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OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. | 111 |
Portage railroad as captain of a train, which position is similar to a railroad conductor of the present. He continued in the service of this road until it was abandoned. He then went to Kansas, where he remained three years. Here he took up a farm claim, but in 1858 became enthused with the dazzling prospects of gold-mining, and went as far west as the Rocky mountains, where he remained one summer and then returned to Kansas. The next summer he went back to the Rockies, but the same year returned to the East and went to work on the Pennsylvania railroad, first in the capacity of brake-man and later as fireman. He remained in the employ of the road for five years. At the expiration of this period he returned to the Summit, where, for about fifteen years, he ran a hack and wagon, conveying passengers and freight in this vicinity. He discontinued this business and adopted the avocation of a farmer, and, in connection with his agricultural pursuits, engaged in the closely-related business of dairying, which he continued for thirteen years. At the present time he is engaged in farming exclusively. Politically he is a silver democrat, and at the time the Summit was a borough served as a councilman. In 1876 he married Mrs. Margaret Allen Boland, who died in 1889.
WILLIAM G. GRIFFITH, an enterprising, successful farmer and a scion of an old and highly respectable family of Somerset and Cambria counties, is a son of Nehemiah R. and Rebecca (Jacoby) Griffith, and was born in Upper Yoder township, Cambria county, on June 1, 1865. His grandfather, Abner Griffith, was a native of Somerset county, but now lives in Stony Creek |
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township. He has always followed the pursuits of a farmer, and has always espoused the principles of the Republican party, but previous to the organization of that party he was a whig. He married Miss Mary Reichard, now deceased. Nehemiah R., father, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, but is now a merchant in Walnut Grove, this county. He, like his father, Abner Griffith, has been a life-long republican, and has held several local offices. In September 18, 1860, he married Miss Rebecca Jacoby, and to this union ten children have been born: Mary, the wife of J. W. Rager, who resides in Conemaugh township; William G.; Simon L., of Walnut Grove; Franklin A., of Walnut Grove; Clara, the wife of Carl Griffith, a resident of Walnut Grove; Minerva Ella, wife of John Lohr, also of Walnut Grove; Lucinda E., and Ida Lucretia. William G. Griffith received his education in the common schools of his native township, and at the age of maturity began life on his own account as a farmer, which pursuit he has always followed. Although he has been very successful as a farmer, the mercantile business has always held attractions for him, and he thinks seriously of soon entering that field. He, too, is a republican, and has held the offices of assessor and school director for his township for several years. He is a member of Corona Lodge, No. 999, I. O. O. F., of Conemaugh, Junior Order U. A. M., Conemaugh Council, No. 137. He, with his entire family, belongs to the United Brethren church, of which organization they are active and consistent members. On April 19, 1888, he married Della, a daughter of David Shaffer, of Wilmore, this county, and this marriage has resulted in the |
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