ADDISON A. GRIFFITH. The Griffith family, of which this gentleman is a worthy representative, comes of Irish ancestry, David Griffith, the grandfather, having emigrated from that country to America in an early day. He and his family first located on a farm in Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn., then moved to a place near Claysville, Donegal township, and finally went to Monroe county, Ohio, where he died, leaving children as follows: Benjamin, Samuel, John, David, Ephraim, Elizabeth, Anna, Charlotte, Rachel, Jonah and Levi. The father in his political preferences affiliated with the Whig party; in religion he was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Miller's Run. Levi Griffith, son of David, was born May 10, 1809, in Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn., where his early education was received. In 1830 he married Margaret, daughter of James McClellan, of Mt. Pleasant township, this county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Griffith resided in Chartiers township, this county, two years, then came to Canonsburg, where he died in 1883. He followed the business of a contractor and builder, in politics was a Whig and Republican, and in religion a member of the U. P. Church, which he served as trustee. His widow is yet living, in her eighty-eighth year, the mother of the following children: Nancy J. (wife of Rev. W. J. Alexander), David, James, Ada A. (Mrs. John A. Boone), Allie (wife of Andrew W. Miller) and Addison A. Addison A. Griffith was born July 5, 1842, in Canonsburg, Penn., where he received a thorough training at the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he was appointed assistant in the quartermaster's office, army of the Cumberland, remaining there sixteen months, and was then transferred to the Department of the Shenandoah where he was until the close of the war. He then returned home, and going to Oil City, Penn., engaged in trading in oil, hay, grain and general produce. A year later he opened a general store at Freeport, Armstrong Co., Penn., which included dry goods, notions, boots and shoes. He conducted this business eighteen months, then managed a hotel at Sioux City, Iowa, one year, and afterward, having purchased a stock of goods, opened a store about sixty miles north of Sioux City, and there remained two years. He then resided on a farm in Iowa several years, and, moving from there to Dakota, sold agricultural implements there for two years; thence returned to the farm in Iowa, and finally located in Canonsburg, Washington Co., Penn. He served several years as division officer of the Morganza Reform School, and soon afterward opened the extensive tobacco establishment in Canonsburg which he is now conducting. In 1870 Addison A. Griffith and Mary, daughter of Rev. William Galbraith, were united in marriage. Rev. Galbraith was married to a Miss Backup, and their children were John, George, Mary (Mrs. Griffith), Ellen and Laura. Two children were born to the union of Addison A. and Mary Griffith, namely: William, conducting a large shoe business at Mansfield, Penn.; and Maggie. For his second wife Mr. Griffith was united in marriage with Hannah, daughter of Godfrey Cook, one of the oldest families of Washington county, and they have two daughters, Mary and Clara. Mr. Griffith is widely known as an enterprising business man, and is actively identified with the interests of the Republican party. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 1457 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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