William Partridge Griffith

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

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

William Partridge Griffith is a member of an old and distinguished Welsh family and spent the first twenty-seven years of his life in Great Britain, where he was educated and carried on his business with success in association with his father. The lure of a new world was at length strong enough to overcome the attraction of security, even when based on a substantial success, and he came to America in search of the fortune he believed awaited him. The event has been his justification. Almost from the time of his arrival, his efforts have been crowned with success and he has developed a large and independent business, and made a prominent place for himself in the adopted community.

He was born May 1, 1864, in North Wales, a son of John and Frances GRIFFITH. Mr. GRIFFITH Sr. was a native of Wales, but Mrs. GRIFFITH was an Englishwoman and brought to the splendid character of the best Welsh type the characteristic English qualities. Mr. GRIFFITH Sr. was employed by the British government as a valuer of lumber and his thorough understanding of his work and of construction doubtless was a strong influence in turning the attention of his son to architecture and determining him in the choice of career. To the parents were born ten children.

William Partridge GRIFFITH was a pupil in the Oswuster grammar school, where he obtained the elementary part of his education. He left this institution at the age of nineteen and entered a school of architecture, where he took a course fitting him for a career in that profession, and upon graduating, established himself in his chosen line in England, where he prospered for a number of years. He was associated with his father during this time and remained with him until the year 1891, when he decided upon the radical step of coming to America. In the same year he landed in New York City and shortly afterwards was employed by the great Swift Packing Company of Chicago to construct some buildings for them in New York. The work was eminently satisfactory and the same company proceeded to turn over to him mush of their eastern construction work so that he was kept busy for a number of years traveling all over the eastern United States in their interests, erecting such buildings as were necessary to the carrying on of their immense business in the various eastern cities. He started at different times in business in Philadelphia and Jersey City, and in the year 1906 went from the latter place to Mount Arlington, Morris county, New Jersey, which he has since made his home and where he established himself in his profession of architecture as well as in a general contracting and construction business. At the time of his arrival in Mount Arlington, the great development experienced along the eastern shore of Lake Hopatcong was at its height and building was in rapid progress. Mr. GRIFFITH came in at once for a large share of this and has erected a number of the largest and finest structures on the lake. One of his largest works was the remodeling of the Hotel Breslin and besides this he built the Mount Arlington Casino and the fine boat house there. He also designed and erected the splendid Hexamer house and many other handsome structures.

Mr. GRIFFITH has not confined his interests to his person business, however. He has taken an active part in the affairs of the community at large and was identified with the Republican party until the year 1912, when something like a politic revolution occurred in New Jersey. He has served his fellow townsmen on the Arlington council for the past four years with honor and independence, qualities he has always displayed in his political as well as in his private relations. Mr. GRIFFITH is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Bergen Council, New Jersey. Some time ago, Mr. GRIFFITH purchased a property in Mount Arlington upon which stood a large old fashioned house. This he has remodeled into a splendid home for himself with consummate skill and taste.

Mr. GRIFFITH was married in 1903 to Mae KOHLER, daughter of Benjamin and Emma KOHLER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in which city she was educated and passed her girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. GRIFFITH are members of the Episcopal church and he was a chorister in that church for seventeen years before coming to America. Mr. GRIFFITH is the worthy representative in this country of the distinguished Welsh family of GRIFFITH, as his only brother lived abroad. This brother was an engineer in the British army and gave his life in the service of his country.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)