My Genealogy Hound

FRANKLIN GRIFFITH, dealer in agricultural implements, Carthage, Missouri, was born September 1, 1828, in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, His father, Benjamin, was a native of Philadelphia, and his mother, Ann Edwards, was also a native of Philadelphia. The ancestors of this family located in this country with William Penn, and their posterity have ever since resided there. Captain Griffith is a lineal descendent of the noted Quaker minister, Rev. John Griffith. Captain Griffith was reared and educated in Philadelphia, and learned that branch of technology known as drafting in architecture and building, following the business for some twenty years. In 1854 he came to Hancock county, Illinois. In 1805 he enlisted in the Fifty-eighth Illinois as a private soldier, but in less than a year was mustered three times, being promoted to the captaincy of his company before being mustered out of the service in 1866. After the war he spent some time in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Illinois. In 1874 he removed to Texas and engaged in conducting a lumber yard and saw mill, together with agricultural business. In 1881 he came to Carthage, where he opened an agricultural house, where he is now engaged, carrying on a large and growing business. He makes a specialty of the McCormick reaper, and keeps a full stock of farm machinery. Captain Griffith was married in 1851, in Philadelphia, to Miss A. Ketts, of the aforenamed city. Their family is composed of four children living, two sons and two daughters. It requires but a short acquaintance with Captain Griffith to satisfy one that the gentleman possesses a good deal more than the average amount of business tact and ability. Wholly unsolicited on his part he received the Greenback nomination of State Treasurer of Texas, and although running far ahead of his ticket Texas Democracy in 1880 was too strong for a Union soldier to hope for success. He commands the patronage and respect of a good farming community, and easily elicits the good will of all men.