Ours is a middle class Christian family that spans the years of 1900 to 2000. I like family history and felt it should be recorded for those who share an interest in it. I shall try to add some other family facts as we go along. I am child #6, their third daughter, and will refer to them as Mother and Dad.
Howard Griffith was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of ten children of Harry and Margaret Houck Griffith. He attended public school, but at an early age was sent out to help support himself. This was to a variety of employers. One who could not remember his name called him ‘Oscar’. After Oscar was not one of his favorite names.
Our mother, Cornelia Brown, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, but moved with her family at the age of 2 to Sylmar, Maryland. She also attended public school, and as a young girl went to Kennett Square, PA. There she lived with her Uncle Solomon Brown and apprenticed with a Mrs. Pyle as a seamstress. This was a worthwhile accomplishment as she was able to help her own mother in making clothing for her brothers.
At 23, he married Cornelia Brown (or ‘Nealie’ as Dad referred to her), whom he had met while attending a colored camp meeting, Cornelia was the only daughter of Allen and Mary Emma McCummings Brown. She had six brothers, one older and five younger. Cornelia was born in Wilmington, Delaware and was raised near Rising Sun, Maryland.
They married at Mechanics Grove, Pennsylvania and soon set up house outside Quarryville. The house still stands in good repair along route 472. Later, they moved to Mechanics Grove, where he worked as a lineman for a telephone company. Presumably, it is the line that still serves much of Southern Lancaster County. On their second wedding anniversary, their old child, Alice, was born. From there they moved to the Andrews Bridge area, farming for two landowners; Jessie Brousis and Charley Jones. In quick succession Ira (Jack), Everett, and a set of twin boys, Norval and Norman, were born while there. Sadly, Norman was stillborn and is buried in the Quarryville Cemetery, next to Mom and Dad.
In 1909, the family moved to the Oxford area, just north of town to the Jennie B. Dickey farm. The farm was on what was known as the Limestone Road, presently known as Route 10. The farm was since been divided and sub-divided. The buildings have been razed, and all the evidence of it being a farm has vanished. The farm buildings were located between the site of the First Union Bank and the Oxford Shopping Mall. Other areas of the farm have been absorbed into apartment buildings and businesses. The only landmark of that time is the Oxford Waterworks, overlooking it all from a hill to the North.
Three more children were born after coming to Oxford; Ruth, Ester and Bennett.
In 1917, they bought their farm near Cream, on which was an old log house. The family finally moved there in 1921. This old house was replaced by a nice brick bungalow house situated on another part of the farm. It was built by Dad, Uncle Harry, Grandpap Brown, and probably others. I have included a picture, as it was handed to me. They owned their farm until 1944, when they retired and built a second house on the Hayesville-Scroggy Road, beside their son Bennett and his family. This remained the family home until 1967, when Dad died. Their last home was sold in 1968 and is presently owned by Ruth Whiteside. The farm was sold by our father to Fred Robinson, later resold to Grover Bonsall, and has presently been divided into two Amish farms. In June of 1999, the house was demolished and an Amish house was erected. Mother and Dad were hard working American citizens. They were members of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, and some of the older children also worshipped there when we lived in that area. Our parents were loved and respected by all who knew them.
In retrospect, we know the 20th century, in spite of the fact of wars, has vastly changed and improved our way of life. They began life in the horse and buggy age and adapted to the machine age. Their first car was a 1914 sedan (I don’t recall the make). I remember two little chairs that were between the front and back, and the two little ones used those. Over the years, farm work progressed from using horses and the preparers of soil to automated machinery; tractors, milking machines, and other conveniences. But it was not an easy life. The first electricity in the home was a Delco system, started weekly to generate electricity for our home. This was replaced by the public electricity lines which came into the area in the late 1920’s.
The Great Depression of 1929 affected everyone. Farming, which had always been hard work and little profit, worried everyone. I remember Dad list his milk market, however it was either reopened or he went somewhere else. By this time all the older family members were established in their own homes. Bennett was a home part-time and I was at home.
In 1932, our Dad thought we should gather together for a reunion, and so the first one was held at the farm in October of that year. It was a day of fun, and plans were made to have a yearly gathering. It was decided to have it on the first Thursday of August, meeting at the home of each son or daughter in line. Over the years, this has changed, due to age and changing lifestyle.
In 1933, Dad bought a new Ford sedan. I had my drivers license, and I was allowed to drive it! What a thrill! I can still describe it to you.
In 19944, they sold their farm and built a small house near Bennett and Bea, enjoying their quiet retirement. However, Mother was losing her sight and fell in 1958, breaking her hip. From that time on, she was bedfast, living with Ruth and I. She died in our home in June of 1961, at the age of 82, from complications of kidney failure and age. It was a labor of love.
As a young woman, Mother had trained as a seamstress, something that was very useful in their growing family. I can recall some very pretty dresses. Dad was a good farmer and worked very hard. I remember when harvest and silo filing time came. He did a lot of hurrying around and as he walked his fanny seemed to bounce around; and that chew of tobacco was very important. In those years, when we cared for mother, he stayed in their home beside Bennett and Bea.
Dad died in the Community Memorial Hospital, Jennersville, PA on April 18, 1967 after a 24 day stay in the hospital. Death was due to advanced age. While in the hospital he attained his 90th year.
Their married life spanned some 62 years. They are buried in the Quarryville Cemetery, along with their infant son, Norman, and Bennett and Bea.
These thoughts bring back some of the century, so I pass them along to you. Our thanks to their youngest grandson, Jerome Griffith, for putting this together for all of us.
Sincerely,
Ester Margaret Griffith Shortlidge
