6i6 



HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 



in point of service is the oldest man 

 engaged in the cattle business in that 

 city. In the earlier years of the busi- 

 ness, James Christy (a brother of the 

 subject) was a member of the firm. He 

 died in 1896, and Mr. Christy took into 

 partnership his two nephews, Alexan- 

 der and Henry Christy, who have be- 

 come valuable assistants in the rapidly 

 increasing business of this enterprising 

 firm. During the early years of his 

 manhood Mr. Christy cast his vote with 

 the Democratic party, but since i860 

 has been identified with the opposing 

 organization, the Republican party, the 

 principles of which he firmly advocates. 

 As a man of good standing and sub- 

 stance Mr. Christy wields, an influence 

 for good in the community in which he 

 has resided so long. 



!Mr. Christy was united in marriage, 

 April 19, 1852, to Margaret Daniels, who 

 was born in Ireland, in 1832. Two chil- 

 dren were the issue of this union : one 

 who died in infancy, and Mary Eliza- 

 beth, born October 26, 1864, educated in 

 the private schools of Philadelphia, and 

 the Northwest Institute, 'from which 

 she was graduated; she resides with her 

 father, endeavoring to the best of her 

 ability to fill the place of her mother, 

 whose death occurred February 28, 1889. 

 i\Ir. Christy and his daughter are mem- 

 bers of Cohocksink Presbyterian church 

 of Philadelphia. 



AUSTIN E. GRIFFITH. Griffith Grif- 

 fith, the progenitor in America of the branch 

 of the family to which belongs Austin E. 

 Griffith, a retired agriculturist of Chalfont, 

 Bucks county, Pennsylvania, accompanied 

 by his brothers William and John, emi- 

 grated from Wales in 1720 and settled in 

 East Nantmeal township. Chester county, 

 Pennsylvania. By his marriage to Given 

 Thomas the following named children were 

 born: Abel. William. Evan, David, Amos,/ 

 Levi and Rebecca. The line of descent is 

 traced through Abel Griffith, eldest son of 

 Griffith and Given Griffith, who was born 

 February 28. 1723, in Chester county, Penn- 

 sylvania. He married, and among his chil- 

 dren was a son, Amos Griffith, who was 

 adopted when a child by his uncle, Amos 

 Griffith, a brother of his father, who had no 

 children of his own. Amos Griffith (uncle) 

 located in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and 

 settled on a tract of land which has since 

 been in the possession of members of the 

 family. 



Amos Griffith, son of Abel Griffith, was 

 born in Chester count3% Pennsylvania, in 

 1771. He was reared and educated by his 

 uncle as aforementioned, and after com- 

 pleting his literary studies pursued a course 

 of medical reading under the preceptor- 

 ship of Dr. Benjamin Rush, the founder 

 of the Rush Medical College. Subsequently 

 he established an extensive practice extend- 



ing from the Delaware to the Schuylkill 

 river, being the only phj^sician in that sec- 

 tion of the county at that time. He per- 

 formed his round of visits on horseback, 

 and when traveling great distances his son 

 would bring him fresh horses as relays. He 

 possessed an exceptionally good education 

 for that day. In his intercourse with the 

 sick he was kind and sympathizing. and in an 

 eminent degree secured the confidence and 

 respect of the entire community in which 

 he moved. On June i, 1797. he was united 

 in marriage to Elizabeth Weber, who was 

 born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, 

 September 4, 1776, a daughter of Captain 

 Christian and Elizabeth Weber, the former 

 named having been an officer in the Penn- 

 sylvania line during the Revolutionary war. 

 Their children were : Jesse W., Charles 

 M., Sarah, Elijah. Elizabeth, Amos, Abigail, 

 Abel M., John W., and Ann. Dr. Griffith 

 was a member of the Baptist church, and a 

 Democrat in his political affiliations. He 

 was prominent in military affairs, taking an 

 active interest up to the day of his death, 

 November 17, 1863, when he lay down and 

 expired, after remarking that he would take 

 a last look at the world. His wife died June 

 3, 1843. 



John W. Griffith, youngest son of Dr. 

 Amos and Elizabeth Griffith, was born at 

 North Wales, Montgomery county, Penn- 

 sylvania, May 3, 1812. He attended the pub- 

 lic schools of New Britain township, after 

 which he settled on the farm and succeeded 

 to the property. ' He was a model farmer, 

 his well-tilled fields and plentiful crops af- 

 fording ample evidence of this fact. He 

 took a deep and active interest in public 

 affairs, contributing to the best of his 

 ability in every enterprise that had for its 

 object the general welfare of the com- 

 munity. He was a member of the Baptist 

 church, and for a quarter of a century 

 served in the capacity of trustee. In April, 

 1840, Mr. Griffith was married to Susan 

 Harrar, a daughter of William and Ann 

 (Todd) Harrar, of Montgomery county. 

 Four children were the issue of this union, 

 namely : Abel M., Austin E., Eleanor, who 

 died in infancy ; and A. Judson. John W. 

 Griffith died in October, 1887. having sur- 

 vived his wife a number of years, her death 

 having occurred February 25, 1875. 



Austin E. Griffith, eldest son of John W. 

 and Susan Griffith, was born on the Griffith 

 homestead in New Britain township. Bucks 

 county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1845. 

 His boyhood days were spent in assisting 

 with the labors of the farm and acquiring 

 an education, the latter being gained at the 

 New Britain Seminary. He then engaged 

 in farming on the homestead in conjunction 

 with his brother Abel ]M., this connection 

 continuing until the year 1900, when Austin 

 E. retired from active duties although re- 

 taining his interest in the farm, and changed 

 his place of residence to Chalfont, where he 

 has since resided. In that year he was one 

 of the organizers of the borough of Chal- 

 font, and was appointed its first burgess. 



