Stephen Carlton Griffith

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Occupying a prominent position among the real estate and insurance men of Morris county, Stephen C. GRIFFITH may justly be said to have come to his present success by his own energy and efforts. He has taken hold of his opportunities with both hands and made the most of every chance that has come in his way. It is the presence of such men in any community that gives it that power of growth which is the boast of an American city.

Stephen C. GRIFFITH was born in Morris Plains, New Jersey, September 25, 1880. He was educated in the public schools of Morristown, his parents having moved when he was a lad of eight years of age to Morristown from Morris Plains. He early showed his ambitions and energetic qualities, and secured when still a school boy a position as a milk boy. He has remained in Morristown since the family located here in 1888, identifying himself with the life of the town. When he was a little older he obtained work in a confectionery store and later in a dry goods store. In the activities of these positions he gained an invaluable fund of business experience, and gathered the knowledge of the best methods of dealing with men that has proven one of the foundations of his later success. In 1897 he took a position in a real estate and insurance office working in the employ of E. Arthur SWARTSWORTH, remaining with him until December, 1899, when he succeeded to the business which has continued in his hands ever since. He has met with an unqualified success from the first, and he has probably the largest business in that line in Morris county. In 1902 he moved to his present quarters in one of the largest office buildings in the city, and was made the local manager of the MCALPIN estate, one of the most important in the whole region, and he still continues to control these properties.

Beside his large business interests Mr. GRIFFITH has identified himself with a number of the civic and social organizations of the city of his adoption. He is a Mason, and a member of the Royal Arcanum. He is foreman of the Resolute Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, of Morristown, and is treasurer of the Tapkaow Club of Morristown. He also serves as recording secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association, and is a member of the board of stewards of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is secretary and treasurer of the Morris County Republican Committee. He filled the office of assessor of Morristown in 1908-09-10.

Mr. GRIFFITH married, April 15, 1903, at East Orange, New Jersey, Gertrude KEELER, born in East Orange, October 3, 1882. Her father died when she was a young girl, her mother, who before her marriage was Nettie WHITEHEAD, of Long Island, living at present in East Orange. Mr. and Mrs. GRIFFITH have two children:

Doris Gertrude, born May 3, 1906;
Helen Winifred, November 25, 1911.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).