Article from the Hutchinson Newspaper

 

W. D. Griffith Early Pioneer

Funeral services for prominent 83 year old resident held Wednesday

Funeral services Wednesday afternoon for William D. Griffith, prominent and respected citizen of Hutchinson for many years, one of the early settlers in Carver County and McLeod County, and for many years treasurer of Renville county, were largely attended at Vineyard Methodist church.  Mr. Griffith died at his home on Sunday morning, April 10, 1931 at 7:30 after an illness that had kept him confined to his home since last fall, having attained the age of 83 years, seven months and one day.

 

The Rev. Joseph W. Robinson, pastor of the church, officiated at the service which were held at 2 o'clock and preached the funeral sermon, and Thomas Klovstad, worshipful master of Temple Lodge No. 59, A.F. and A. M. had charge of the Masonic rites at the grave in Oakland cemetery, with members of the Masonic Order, of which Mr. Griffith was a member for half a century, assisting.  Pallbearers were Geo. Umland, C.E. Kester, Dr. J.H. Burns, J.M. Eheim, Paul Chernausek and Frank J. Zila.

 

Wm D. Griffith was born in New York City on September 9, 1848, son of Lemuel and Eleanor Griffith.  In 1853, when five years of age he accompanied his parents to Chanhassen, Carver County, where they resided for six years, after which they returned to New York.

 

When only 14 years of age Mr. Griffith joined the New York State militia and served during the Civil War for a year and a half, but because of his youth, his parents would not consent to his joining the national army and he was given his honorable discharge on March 10, 1863.

 

Three years later he returned to Minnesota and located in the pioneer village of Hutchinson where he engaged in the carpenter trade.

 

In October 1873 he was united in marriage to Ruth A. Ellis of Hutchinson who preceded him in death on March 9, 1921.

 

In 1878 the Griffith family moved to Hector in Renville county where Mr. Griffith became a factor in the founding of that village and engaged in the general store business, and later served as postmaster.  In 1880 he discontinued the general merchantile business and entered the stationery line, later forming a partnership

 

with C. H. Nixon under the firm name of Nixon and Griffith, general merchandise.

 

Always a public spirited man and sterling in qualities Mr. Griffith was elected treasurer of Renville county in the fall of 1883, almost 50 years ago.   In the fall of 1895 he dissolved partnership with Mr. Nixon and moved to Florida because of the ill health of his wife, who for many years previous to her death was an invalid.  Returning from the south at the organization of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Hector he became the assistant cashier, holding that position for a number of years.

 

Again in 1900 he was elected county treasurer and continued in that office in Renville county until 1913 when he retired and returned to Hutchinson where he continued to live in his home on the hill in the western part of the city until his passing.

 

Mr. Griffith was a member of the Masonic order for half a century uniting with the fraternal organization in Hutchinson.  He was also a member of the Gopher Campfire Club Council and served as its secretary-treasurer for two years, and also a member of the Board of Directors of the Citizens Bank.

 

He is survived by seven children: Mrs. W. A. Phillips of Stewart, Mrs. J. B. Phillips of Sacramento, Calif., Dr. Charles A. Griffith, College of Dentistry professor at the Univ. of Minnesota, Harold Griffith of Olivia, Mrs. Chester A. Grow of Lambert, Mrs. H. L. Torbenson of Hector and Miss Stella Griffith of Hutchinson, as well as 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild, and one brother B. F. Griffith of Little Falls. Six of the seven children are graduates of Hector high school.

 

All members of the family were present at the funeral Wednesday afternoon except Mrs. J. B. Phillips of Sacramento, Calif., and Mrs. Chester A. Grow of Lambert, Montana.

 

Others from away who attended the last rites were Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Griffith of Little Falls, Dr. and Mrs. E. W. Nelson, Mrs. Mary Clyde, Miss Alma Peterson and A. H. Reed and daughter Miss Jessie, all of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Farrar, Mrs. Irving King, Mr. and Mrs. I. G. Lodahl and Dr. Portia J. Wingfield, all of St. Paul - - - -