Stanwood Griffith (b. 1834) was a prominent figure in Ashton Township, Illinois, serving as Supervisor and engaging in various successful business ventures. Born in New Lisbon, Ohio, to Oliver and Mary Griffith, he initially pursued farming before moving to Illinois in 1864. In Ashton Township, he transitioned into the drug, hardware, and lumber businesses, eventually co-founding Griffith & Sons with his children. Griffith was also a dedicated public servant, holding roles such as Justice of the Peace and School Director. He married Elizabeth Charters in 1858, and together they had seven children. Griffith was active in the Presbyterian Church and the Masonic fraternity.
Stanwood Griffith, the popular Supervisor of Ashton Township, was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, December 6, 1834. His parents were Oliver and Mary (Hussey) Griffith, both born in 1797 in York County, Pa. The senior Mr. Griffith was an agriculturist during his early years but later became engaged in money loaning. Both parents died in New Lisbon, Ohio, and belonged to that sect known as Quakers or Friends.
Our subject was the second son and fifth child in his parents’ family of seven children. He received a good common-school education, and appreciating the value of a thorough knowledge of books, made the best of his opportunities and is today a man of culture and education. He remained under the parental roof assisting his father in performing the farm duties until twenty-one years of age and thus received a thorough training in all those things which go to make a first-class agriculturist. Upon reaching his majority, he left home and went to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where he engaged in farming on his own account, remaining there until 1864 when he disposed of his farm at a good profit and came to the Prairie State, purchasing a farm in Ogle County, on which he continued to make his home and cultivate until the spring of 1868 when he came to Ashton Township, this county, and launched out in the drug business. He was exceedingly successful in this undertaking as indeed he was in every branch of work, and two years later added a fine stock of hardware, formed a partnership with George L. Charters, and carried on a successful trade in that line for the two succeeding years. Our subject then disposed of his interest in the firm and engaged in the lumber business, which he prosecuted for the next seven years.
He soon disposed of his lumber interests and with his sons, O. W. and J. C., again became a hardware merchant, the firm style being Griffith & Sons. They did a flourishing business, carrying a complete line of heavy and shelf hardware and by their square and fair dealing with their customers, did an extensive business.
Griffith & Sons continued together in the hardware business for over five years when our subject disposed of his interest to his sons and has since been engaged in the lumber and stock business. He has been engaged in the active operation or superintendence of large tracts of land and at the present writing is the owner of five hundred acres of beautiful land, lying in Lee and Ogle Counties. By a proper rotation of crops, his land has been brought to a high degree of cultivation, while the various buildings have been erected which best subserve the purposes of a first-class agriculturist. His life has been characterized by an uprightness of purpose and an integrity of principle which, with his high mental and moral standing, is gratefully recognized by his fellow-men.
Mr. Griffith of this sketch was married to Miss Elizabeth Charters in New Lisbon, Ohio, on October 25, 1858. Mrs. Griffith was born in New Lisbon and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rankin) Charters, natives of Scotland and both of whom died in Ohio. The father was a contractor and did an extensive business in that line. The family of our subject and his amiable wife numbered seven children, namely: Oliver W., John C., Mary, who died when sixteen years old; Abbey E., Anna H., Jennette D., and Catherine.
Mr. Griffith has been chosen by the people of Ashton Township as Supervisor and is the present incumbent of the office, fulfilling every duty in an acceptable and conscientious manner. He has also been Justice of the Peace and School Director, being especially interested in educational matters in his section. He was a member of the Village Board and in politics occupies a front rank in the Republican party. In religious affairs, he has always been very active and is a working member of the Presbyterian Church, having been Superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years. His wife is also connected with that denomination. Mr. Griffith is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is well-known throughout this section of the country and the publishers of this volume would fail in their purpose of recording lives that have been useful and worthy of note were they to omit mention of Stanwood Griffith, who is one of the leading business men of the county.