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Griffith, Thomas

Last Name: Griffith
First Name: Thomas S.
Dates:
*1934 (Date of Death)
Biography/History: Thomas Griffith came to eastern Washington in 1888. He established the city's first wholesale grocery business; it was destroyed by the fire of 1889, but later re-established. Thomas Griffith and Charlotte Brown (both born in English Canada) married in 1892 and they had a daughter, Tannis Griffith Semple in 1894. They established Glen Tana Farms north of Spokane along the Little Spokane River, operating as a kennel and a dairy. Thomas Griffith helped organize the Spokane Interstate Fair and the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, serving as director of both organizations. Griffith also served as president of the Inland Club, Spokane Kennel Club, Spokane Merchants Association and Spokane Wholesale Grocers' Association. Daughter Tannis married John Semple in 1918; they had one daughter, Charlotte Semple Witherspoon. Charlotte had five children: William, Grant, Jim, Tannis and Peter. According to daughter Tannis Griffith Semple's obituary in the Spokesman Review dated 1/26/1979, Thomas Griffith died in 1934. Soc.Sec Death Indexes: Thomas S. Griffith, b. 1862; d. 4 Jul 1934; father Thomas Griffith; mother Lilly Taylor. Charlotte E. Griffith, b. 16 Jan 1872; d. 15 Mar 1966, Spokane. Tannis G. Semple, b. 10 Dec. 1893, d. 25 Jan 1979.
Related Participants:
Related Objects:
2971.1 (Quilt, Album Quilt, c. 1880)