BIO: Samuel M. Griffith, Tillard Pen Pictures, 1911, Blair County, PA

Contributed April 2003 for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
by Judy Banja <jbanja@comcast.net>

Copyright 2003.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_________________________________________ 

                Pen Pictures of Friends and Reminiscent Sketches
                                by J. N. Tillard

             Altoona, PA: William F. Gable & Co., Mirror Press, 1911 

                           Worked His Way To The Top

                       Careful, Prudent and Industrious,
              S. M. GRIFFITH Was Bound to Make His Mark in The World

WHEN that "Prince Chap," the late John W. Webber, forty years, or more, ago set 
up  the pioneer house and sign painting business in this city, among his 
apprentices was a boy who was later destined to rise to a prominent place in the 
painting business of the city. Whether he held them inherent in his own 
personality or imbibed them from his employer, this boy developed qualities that 
were to spell success in an unusual degree. His habits of diligence and 
application soon made him master of the intricacies of his trade and his natural 
artistic taste served him well as a designer, mixer and applier of colors.
  Early in his career he was associated with that master-hand, Ed. Mountney, the 
man who with a bit of grain color and a rag could paint an oak knot on a pine 
board so naturally that it would fall out after the wood dried. He doubtless 
learned many things from the genial Mountney besides the art of graining. Ed. 
was a born organizer and leader of men. He mixed with his fellows as naturally 
as did the ingredients of the paints he so artistically applied. The quality of 
his social charms were not strained, neither were they feigned or insincere. A 
friend of humanity, he was no man's enemy but his own.
  The young man we speak of was Samuel M. Griffith, now in the forefront of the 
business and social life of the city, and one of the mainstays of its progress 
and achievement. While he was fortunate in his tutors in the art that he made 
his lifework, and is probably largely indebted to them for the mechanical skill 
and business acumen he developed, yet the fact remains that he improved and 
enlarged upon his opportunities. He did not long remain a journeyman, but some 
thirty-three years ago opened a little shop on his own account in the old 
Excelsior building located on the alley at the rear of the old opera house on 
Eleventh Street. Business came to him rapidly, not only because he could do a 
good job at painting, graining and paperhanging, but his geniality of manner and 
evident sincerity of purpose so impressed people that the young mechanic soon 
found himself upon the high tide of prosperity. He was careful, prudent and 
industrious and wasted none of his substance in riotous living. He knew the 
value of a dollar and how to invest it in order to bring the best results. 
Without being parsimonious or grasping, he developed business instincts that 
were usually unerring, and his judgments of property values were so sound that 
his friends and business associates were always glad to have the benefit of his 
advice. As a bank director or officer of a building association, his counsel was 
invaluable, and if he ever failed in a purely personal financial venture, the 
fact has not been published. In a few years his reputation assumed such 
proportions that about the only reason that he did not have all the painting 
business of the town, lay in the fact that he had none of the instincts of the 
monopolist and was not after the earth; besides he wanted to live awhile and 
give some of his time to other purposes than the mere accumulation of money. He 
realized that there were other things in life worth the living for, so instead 
of dwarfing his powers he expanded them by altruistic fraternal explorations.
  He early became identified with the Masonic fraternity and his association 
with the local bodies lent dignity and strength to their deliberations and 
performances.  Quiet and unassuming he never thrust himself forward but his 
intrinsic worth was bound to be recognized and he rose high in the councils of 
the fraternity. When a pilgrimage was projected, he was always one of the most 
enthusiastic promoters, and there was never a more companionable man when on a 
journey. To the brother in distress he was a ministering angel and the cry of 
the needy was never ignored, but always found a ready response. He never cried 
his deeds of mercy from the house-tops, or paraded them in public view, but when 
the sum of the doings of men is made up, there will be many a brother whose 
distress he has relieved who will joyfully bear testimony to the kindness of his 
heart.
  Always public-spirited, and animated with a praiseworthy desire to promote the 
good of the community, he has cheerfully and unstintedly given of his time and 
efforts to the public service. As far back as 1882 he was a member of councils 
and his work there always inured to the benefit of the municipality. Unselfish 
and wise, he always brought to the deliberations of the local legislature sound 
sense and honest endeavor. He was above the petty arts of the small politician 
and tried to legislate for the benefit of the whole people. He had no time to 
waste in gallery plays or bombastic rodomontade. He was there to do honest work 
in a sensible manner and he usually accomplished his purpose, and the community 
was the better off because he was there.
  His career as a member of the water board has not shown any signs of mental 
deterioration, but, quite to the contrary, he has demonstrated his ability to 
intelligently grasp great situations and look over broad fields with a seeing 
eye. Fundamental problems involving large expenditures have been met and solved 
with prudence, discretion and sound judgment and his associates have always 
profited by his councils. There has been no retrograde movement, but larger 
plans have been developed and are in process of execution. When they are 
completed, the city will have a system that is worth while and something 
permanent in return for its money. Long after Mr. Griffith and his able 
colleagues shall have passed off the stage of action, the results of their wise 
planning and strenuous efforts will remain as a monument to their wisdom and 
honesty.
  When the subject of this brief sketch shall have completed the task of his 
lifework and have reached the point where his labors are ended, he will be able 
to look over the sum of his achievements with the supreme satisfaction that 
comes from a sense of having done with his might what his hands found to do, 
honestly, faithfully and well.

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