From: "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois
1892", by Biographical Review Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois; page 558-559; a reprinted by Stevens Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is sold
by the Schuyler County Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
William H. Griffith is a native son of the State of Illinois, born
in Woodstock township, Schuyler county, April 5, 1847. His father, Joshua
Griffith, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and was there reared to the
occupation of a farmer. In 1837 he accompanied his father to Iowa, and three
years later he came to Schuyler county, Illinois, and purchased forty acres
of wild, timber land. He built a log house, which was his dwelling for fifteen
or twenty years. In connection with his agricultural pursuits he had mastered
the cooper's trade, which he followed after coming to this county. His father
was Nathan Griffith, and he died in this county at the residence of his son,
Joshua, aged ninety-three years; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, and
drew a pension from the Government in recognition of his service. Joshua
Griffith married Margaret Hoffman, who died at the age of fifty-seven years;
they reared a family of eleven children, all of whom are living. Mr. Griffith
is living a retired life at Lewistown, Fulton county, Illinois. He has a
few acres of land, and is devoting his energies to fruit culture. Politically
he is identified with the Republican party, and while a resident of Schuyler
county was Justice of the Peace for many years. He is a self-made man, and
has accumulated his entire property since coming to the State; he has been
very successful in his farming operations, but has relinquished the care
and management of his land to his son, William H. He has bravely done his
share in the development of the resources of Schuyler county, and the present
prosperity of the commonwealth is due to the men of his type.
William H. Griffith was married October 9, 1870, to Miss Susanna Custer,
a native of Washington county, Iowa, born August 12, 1852. Her parents, Abraham
and Susanna (Antrim) Custer, were natives of the State of Ohio; the father
died in Iowa, but the mother survives, and is a resident of this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are the parents of four children: Elmer E. was born
September 17, 1871; Wilmer E. was born January 26, 1877; Edith L. was born
February 26, 1880; Myrtle was born March 22, 1888. After his marriage Mr.
Griffith settled on a farm with his grandfather, renting for a year; he then
purchased forty acres, to which he removed, and later bought an additional
forty; he has the management of the entire farm, which consists of 200 acres.
In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, having cast his first vote for General Grant's second term.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was one of the pioneers of
the county; he made the journey to the frontier when the distance was wearily
covered by driving or walking, and met the privations and hardships unflinchingly,
as became the sturdy soul who undertook to rescue this wilderness and convert
it into one of the most fertile States of the Union. Let the coming generations
never forget the debt of gratitude they owe their worthy forefathers.
