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William C. Griffith

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William C. Griffith

Birth	:	26 Jan 1852
Death	:	1939
Burial	:	North Clarence Cemetery, Clarence Center, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.4075000, -84.8008330
Inscription	:	"Father"
Description	:	Parents Richard Griffith & Edith Leach (Canada) 1904 Bio. Sketch from History of Big Bend. WILLIAM C. GRIFFITH, famrer, postmater and townsite proprietor of the town of Griffith, Adams county, is a native of Carlton, Ontarios, born Jan. 36,1852. He was the son of Richard and Edith ( Leach) Griffith, natives of Ireland, the father of Welsh descent. The father came to Canada from the country of his birth when eight years old, and the mother was born during the voyage of her parents to the American continent. After their marrige the parents settled in Ontario, where the father lived and died,... Read More	Parents Richard Griffith & Edith Leach (Canada) 1904 Bio. Sketch from History of Big Bend. WILLIAM C. GRIFFITH, famrer, postmater and townsite proprietor of the town of Griffith, Adams county, is a native of Carlton, Ontarios, born Jan. 36,1852. He was the son of Richard and Edith ( Leach) Griffith, natives of Ireland, the father of Welsh descent. The father came to Canada from the country of his birth when eight years old, and the mother was born during the voyage of her parents to the American continent. After their marrige the parents settled in Ontario, where the father lived and died, and the subject's father died on a farm at the age of eight and the mother at sevety years of age. Owning to the imperfection of the school system at that time, Mr. Griffith received no schooling during his youth, and at the age of 13 he was aprrenticed for 3 years to a carpenter in order to learn a trade. His wage was to be $20 dollars for the first year, $40 for the second and twice 40 for third. However, because his master insisted on his caring for the children of the household young Griffith summarily resigned at the end of six months, entering the employment of another carpenter and completed his trade. Since that time he has worked at carpentering in many quarters of the United States, he having come to this country immediately after finishing his apprenticeship. He went to Orma, Wis., in 1869 and worked his trade three months and then set out to walk to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He left home with $13, and before reaching his destination he passed through many hardships and embarrassments. He was compelled at one time to trade a part of his clothing for food. Finally a gentleman took compassion upon him to the extent of purchasing him a ticket to Carroll City, Iowa, with the understanding that Mr. Griffith was to return the money when he became able. This he did with out of his first earnings. He worked first on a farm in Iowa and in 1874 he went to California. When he reached that state he was penniless, but soon secured work on a hay press. He later worked in the harvest fields and in the timber. He purchased land in Calif., and for one winter he was engaged in getting out ties for a railroad company. In the spring following his advent in Calif., he purchased the stage route between Soquel and Santa Cruz, but after 11 months he sold this business, married and again engaged in farming. Later on he engaged in the lumber business in Calif.,and for 7 years he was a foreman of a large lumber yard. In 1887 he came to Washington and purchased 200 acres of land, taking at the same time a pre-emption of 160 acres. He returned to Calif., where he spent the winter, but in the following spring he came to his land in Wash., and erected a store and engaged in the mercantile business coupled with that of farming. He also helped institute the postoffice, of which he has since been postmaster. He has engaged more or less in buying and selling of land and has been successful. At the time of opening his store, Mr. Griffith engaged in the meat business, which was of the greatest help to him during the panic of 1893, since he had a contract to furnish meat during all of that year to a construction gang on the railraod. He also deals heavily in produce. During the summer of 1891 he shipped eleven thousand dozen eggs to Spokane. Mrs. Griffith has his land well improved, his buildings being among the best in the county and he now owns 960 acres of land, all of which is being cultivated. On May 19, 1878, occurred the marriage to Anne E. Wall, a native of Calif., whose parents, natives of Missouri, died when she was in early girlhood. She was reared by an aunt, C. Wentz. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have been parents of six children: Jesse, deceased; Edith married to C. E. Olson, Adams county; Gracie C., deceased; George L., Berth E. and Elmer M., the latter three of whom are living at home. Mr. Griffith is a Republican and at the hands of his party, was elected county commissioner in 1889, holding office four years. He is now road supervisor of his district. He is a member of the Old English church, the he never now attends it services. In the fall of 1902 Mr. Griffith ran a telephone wire from his farm in Ritzville. This was done as an experiment, but proved so successful that in a short while many of the farms installed phones and connected with the wire, since which time the rural telephone has been considred almost a necessity in the Big Bend. In the insitution of this line Mr. Griffith was co-operated with a neighbor, J. A. Willis and these two are known as the orginators of the barb wire telephone system, which has become so generally popular. The orginal barbed-wire line has been replace with a high wire line, by him. In June, 1904, Mr. Griffith disposed of his sotre, leased his land for three years and resigned the postmasterhip, which latter has not yet, however, been accepted. This was for the purpose of giving him a much needed rest. He will spend the summer of each year in Idaho where he owns timber interest, which require his personal supervision, for at leat a portion of the time. Two children of William Cook Griffith and Anna Eliza Wall: Bertha Eva Griffith (Olsen) 1890 - 1978, death in Portland, Oregon; Elmer Marvin Griffith 1896 - 1968, death in Idaho.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William C. Griffith's memorial?
William C. Griffith's memorial is located at: North Clarence Cemetery, Clarence Center, Calhoun County, USA.
When did William C. Griffith death?
William C. Griffith death on 1939 in
Where are the coordinates of the William C. Griffith's memorial?
Latitude: 42.4075000
Longitude: -84.8008330

Family Members:

Parent

Richard Griffith

(1817 - 1892)

Edith Leech Griffith

(1821 - 1893)

Spouse

Anna E. Wall Griffith

(1855 - 1933)

Siblings

James Martin Griffith

(1856 - 1921)

Clara Jane Griffith

(1861 - 1876)

Joshua Nelson Griffith

(1862 - 1888)

Children

Edith Susan Griffith Olson

(1880 - 1960)

George Louis Griffith

(1886 - 1981)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. North Clarence Cemetery
Clarence Center, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4075000, -84.8008330

2. Nichols Cemetery
Duck Lake, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3777770, -84.7977770

3. Carrier Cemetery
Brookfield Township, Eaton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4360360, -84.7816390

4. Partello Cemetery
Partello, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3987427, -84.8468933

5. Sowles Cemetery
Brookfield, Eaton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4437300, -84.7976300

6. Clarence Center Cemetery
Clarence Center, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3777770, -84.7666670

7. Lee Center Cemetery
Lee Center, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4075012, -84.8792038

8. Perry Cemetery
Charlotte, Eaton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4722220, -84.7925000

9. Dyer Cemetery
Clarence Center, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3417015, -84.7528000

10. Krenerick Cemetery
Albion, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3344002, -84.7794037

11. Rice Creek Cemetery
Marshall, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3343670, -84.8289910

12. Springport Cemetery
Springport, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3727188, -84.6986694

13. Fox Cemetery
Brookfield, Eaton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4935550, -84.7677610

14. Pierson Cemetery
Springport, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4004230, -84.6790950

15. Bosworth Cemetery
Olivet, Eaton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4692001, -84.8944016

16. Olivet City Cemetery
Olivet, Eaton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4431267, -84.9260101

17. Samson Cemetery
Marengo, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3128014, -84.8535995

18. King Cemetery
Devereaux, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3202200, -84.7066900

19. Reed Family Cemetery
Albion, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3049670, -84.7345340

20. Starr Commonwealth Schools Cemetery
Albion, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2869530, -84.8003130

21. Davis Family Cemetery
Albion, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2845270, -84.7911660

22. Quakertown Cemetery
Devereaux, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3208351, -84.6805573

23. Center Eaton Cemetery
Charlotte, Eaton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5349998, -84.7949982

24. Porter Cemetery
Convis Township, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3488998, -84.9608002