ELMOR H. GRIFFITH is a member of one of the oldest leading families of Washington county, and is himself a prominent, progressive citizen of East Bethlehem township. Some time between the years 1682 and 1690, over a couple of centuries ago, there left their native Welsh home and well-to-do parents, five brothers named Griffith, who having set sail for America, landed, after a tedious and stormy passage across the Atlantic, at new York. Here they remained together for a short time, and then separated, drifting in various directions, William, one of the five, coming westward and making a permanent settlement in what was then Newcastle county, Md., at that time the home of the "Pennamites." Here he passed the rest of his life, dying at the advanced age of one hundred and five years.
William Griffith, son of this avant-courier of the family under consideration, was born in Newcastle county, Md., in 1714, and in 1735 he moved to Beaver Creek, York Co., Penn., where the remainder of his days were passed. He married Elizabeth Hussey, daughter of Richard and Marion Hussey, the former of whom died in 1785, the latter in 1807. William Griffith departed this life September 21, 1778, his wife having preceded him to the grave in the spring of 1762. He was a rigid and zealous follower of the faith of the Society of Friends, scrupulously honorable in himself, and severely exacting that the same quality should exist in all others. He and his wife reared a large family of children.
Jacob Griffith, son of William and Esther (Hussey) Griffith, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born February 27, 1757, in Pennsylvania. In 1796 he came to Washington county, Penn., where, as one of the pioneers, he endured all the hardships incident in the clearing and opening of a new country. he was somewhat small in stature, but nevertheless strong and athletic, quick of foot, and even when an old man he could walk with great rapidity and apparently less exertion than when he was many years younger. When he came here he was in very moderate circumstances, but was able to buy a small farm in what is now West Pike Run township. Like his father, he was in religious faith a Quaker. His wife met with an accident four years prior to her death which crippled her for the rest of her days. In fact, she never left her bed until death relieved her of her sufferings September 21, 1843. Of their children, Israel, father of Elmor H., was born December 28, 1784, in York county, Penn., coming to this county in 1796, where he received a good education at the subscription schools, which he supplemented with close study and a considerable amount of reading at home. In early life he was trained to the arduous duties of farm life, and when old learned the trade of a cooper, and later that of a miller. For several years he owned and conducted the west pike Run saw and flouring mills, and during the winters of his earlier life taught the district school, which was held in an old log cabin, furnished with the most primitive seats, desks, etc. On November 27, 1826, Mr. Griffith married Letita Shaw, who was born December 14, 1784, a daughter of Samuel Shaw, and early settler of eastern Pennsylvania, and the following named children were born to them: Eliza, born September 30, 1807, now living in Marshall county, Iowa, the wife of Milton Marsh; Joel, born October 13, 1809, who, a miller by trade, conducted his father's mill (he was the father of a large family, who are now residents of Alliance, Ohio); Eli R., born June 14, 1811, also deceased; Hannah, born January 25, 1818, married John Marsh, and now lives in Marshall county, Iowa; Israel, born May 29, 1820, also a resident of that county, and Elmor H., the subject of these lines. The mother passed away August 30, 1849. Politically, Israel Griffith was originally a Whig, and afterward, on the formation of the party, a Republican. In religion he followed in the footsteps of his forefathers, and he was a man remarkable for his extremely temperate habits, sturdy manhood, and sterling integrity, commanding the esteem and respect of all with whom he came into contact. He died in 1862.
Elmor H. Griffith was born December 23, 1827, on the old homestead farm in West Pike Run township, where he was reared, and where he has passed his entire life with the exception of the summer of 1844, which he spent visiting the homes of his brothers and sisters in Iowa. He at one time entertained an idea of moving to and making a new settlement in the "Far West", but ill health dissuaded him. In his boyhood he attended the common schools of the district, and being an apt scholar succeeded in obtaining an education better than the average in these early days,, so that he was well qualified to teach school, which he did with eminent success during some of the winter months in his early manhood, the remainder of the year being occupied in the cultivation of the farm products, and in the management of his father's mills. In 1856 Mr. Griffith married Cynthia, daughter of Thomas Heald, of Columbiana county, Ohio; by which union there were no children. Mrs. Griffith departed this life May 25, 1883, and our subject married, in 1885, Miss Emma McConnell, who was born March 22, 1846, a daughter of Austin and Edith McConnell, the result of this union being three children, as follows: Austin Oliver, born April 29, 1886, died April 24, 1891; Edith, born January 2, 1888, and Carrie Augusta, born May 20, 1891. Mr. Griffith is a "dyed-in-the-wool" Republican, and at this writing is filling the office of justice of the peace. In 1865 he embarked in general mercantile business at Centreville, which he is still conducting, at the same time devoting some attention to the repairing of clocks, watches, and jewelry, a varied stock of which he always carries. He is a liberal supporter of the Methodist Church which he attends, while his wife, a devout Christian lady, is a faithful member of the Society of Friends.
Text taken from page 415 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed April 1997 by Tom Lum Forest of Somerville, MA as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]