Dear Merddin Emrys,
Yes, more info on G.Griffith to follow. Thank You for replying so quickly. I will give you the basics and maybe you can advise me how to proceed with my study.
Griffith Griffith ( no middle name yet found)quarryman and salesman from Wales emigrated to California USA. approx. 1850. Worked in Wales at the PENRHYN SLATE QUARRY prior to coming USA and starting his own quarry buisiness, " The California Granite Company at Big Gulch Near Folsom in 1853. Was awarded several large US Gov. contracts to supply granite for construction of infrastructure, buildings, Military installations,Drydocks, Breakwaters, Alcatraz Prison, US Mint (San Francisco) and many other famous locations in and around California from about 1853-1930. Founded Griffith quarry in PENRYN Calif. in 1860 after discovering Excepional Granite there. G. Griffith employed 200 men at peak and the town of PENRYN Ca. grew up around the quarry he built. 1874 modernized the quarry and added California's first granite polishing works with capacity 100 feet of polished granite daily. Griffith was freinds with Crocker, Stanford and Hopkins families 3 of the "Big Four" railroad robberbarrons of the period (Huntington, # 4). prospersd until he died 1890 and nephew David took over until granite in construction was no longer "fashionable" then went into citrus orchard agriculture in same area. Died 1918 Collosal slabs of granite, tips and water filled craters are all that remain of the Penryn granite works. Griffith Griffith built a succesful buisiness and created a town and community that exists today. He was born in Wales and died In Penryn Ca.. His legacy is left in his granite. but very little else is yet known.
Please help me find out more if you can, I will send you any info you need for further development. I must go and clear away the weeds from the quarry trails now, I will look for your reply with great interest and thanks.
All for now.
Matthew J. Flecklin
916 740 3648