Henry and Amelia Griffith

The son of Joshua and Jemimah (Hazelton) Griffith, Pennsylvania native Henry Griffith (c. 1797-1869) moved to Johnson's Bayou near Opelousas, Louisiana, about 1819-20. There he met and married Amelia "Milly" Barrow (c. 1802 -?), daughter of Reuben and Mary Jane (Johnson) Barrow, in 1824. Two years later they moved to this area, which was still under Mexican rule at that time. In 1830, the Griffiths received a land grant in the Atascosito District, where they reared their family, farmed the land, and raised cattle and horses. In 1835, Henry Griffith sold 1,047 acres of his land to William Duncan, including the big hill on the property, also known as Barber's Hill, which the deed stated would hence be called "Mont Bellview." More than 50 years later, the area was settled enough to warrant a post office, which was named Mont Belvieu. In 1865, Reconstruction-era governor A. J. Hamilton appointed Henry Griffith as sheriff, and he served until 1868, one year prior to his death. Amelia's death date is not known, and neither of their gravestones survives. Oral histories indicate that their burials are near this site, where the original Griffith house once stood. At least two other members of the family are known to be buried there. As citizens of Texas under the flags of Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States and the United States, Henry and Amelia Griffith bore witness to important events and activities in Texas history. Their significance also lies in their early landholding of the property that became the community of Mont Belvieu. (2001)

Henry and Amelia Griffith is a historical marker in Mont Belvieu, Chambers County, dedicated in 2001. It is one of 39 historical markers documented in Chambers County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 82 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.8374, -94.6083 near Mont Belvieu. The nearest cataloged historic site is Broussard-White Cemetery (cemetery), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include White’s Cemetery, Whittington, and Benjamin Barrow Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5071012582. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.