BIOGRAPHY: Thomas GRIFFITH, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 241-3
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THOMAS GRIFFITH was of Welsh descent, whose father Griffith Griffith, came to 
this country from Wales with his parents, William and Jane G., about the year 
1805 or '06, when twelve or thirteen years of age.
      They located on the little Conemaugh, about three miles south of 
Ebensburg, and followed the trade of carding and fulling, while Griffith grew to 
manhood.
     In 1816 he married Hannah Reese, a daughter of one of the early Welsh 
settlers. As a result of this union eight children were born, Thomas, the 
subject of this sketch, being born October 20, 1818. When about two years old 
his parents purchased land and erected a carding and fulling-mill on the little 
Conemaugh, one half mile south of Ebensburg, here he continued to live for over 
fifty years, moving into Ebensburg in 1876, where he lived for fourteen years, 
dying January 5, 1890.
     During his early years he worked hard, assisting his father at his trade. 
His educational advantages were very meagre, he never having attended over three 
months at school. By far the best part of his mental training was obtained by 
self-study and business experience.
     Arriving at maturity, he and a brother purchased the farm, including the 
carding-mill and a water-power saw mill, from their father, and continued to 
carry on the business, but upon the death of his brother; two or three years 
later, he turned his attention almost entirely to the saw-mill as the most 
profitable.
     Commencing the business over half a century ago on a small scale, and when 
the facilities for the manufacture of lumber were of a very primitive nature, he 
was a practical witness to the many improvements for the cutting of timber and 
the handling of lumber that characterized the last decade. He kept pace with the 
progress of the age in which he lived, and was not slow to adopt new and 
improved methods.
      His motto was "upward and onward," and at the time of his death he ranking 
among the large lumbermen of the State, having saw-mills in Cambria, McKean and 
Elk counties, and was, perhaps, the most extensive cherry lumber dealer in the 
State. For a period of about twenty years he operated a retail lumber-yard in 
Philadelphia. During the latter part of his life he was somewhat interested in 
the oil-producing industry of the State, and also at his death owned a large 
tract of coal land in the Blacklick coal regions, embracing about four thousand 
acres.
      Politically he was a staunch republican, and always took a commendable 
interest in the success of his party and for the promotion of its principles.
      In 1873 he was the nominee of his party for the office of county 
treasurer, and although the county was Democratic by about twelve hundred 
voters, he came within twenty-eight votes of being elected. In 1879 he was the 
successful nominee of his party for the office of sheriff, overcoming a very 
large majority, and had the distinction of being the first Republican sheriff 
elected in Cambria county. He was an active, enterprising citizen, deeply 
interested in every move which had for its object the good of the borough in 
which he lived and the promotion of the welfare of the community at large. In 
him the cause of education found one of its warmest and most ardent friends, and 
he served a number of terms as school director.
      His marriage with Mary Davis, daughter of William Davis, in 1844, resulted 
in the birth of four boys and one girl that grew to maturity.
      William W. was born August 15, 1845, and received a good common-school 
education, after which he devoted his time to assisting his father in his lumber 
business, part of the time at the retail yard in Philadelphia, but at the time 
of his death, which occurred in June, 1877, was managing the lumber interests at 
Kane, Pennsylvania. He leaves to survive him a wife and one child, May.
      John T. was born June 19, 1853, and died June 30, 1853, and died June 30, 
1892, leaving a wife and three children to survive him: William, Mary and Annie.
      Upon the death of William W., John T. assumed charge of the lumber 
interests in McKean and Elk counties, and also several years before his death, 
engaged in lumbering and oil interests on his own account. He was active in 
McKean county politics, and for two terms represented that county in the State 
legislature.
     Abner Griffith was born August 5, 1855, received a good common-school 
education, and spent one year at Cannonsburg academy, in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania. He graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 
1879, and at once began practice at Kane, Pennsylvania, but from night exposures 
contracted lung trouble, which compelled him to give up his practice during the 
first year and spend the winter in Florida.
      Upon his return, in 1880, he began practice in Ebensburg, which he 
continued during the six or seven warmer months for eight years, returning to 
his farm and orange-grove, near Ocala, Florida, during the winter; but, on 
account of continued poor health, abandoned his profession entirely in 1888. He 
now spends his summers in Ebensburg and winters in Florida. He is a member of 
Summit Lodge, No. 312, Free and Accepted Masons. In 1879 he married Elizabeth 
Evans, daughter of John J. Evans, of Ebensburg, and this union has been blessed 
in the birth of three children: Clarence, dying in infancy; Margaret, born 
November 14, 1890, and Elizabeth, born March 13, 1895.
      Annie E., born December 3, 1858, now living at Kane, Pennsylvania, with 
her three children: Ruth, Thomas and Dorothy. In 1884 she was married to F. A. 
Lyte, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who at the time of his death, occurring on 
June 24, 1896, was cashier of the First National bank of Kane.
      Webster Griffith, born June 5, 1860, and is now actively engaged in the 
lumber business at Ebensburg.
      He received his education in the common schools of Ebensburg. His father 
having been elected to the office of Sheriff, Webster was compelled to leave 
school at an early age and assist in the management of his father's business 
interests, remaining with him until he arrived at his majority. Commencing the 
battle of life on his own account, he formed a business alliance with his 
brother under the firm name of J. T. & W. Griffith. This firm was engaged in the 
lumbering and oil business in McKean county until 1892, the date of his 
brother's death. Upon the death of his father, Mr. Griffith was made executor of 
his estate, the affairs of which he adjusted to the satisfaction of all 
concerned.
      Since 1895 Mr. Griffith has continued lumbering on his own account, and 
also has oil-producing interests in the McKean county fields. Politically he is 
a republican, and at present is serving as a member of the board of school 
directors of the borough of Ebensburg, and is a member of Kane Lodge, No. 566, 
Free and Accepted Masons, of Kane, Pennsylvania. On November 28, 1894, Mr. 
Griffith wedded Alice Zahm, a daughter of George K. Zahm, of Ebensburg, and to 
their union have been born one child, George W., born December 12, 1895.