton, Georgia, where he was a member of the the Carrollton Lodge No. 69 F. & A.M. and was a vice president of the Carroll County Sunday School Association.