MR. JOHN GRIFFITH GRIFFITH, SLATINGTON, LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Griffith Griffith, of Caernarvonshire, North Wales, was a slate quarryman. He married Ellen Williams, daughter of John and Jane Williams. They had thirteen children, two of whom emigrated to America, one of whom bore his father’s name, Griffith.Griffith Griffith upon his arrival in this country, located at or near Granville, Washington county, New York, where he worked in the slate quarries, subsequently locating in Slatington Pennsylvania, where he resided some years. In 1906 he migrated to some place on Staten Island, New York.
He married in Wales, but his wife died before he came to America. They had children: I. John G. ; 2. William; and Mary Griffith, of Slatington.
John G. Griffith, son of Griffith Griffith, Jr., was born March 5th, 1857, in North Wales. He was reared and educated in his native land, and at an early age he was engaged in the slate industries, continuing in this vocation until the age of twenty-two years, when he also in 1879, migrated to America, locating first at Granville, New York, where he worked in the slate industry for several years.
He then worked in the iron ore mines at Mineville, Essex county. New York, for about two years. He was then engaged about the coal mines at Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, Pennsylvania for some years, going from thence to Bangor, Northampton county; then in 1884 he located at Slatington, Pennsylvania. He was for some years foreman for the Carbon Slate Company.
In 1908, he, with Evan J. Davis, William Davis, (his son), and Dr. Jenkins, of Albany, New York, leased a quarry and organized the present Big Franklin Slate Company, which has since been successfully operated.
Mr. Griffith is a member and deacon of the Welsh Presbyterian church. He is very active in all church work, especially in the Sunday school. He has been superintendent of the infant or primary department for several years, manifesting a deep interets in behalf of the children thereof, who regard and love him as their personal friend.
John G. Griffith married. May 30th, 1886, Ella Jones, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Jones. Issue: Fourteen children, all of whom are living and still at home, viz: 1. Ellen; 2. Thomas; 3. Idwell; 4. Plato; 5. Elizabeth; 6. John; 7. Annie; 8. Catherine; 9. Margaret; 10. William; 11. Ruth; 12. Mary; 13. Jane; 14. Clara Griffith