Griffith - Ephraim - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

GRIFFITH, Ephraim C., contractor and house builder, Crawfordsville, was b. Jan 5, 1833 in Crawfordsville. He is a son of Townsend and Mahala (CATTLIN) Griffith. His mother was b. in Hamilton, Ohio. Her parents were from Va and in 1822 came to Mont Co and bought the present STAFFORD farm, just E. of the city of Crawfordsville, where they lived for many years, then went to Clinton Co. IN where they died, he at age 76 and she at 90. Her father was a Pennsylvanian, and with his parents went to Md, then came to Indianapolis, when there was not a shingle roof to be seen in the place. There about 1822 he saw his father, an old revolutionary soldier, buried with the honors of war. The old gentleman was a Quaker, and the Friends gathered to make his shroud, but when they understood he was to be bur. as a soldier, they departed. About 1823 Townsend Griffith came to Crawfordsville.

In 1827 he was married, and settled in a little storeroom, bought of John WILSON and which stood where the engine house now stands. Here his father died  in 1829. His mother died in Md. When Townsend first came he bought the ground on which the Center Presbyterian Church now stands. Mr. Griffith built the first log jail of Crawfordsville.

This burning, he put up the first brick jail. He was always active in public improvements. He held public meetings throughout the County, and solicited nearly all the subscriptions for the old New Albany RR stock. He was major in the state militia also. He was a warm democrat, yet a particular friend and companion of the Hon. John Willson (deceased). In 152 he went to Minn. and on his way home was taken ill. When just across the northern Ill state line he was obliged to leave the train and seek a stranger's cot and in a little village in No. Ill he died. He was buried there but was removed in the following winter to Crawfordsville.

He was widely known and highly esteemed in the County. Mrs. Griffith is still living in Crawfordsville. Ephraim C, son of the above, was raised in the town of Crawfordsville and education in the common school. At age 12 he applied himself to learn the cabinet and carpenter's trades with his father, when he was so small that he was obliged to make a platform on which to stand at his bench. This has been his life work. he is probably the most extensive contractor in the County, having built a great number of business and dwelling houses. He was a school trustee for some years and was appointed to superintend the erection of the co. courthouse, which cost $135,000. He keeps from 8 to 20 hands employed. In 1879 he was elected city councilman. He is a warm democrat, a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He was married Feb 14, 1855 to Mary J. BRASSFIELD, of Mont. Co. She was born in Shelby Co Ky. She is a member of the Methodist Church. They have 3 boys and one girl. The Griffiths have done much toward the improvement and development of Montgomery County  and Crawfordsville. - typed by kbz