The Griffiths are an early Welsh family of Pennsylvania. In 1683 and 1698 many Welsh families arrived and settled in the districts of Caernarvon, Brecknock, Robeson and Cumru, in what is now Berks county. Among these was one Hugh Griffith. He had a brother, Ellis Griffith, who was one of the very earliest settlers of what is now Amity township, being one of the signers of the petition for the organization of the township in 1744. In his will, which was probated in 1759, the year of his death, is the following provision: "I bequeath to Cousin Evan Griffith all my land. If, however, he cannot be found, my land shall become the property of brother Hugh Griffith of Robeson township." In 1759 a John Griffith lived in Robeson township, where he was a large tax-payer. By some members of the family it is believed that John was the father of Evan. Michael Griffith, a half-brother of Evan, lived in Chester county; he was a cripple, but was very strong.
Evan Griffith was a well known man in Brecknock township in its early years, coming from Chester county. By occupation he was a pump maker. He sleeps in the cemetery at Allegheny Church, in an unmarked grave. He married Catharine Weiss, and their children were: Samuel, of Robeson township; Mrs. Philip Hummel, of Brecknock; Ann, who married Daniel Brendel; Betzy, who married Henry Trostle; Bevvy, who married Peter Steffy; Sophia, who married Isaac Lewis; John; Cassie, who married John Heddens; William, who died young; Isaac; and Benjamin, who died when he was about thirty years of age, leaving one son and one daughter.
John Griffith, son of Evan, was born Jan. 25, 1792, and died March 13, 1881, in his ninetieth year. He was a farmer in Brecknock township, near Furlows Hotel. In addition to his farming he followed the trade of cooper. For about six years of his life he lived in Mifflin county. His wife was Maria (better known as Polly) Brendel. She was born Feb. 1, 1799, daughter of Abraham Brendel, and she died March 14, 1887. in the eighty-ninth year of her age. To John and Maria Griffith were born children as follows: Cyrus, mentioned below; Catharine, who married Samuel Rathman, a farmer in Brecknock township, and had one son and two daughters; and William, mentioned below.
Isaac Griffith, son of Evan, was born Feb. 5, 1799, and became a prominent man in Brecknock township, where he owned a farm of some sixty acres, now the property of Albert Kachel. For many years he served as supervisor. He died Oct. 11, 1882, in his eighty-fourth year, and was buried at Allegheny Church. He married Catharine Trostle, daughter of Henry Trostle, and became the father of thirteen children, namely: Catharine, Elizabeth, John, Sarah, Cassie, Louisa, Isaac, William, Samuel, Benjamin, Caroline, and one that died in infancy.
Samuel Griffith, son of Isaac and grandson of Evan, was born Nov. 5, 1834, in Brecknock township. He owns an eighty-four acre farm, but is now living retired. He has served his township as school director and assistant assessor. He is a member of the Allegheny Church, where many of the Griffiths lie buried. Mr. Samuel Griffith has been twice married. His first wife was Lydia Eshelman (1839-1870), and his second Elizabeth Zimmerman. His children, all born to the first wife, were: Jeremiah; Sarah A.; Aaron; Jacob E., a teacher and justice of the peace in Brecknock township; and Solomon, who died in 1882, aged twelve years.
Cyrus Griffith, mentioned above as son of John and grandson of Evan, was a cooper by trade, and followed that occupation in Brecknock township many years, being one of the last to work at that trade in his community. He owned a farm of about 100 acres near Knauers, which he rented, and in earlier years was was conducted by his sons. He was born Sept. 21, 1817, in Brecknock, and died Nov. 24, 1903, aged eighty-six years. He was a Reformed member of the Allegheny Church, and was a thoroughly honorable and upright man. While he never rode on a steam car in his life, he traveled as far as the western part of the State, and worked for a time at his trade in the Kishacoquilla Valley, in Mifflin county. He married Catharine Fritz, who was born Jan. 19, 1821, daughter of John Fritz, and died Dec. 6, 1891, in her seventy-first year. Their four children were: Frank, of Mohnton; John, deceased; Sarah, who died in childhood; and Wayne F.
WAYNE F. GRIFFITH, son of Cyrus, and a foremost citizen and well known justice of the peace of Brecknock township, now engaged in dealing in farm implements and fertilizers at Knauers, was born Dec. 8, 1867. His boyhood was passed upon his father's farm, and his early education was obtained in the township schools and in a private school in charge of Henry T. Kachel. He first became engaged in the farm implement business in 1885, when but eighteen years of age, and since then has carried on the business successfully at Knauers. He has patrons within a radius of twelve miles, and he sells from eighty to one hundred tons of fertilizer every year. His honest, open dealings and genial obliging manners have won him a growing list of patrons. He deals in all kinds of farm implements, and has the largest line of farm equipment in the county, also doing a large amount of repair work.
In politics Mr. Griffith is quite influential as a Democrat, and he has been active in party work, his influence always being sought by those anxious for party prefer- ment. When but twenty-two years of age he was elected township clerk, and he was appointed by Governor Robert E. Pattison justice of the peace, and since then has been re-elected three times. At his first election he had every vote that was polled by both parties, something that had never happened before and never has since to any candidate. He is also the committeeman of his party, representing the township on the county com- inittee. In the organization of the new -Mohnton National Bank, Mr. Griffith was unanimously elected, cashier, a position he still holds. This bank is in successful operation, and the first year made a net profit to the stockholders of fourteen per cent. Mr. Griffith resides in a modern residence at Knauers, which he erected in 1896. It is surrounded by a well-kept terraced lawn, in which may be found many South Carolina poplar trees, and much beautiful shrubbery.
On Nov. 30, 1895, Mr. Griffith was married to Jennie Kachel, daughter of Samuel and Caroline (Griffith) Kachel, farming people of Brecknock. They attend the Allegheny Union Church, in which Mr. Griffith is a member of the Sunday-school and was a teacher for several years.
AUGUSTUS M. GRIFFITH, son of William and Catharine, was born in Brecknock township March 16, 1863. He obtained a limited education in the common schools which be left at an early age to work upon the home farm. He remained with his father until he attained his majority, and then for one vear drove a team. In 1885 he moved to his father's farm, which he conducted for two years. In 1887.he purchased a sixty-acre farm in Brecknock township, where he farmed for sixteen years. In 1904 he purchased his brother Hiram's bakery at Mohnton, and this he has since successfully conducted. He bakes an excellent quality of bread and pastry; and twenty-five different kinds of cake, for all of which he has a ready market in Mohnton and surrounding dis- tricts. In the Reading markets he has stands: No. 19r3 at Fourth and Penn street; at Ninth and Buttonwood streets; No. 172, Sixth and Bingaman streets; and No. 60. Tenth and Chestnut streets. I-le keeps two double teams to supply Mohnton and vicinity. His weekly consumption of flour is estimated at thirty barrels. I-le has all the latest and best improved machinery. On the evening of May 26, 1905, a fire broke out in a neighboring property, which was communicated by the wind to Mr. Griffith's, and his bakerv and dwelling were consumed, entailing a loss of five thousand dollars, only partially insured. He at once rebuilt. and now has a fine home and bakery on Wood street, Mohnton. In politics, like his brothers, he is a Democrat. He and his family attend Allegheny Church, of which they are Lutheran members.
On Jan. 27, 1882, Mr. Griffith married Mary Ann Strunk, daughter of Martin and Kate (Stoner) Strunk, and their children are: Walter, unmarried; Goldie, married to Charles B. High, a school teacher of Shillington, by whom she has a son, Jean; Miss Nora, at home; Stella, married to Harvey Boone; and Tamie, at home.
BIRAM GRIFFITH, proprietor of the "Hotel Griffith," located on the site of the former Mohn's Store postoffice, at Mohnton, Pa., was born in Brecknock township, Berks county, Aug. 5, 1866, son of William and Catharine (Marks) Griffith. He spent his school days in Brecknock township and worked with his father until eighteen years of age. On Jan. 17, 1887, he came to Mohnton and learned the hatter's trade, which he followed for eleven years, also engaging successfully in horse trading and the livery business, the latter. of which he sold in 1904 to his brother Hiram. For a period of three years Mr. Griffith drove the mail between Mohnton and Adamstown, and before the advent of the trolley cars carried passengers. In his youth he had also learned the milling business with Daniel Yelk, with whom he remained one year, although'he never engaged in this business on his own account. He built his present hotel in 1904 and received his license in 1905, since which time he has done a large business. His, hotel, a three-story structure with twenty-nine rooms, one of the best in Berks county, is well liked by the traveling public, and Mr. Griffith makes a cordial, affable host, being very popular in his community. In his political belief be is a Democrat, and he has served a number of times as delegate to county conventions. He is a member of the Reformed Church of Allegheny, and a liberal contributor toward its Support. Mr. Griffith married Catherine Steffey, daughter of Ephraim, and Elizabeth (Gephard) Steffey, of Brecknock township, Berks county, and to this union were born four children: Katie, who married Harry Whitner, of Mohnton, and has two children; Edith M, who died ill infancy; and Edna and Edgar B., attending school.
HIRAM M. GRIFFITH, a substantial business man of Berks county, who is carrying on a flourishing livery business at Mohnton, Cumru township, was born Aug. 5, 1866, in Brecknock township, Berks county He attended the schools of his native township, and when a young man learned cigar-making with James and Samuel Prutzman, of Adamstown, Pa., following this occupation for four years. He then learned the hatter's trade with George Hendel, and followed same for four years, after which be engaged in the baking business at which he was employed.from 1893 until 1904, when he sold out to his brother Augustus. He then engaged in the livery business, having bought out his brother, Biram. The stable is located at Wood and and Wyomissing avenues, and he has from fifteen to twenty horses, enjoying a large and profitable business. He is a Democrat in politics, and is connected fraternally with the P. 0. S. of A., Camp No. 211. His religious connection is with the Salem Evangelical Association of Mohnton. Mr. Griffith was united in marriage to Mary Mosser, the estimable daughter of Nicholas and Sallie (Grill) Mosser, and to this union were born two children, both daughters, Gertrude (who died in infancy) and Marjorie E. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are well known in Mohnton, and enjoys the friendship and esteem of a large acquaintanceship.
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