The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 682 JOHN D. GRIFFITH. Orcharding has for a number of years claimed the attention of John D. Griffith, who is one of the prosperous agriculturists of the Yakima valley, located in the Tieton district. A native of Delaware county, Ohio, he was born November 1, 1853, and is a son of John and Ann (McKinley) Griffith, the latter being a cousin of the martyred president. John Griffith, the father, followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life and was quite successful along that line. Both he and his wife have passed away. John D. Griffith was reared under the careful guidance of his parents, acquiring his early education in the public schools and later rounding out his primary knowledge at the Ohio Wesleyan University, in which he spent two years. Subsequently he farmed for a few years but in 1900 went to Washington, D. C., becoming assistant postmaster at the house of representatives. While in the capital city he read law. The year 1909 marked his arrival in Seattle, Washington, to attend the fair, and he became interested in Yakima county to such an extent that he decided to remain and acquired title to forty acres of land on the Tieton which at that time was all sagebrush. However, he did not immediately take up the cultivation of this tract but spent a year and a half in Portland, Oregon, moving at the end of that time, in 1911, upon his ranch. In a comparatively few years Mr. Griffith has developed this land into a most valuable property, having built a fine home and erected suitable barns and other outbuildings to care for his fruit, for he has twenty-three acres in apples, the remainder of the land being under the plow. He is now considered one of the most successful orchardists of his section, his annual income from that source being very gratifying. On December 31, 1891, Mr. Griffith was united in marriage to Miss Sue M. Jones, also a native of Delaware county, Ohio, and a daughter of Philip and Jane (Tomley) Jones, who were natives of Ohio and Wales respectively. Throughout his career the father followed agricultural pursuits and enjoyed the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. Both he and his wife have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith belong to the Presbyterian church, both being active and helpful in the promotion of its interests. They are ruled by the true Christian spirit and are ever helpfully aiding in movements undertaken for the uplift of humanity. Politically Mr. Griffith is a republican, actively interested in the party's welfare but not a politician in the commonly accepted sense of the word. He has served as trustee of the Water Users Association for the past five years and has done valuable work in this connection, fully realizing the importance of irrigation in regard to the cultivation of land here and being considered an expert on the subject. Fraternally he is prominent in the Masons, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. He is a member of the Yakima County Horticultural Union, through which association he gives and receives ideas, and has ever been interested in general improvement, thus being a valuable factor in the development of his section of the state along material, moral and mental lines. He has many friends in the Tieton district and is held in high regard by all who know him. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.