MR. GRIFFITH WILLIAMS, BLUE EARTH, MINNESOTA.
Born at Dyffryn Ardudwy, Merionethshire, Wales, November 23, 1822. Son of William and Jane (Williams) Roberts. In 1845 he married Miss Catherine Jones, daughter of John and Ann Jones, of Cwm-mynach, Merionethshire.He learned the stone mason trade from his father and soon became quite proficient therein.
In the spring of 1848 he emigrated to Holland Patent, N. Y., and thence to Trenton, N. Y., where he resided for seven years. In October, 1865, he came to Mankato, Minnesota, where for many years he followed his usual occupation of stone mason and contractor, and many of the principal buildings of Mankato are the product of his skill, such as the Normal, Union, Pleasant Grove and Franklin school houses, the Citizens National bank building, and many others.
For twenty years he contracted the stone work on nearly all the principal bridges of Blue Earth county. He also superintended for the county the erection of the new Blue Earth county court house.
In 1872 he removed to his farm in the town of Judson, where he resided until November, 1894, when he returned to Mankato and purchased there a pleasant home. His children are: Mrs. Jane McDonald, of Mankato; Mrs. Catherine Willis, of Omaha; Bennet Williams, of Judson; Mrs. Annie Evans, wife of Edward Evans, of South Bend.