SIXTH GENERATION

133. John Owen GRIFFITH was born on 11 Jul 1807 in , Bedford, PA. He was buried on 12 Apr 1882 in Jenner Twp., Baptist Church, Somerset, PA. He died in Jenner Twp., Somerset, PA. OCCUPATION: Farmer

John O. Griffith had two additional children known, Emma (Mrs. Adam Stevens)
who had children Charles Stevens, born 1902 and Florence Stevens Glessner; and
Jennie. I have no information as to which of John's 2nd or 3rd wives was the
mother of Emma and Jennie.

BURIAL: Tombstone reads: John O. Griffith / Died April 12, 1882 / age 74 yrs. 9
mo. 1 day. (This stone was an obvious replacement stone.)

MARRIAGE: From LDS Microfilm #0558967, Somerset County, PA Marriages 1852-1875:
Marriage of: John Owen Griffith and Rachel Rock; Father of Husband: Abner
Griffith; Mother of Husband: Mary Griffith; Occupation of Husband: Farmer;
Residence of Husband: Jenner Twp., Somerset Co., PA; Full Name of Wife previous
to marriage: Rachel Rock; Father of Wife: David Blough; Mother of Wife:
Magdalena Blough; Marriage contract date: April 17th 1853; Place Contracted:
John Water, Jenner Twp., Somerset Co., PA; Color: White; Ceremony: Methodist
Episcopal; Name of Pronouncer: Richard Jordan; Date of Certificate: June 15th
1853; Date of Registration: 16th; Signed: Jno. Hicks Dep. Regt.

Hannah BERKEY was born on 8 Jan 1809 in , Somerset, PA. She died on 17 Jun 1850 in , Somerset, PA. She was buried in Jenner Twp., Baptist Church, Somerset, PA. BURIAL: Inscription reads: Hannah wife of / John O. Griffith / died the 11 of
June / A.D. 1850 aged 41 y 5 m / and 3 D.

Information on this line received from Kay Sipe of Idaho. No documentation
attached.

Hannah Berkey was the daughter of Samuel Berkey and Susan Taylor. Samuel
Berkey was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Blough Berkey of Canton
of Berne, Switzerland. Jacob, b. 1735, Switzerland, d.1805, Conemaugh,
Somerset, PA. Elizabeth Blough born 1737 Switzerland, died 1813, Somerset
county, PA. She was the daughter of Christian (son of Hans), b. 1700
Switzerland, d. 12 Nov 1786, Lancaster, PA and Elizabeth Gastelli Blough
(Children: Christian Blough, Jr. b. 7 Jul 1743 Canton of Berne, Switzerland,
died 1777 Somerset, PA m. 1764 Magdalena Elizabeth Bender; Jacob Blough, b.
1736 Switzerland, d. 3 Sep 1810, m. Jan 1757 Anna Kauffman; Anna Maria Blough,
b. 1754 Lebanon, Lancaster, PA, m. Christian Berkey; Barbara Blough; Elizabeth
Blough m. Jacob Berkey; Veronica Blough b. 1739 m. 1760 John Schneider)

JACOB and Elizabeth Blough Berkey had children: Elizabeth Berkey, b. 1759 m.
John Furry; Fannie Berkey, b. 1761 m. Johannes Lehman; Magdalena Berkey, b.
1763 m. Christian Miller; Jacob Berkey, b. 1766 m. Barbara Miller; Joseph
Berkey, b. 1768 m. Mary (Polly) Taylor; Samuel Berkey, b. 1778, d. 1848 m.
Susan Taylor; David Berkey, b. 1780, d. 1862 m. 15 Jun 1802 Elizabeth Fyock;
Anna Berkey m. Phillip Harman; Sarah Berkey m. David Fyock; Rachel Berkey, b.
1784 m. Benedict Peter Lehman.

SAMUEL and Susan Taylor Berkey had children: Daniel B. Berkey, b. 18 Nov 1796,
Somerset county, PA, d. 24 Dec 1868; James Berkey, b. 1800, Somerset, PA, d. 3
Apr 1872 m. ___ Miller; Sarah (Sally) Berkey, b. 15 Apr 1803, d. 30 Aug 1876 m.
George Stufft; Elizabeth Berkey, d. 1841 m. Jacob Berkey; Hannah Berkey, b. 14
Jan 1807, d. 17 Jun 1850 m. John O. Griffith; William Berkey m. Caroline
Penrod; Nancy (Anna) Berkey, b. 14 Mar 1811, d. 8 May 1882 m. Godfrey Cable;
Elijah Berkey, b. 26 Aug 1812, d. 6 Apr 1884 m. Nancy Miller; Aaron Berkey, b.
2 Mar 1820, d. 25 Apr 1901, m. Ann Geissel Naugle; Abiah Berkey, b. 1827 m.
Catherine Manges; Mary Berkey, b. 1816 m. Christian Harshberger John Owen GRIFFITH and Hannah BERKEY had the following children:

148 i. Abner GRIFFITH was born about 1823 in , Somerset, PA. He died on 7 Jul 1829 in , Somerset, PA. He was buried in Jenner Twp., Baptist Church, Somerset, PA. DEATH: Tombstone inscription reads: Abner, son of John O. Griffith, died July
17th, 1829, aged 6.
149 ii. Eli GRIFFITH was born on 21 Jul 1830 in , Somerset, PA. He died on 23 Feb 1848 in , Somerset, PA. He was buried in Jenner Twp., Baptist Church, Somerset, PA. Dates computed from time elapsed on tombstone
BURIAL: Tombstone reads: Eli, son of / J.O. & H. Griffith / Died Feb 23rd /
1848 / Aged 17 years / 7 mos & 2 days.
150 iii. Aaron GRIFFITH was born on 24 Dec 1831 in , Somerset, PA. He died on 28 Jun 1847 in , Somerset, PA. He was buried in Jenner Twp., Baptist Church, Somerset, PA. Dates computed from time elapsed on tombstone.
BURIAL: Tombstone reads: Aaron / son of / J.O. & H. Griffith / died June 28th /
1847 / Aged 15 years 5 / mos & 4 days.
151 iv. Mary GRIFFITH was born in 1833 in , Somerset, PA.
152 v. Levi GRIFFITH was born on 31 Dec 1835 in , Somerset, PA. He died on 29 Apr 1849 in , Somerset, PA. He was buried in Jenner Twp., Baptist Church, Somerset, PA. BURIAL: Tombstone reads: Levi / son of / J.O. & H. Griffith / died April / 29th
1849 / aged 13 years 3 / mos & 29 days.
153 vi. Jordan GRIFFITH was born in 1839 in , Somerset, PA. He died in 1913. He was buried in Christ Ev. Luth., Jenner Twp., Somerset, PA. UPDATE: 1993-08-16 with cemetery information.

BIRTH-DEATH-BURIAL: Tombstone inscription gives birth/death dates. Buried with
wife. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church cemetery, Jennerstown.

ERROR: IGI gives birth year as 1845.
154 vii. John GRIFFITH was born on 2 May 1842 in , Somerset, PA. He died on 7 Aug 1842 in , Somerset, PA.
155 viii. Samuel GRIFFITH was born on 31 Mar 1844 in , , PA. He died on 29 May 1934 in , Cambria, PA. He was buried in Jenner Twp., Baptist Church, Somerset, PA. Letter written by Samuel's granddaughter, Mildred Thomas sent by Kay Sipe of
Idaho, to Leslie Jacoby. Lists several family members with birth
and death dates from a Bible extraction from Dolly Griffith records.

Marriage record of 1866-67 from the HERALD & WHIG, Somerset, PA from a copy
made by Dr. E.C. Saylor about 1930 and reprinted in the LAUREL MESSENGER, May
1990, reads: Dec. 20, 1866--Samuel Griffith to Matilda Jane Fulmer both of
Somerset Co., by Jacob Fleck Esq.

ESTATE: WILL dated 9 Aug 1933, Jenner Twp., Somerset, PA.
Calls himself a widower.
Directs he be buried at the Baptist Church Cemetery
Names his children Rebecca Gindlesperger, deceased; Annie Shaulis; Scott
Griffith; Charlie Griffith; Bertha Kauffman; Randa Weaver; Walter Griffith; and
Mary Dolly Thomas.

DEATH: Certificate on file PA Dept. of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, file
#52816.

OBIT: Somerset paper, Vol. XXVII, reads:
ONLY SURVIVING CIVIL WAR / VETERAN IN THIS SECTION / ANSWERS LAST ROLL CALL
Death of Samuel Griffith, Aged 90 Years, Cause / For Profound Sorrow Among
Residents of / This Entire Section of the County; Was / Held in the Highest of
Esteem by All / Classes.
DEPARTED DEFENDER OF OUR NATION / IS ACCORDED A MILITARY FUNERAL
Residents of this community were profoundly shocked on Tuesday afternoon
of last week when it became known that Samuel Griffith, well-known and
highly-esteemed Civil War veteran had answered the last roll call and passed on
to his reward.
Mr. Griffith, who at the time of his death was aged 90 years, is believed
to have been the only surviving Civil War veteran residing in this section of
Somerset county.
Mr. Griffith, for the past several years has shown a certain degree of
frailty which is customary among those who have been privileged to live to a
ripe old age--in fact his physical health had been somewhat impaired for the
past score of years, and at times this community's "Grand Old Man," as he has
been kindly referred to, suffered periods of illness which many men, with less
courageous spirit would have been unable to withstand. But not so in the case
of the subject of our sketch, for he always rallied from these periods of
sickness and in a few days' time his many friends would again have the pleasure
of seeing him and conversing with him. Several weeks ago he was again taken
ill, and despite his remarkable fortitude, he was forced to take to his bed. He
was unable to take nourishment readily and his physical condition soon showed
signs that he perhaps had entered upon his last period of illness. He weakened
gradually until the end came in a most peaceful manner late Tuesday afternoon.
Samuel Griffith was a man of sterling characteristics. In his mode of
living he was guided by the highest ideals of life. As a neighbor and friend
he was ever mindful and considerate of the rights and opinions of others and it
was indeed both a privilege and a pleasure to sit with him in the quietude of
his home and converse over matters of far-reaching importance in connection
with the progress and advancement of humanity as a whole.
For more than three score and ten years affiliated with the Baptist
church in Jenner township, Mr. Griffith's life showed at every turn the
uplifting effects of religious enlightenment, and his daily actions, as well as
the statements he uttered, were in keeping with his conception of what a
Christian life should be.
Samuel Griffith, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John O. Griffith, both deceased was
born in Jenner township, this county. He spent practically all of his life
within the confines of this county, during which time he followed farming.
In February or March, 1865, when this nation was engaged in terrible
conflict, involving the Civil War, Samuel Griffith answered the call to arms
and enlisted in company "A," 88th regiment, 3rd brigade, 3rd division, and 50th
corps, U.S. infantry and served throughout the remainder of the war, being
discharged from service June 30th, 1865, with the rank of corporal. He saw much
action while a defender of the nation, being numbered among those who
participated in a number of the major engagements of the war. During recent
years it was especially interesting to sit and talk with him and listen to his
description of the hardships endured by the soldiers of 1861-1865. During the
last few hours of his life, when he knew that the cold hand of death was
hovering about him, he hoped and prayed earnestly that he might be spared to
once more hear the martial music, the roll of the drum and the sound of the
bugle, for to him these sounds meant more than he could explain for he was one
of the privileged number who knew full well what defense of his country, under
the most trying circumstances, truly meant. During recent years he was honored
at each Memorial Day service held in the community and it was indeed an event
in which he took special pride.
Mr. Griffith was twice married, his first wife, who was Miss Matilda
Fuller, passing away during the year of 1866. His second wife, who prior to her
marriage was Miss Matilda Duncan, died six years ago last September 2. To the
first union one daughter, Rebecca, who later became the wife of Levi
Gindlesperger, of Jenner township, was born. Mrs. Gindlesperger preceded her
father to the grave by about twenty-one years. To the second union eight
children were born, one of whom Marion, died in infancy. The names of the other
surviving children are as follows: Charles and Scott Griffith, Boswell; Walter
Griffith, of Cleveland, O.; Mrs. L.E. Shaulis of Boswell; Mrs. Bertha Kaufman
and Mrs. William Weaver, of Jenner township, and Mrs. Dorsey Thomas, of
Johnstown. Twenty-three grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and two
great-great grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the
Jenner township Baptist church, the Rev. Daniel E. Harman, of Linesville, Pa.,
former paster of that congregtion officiating, assisted by the Rev. Walter E.
Lundberg, paster of the local Lutheran church. Interment was amde in the church
cemetery , in charge of L.G. Hoffman, local mortician. Mr. Griffith was given a
military funeral, in charge of the local Post of the American Legion.

He was married to Rachel (BLOUGH) ROCK (Widow) on 15 Jun 1853 in John Waters, Jenner Twp., Somerset, PA. Rachel (BLOUGH) ROCK (Widow) was born on 23 Mar 1828. She died on 30 Apr 1865 in , Somerset, PA. She was buried in Jenner Twp., Baptist Church, Somerset, PA. BIRTH/DEATH: Computed from elapsed time on tombstone.
Inscription: Our Mother / Rachel Griffith / wife of / John O. Griffith / died
April 30, 1865 / aged 37 years 1 month / and 7 days / The Lord watch between /
me and thee.

Daughter of David and Magdalena Blough.