For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 597
WILLIAM GEORGE GRIFFITH....William George Griffith, for fifteen years past in business at Wilton Junction, was born in Muscatine, Iowa, September 11, 1864. His father, Peter Francis Griffith, who was a native of England, came to the United States about 1848 and stayed for a time in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lost a brother from cholera when that dread disease visited this country many years ago. Traveling westward, Mr. Griffith made his home in St. Louis for a time and then came to Burlington, Iowa, locating in Muscatine about 1860. In 1879 he began in the sash and paint business with Moses Couch. Later he engaged in business in Kansas City but returned to Muscatine and made a trip to England before his death, which occurred in Muscatine about 1894. The mother of our subject was born presumably in Pennsylvania. She was married at Cincinnati, Ohio and was called away some years before the death of her husband. Six members of the family are now living : Mary, the wife of George Hawley, of Muscatine ; Harry, also of Muscatine ; Etta ; Bertha ; William George, our subject ; and Richard, of Cincinnati.William G. Griffith was educated in the public schools of Muscatine and spent some time with his father in Kansas City. In 1883 he took up his residence in Cincinnati, where he remained for one year. The next thirteen years he spent principally in traveling and during that time became thoroughly acquainted with the business of undertaking and embalming. In 1894 he returned to Muscatine and spent one year in the restaurant business with Frank Jones, then permanently locating at Wilton Junction, where he is identified with the furniture, hardware, undertaking and embalming business under the firm name of Whitmer & Griffith. The firm owns the building which it occupies and by close attention to the wants of the community and keeping thoroughly informed as to the latest and best goods offered in the line it carries, has built up a lucrative patronage, the establishment being known as the largest of its kind in that part of the county. Mr. Griffith is the owner of a fine home and his wife holds the title to valuable real estate in the township.
In 1893 Mr. Griffith was happily united in marriage to Miss Ollie Maud Johnston, a native of Cedar county, Iowa. They have one child, Harry Johnston, now sixteen years of age, who is attending high school, being in his sophomore year.
Politically Mr. Griffith is connected with the republican party and has served with general acceptance in the town council. Fraternally he holds membership in Wilton Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He has served as president of the Wilton Fair Association and at the present time is interested financially in the Slick Telephone Company. Mr. Griffith believes in enjoying life as he goes along and one of his diversions is to ride through the country behind the beautiful trotting horse of which he is the owner. The horse is recognized as one of the handsomest in the locality and is an intelligent animal of which any man might justly be proud.
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