Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-23

In the death of Mr. Griffith Vermont
loses a loyal son, his native town its
greatest benefactor and his large clrclh
Of friends a man whose greatest pleasure
was to add to their happiness He was
especially n product OF Vermont and his
town was largely the product of his In
domitablc activity and perseverance.
From n poor lad he rose to the largest
individual lumberman in the East, and
is one of the most striking examples of
what application to business with only
the opportunity of the average Vermont
er can accomplish. In his business career
he had met with misfortune and opposi-
ton enough to ruin many an average
man but in spite of these obstacles he
leaves behind one of the largest fortunes
possessed in Vermont.
S. /. Griffith was born in the town of
Dandy, June %, 1897, the son of David
and Sophia Griffith. He WAS the second
in 2 family OF four children. Charles H.,
William b, and Mary all of whom sur
ViNe him and reside in the old family
homestead in that village. He received
his education in TIE village schools and
at krnball Union Academy in Meriden
y. II.
The mercantile business was MIR. Crit
Hth's chosen occupation and he was en-
ployed for a time in the stores of Lap
ham & Bruce of Dandy and p. D. Ames
of East Dorset before completing his
education. At the age of % he was Of
fered a position as school teacher in
western town and started for that place.
He reached Buffalo, y. ., and while Wis
lting relatives there the memorable panic
of 1881 set In and the money with whi'h
he intended to irish the journey was
declared worthless and he could 20 NJ
farther, He then engaged in the work
Of rafting logs on the river 10 earn a
living. Friends in DANNY wrote him.
- a
general store in that place. lie nnally
secured the loan of $1,000 Of Bcnlamlp
farnes Of Danny and coming back TO ms
native town leased 4 building for a store
lie went to New York and purchased a
stock OF goods but "A year later the NOR
chants there refused to forward the goods
/ he purchased then as they ana not care
/ TO give him credit Mr. Griffith th"u APP
poaled to his uncle, II. G. IiphAm,
( business man in New York city VINO guar
antocd tho merchants pay for the goods
but was never called upon 10 pay a dollar
| in Mr. Grinith's behalf So prosperous
| as merchant was he thdt IN tho year
| 1854 he sold $4,000 worth Of goods
| He then sold his mercantile business
| to his brothers to give his attention t.
! numbering operations on land IN North
! Dorset he had been forced 10 accept in
payment Of debt. TINS business was at
! first distasteful to him but he WAS oblig
ed to take the lumber business conduct
cd by a Mr.. Howard in Mount Tabor on
a mortgage and SO he followed it two
wears when he sold the property
| to some Massachusetts, gentlemen
He was obliged TO take it back
In 1871. MIR Griffith then gave his whole
energy to the lumber business and has
! followed il continuously since.
From these small beginnings Mr. Grit
| fifth Kept adding to his holdings until he
became the personal owner of over 5000
acres of land, and the present output of
lumber is approximately 100000 feet an
nually. At the time the data for this
sketch was secured, there were 6l3 en-
ployees on his payroll, exclusive of the
salaried heads OF departments; so oxen
and ?lS horses were owned by him and
regularly employed in the business, while
| a great many teams owned by others
arc employed during the busy season in
| the hauling of logs and lumber OF the
| annual output of lumber about 1000 on
| feet is spruce and l0oo,01 feet hard
wood About ono cords of wood are also
| cut Annually, the greater part Of which
is rurlod into charcoal, which industry
| is again on the asccndenCy to such a
favorable degree that he has caused sew