Thomas Henshall Griffin

Thomas Henshall Griffin was born Dec 28, 1829 in Birmingham, England to Thomas and Jemima Griffin Henshall. Thomas is a Pioneer of Richmond. Thomas is a veteran of the Indian Wars. Thomas served as the 7th and 10th Mayor of Richmond.

Early Life

When Thomas was ten, his father died and his mother remarried to William Griffin, and Thomas adopted his last name.

At the age of 14, Thomas began an apprenticeship as a mechanic and tool maker to John Sutton Nettleford. Soon after his internship was over, he was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1849. He left England on Feb 9, 1854 and joined the William Burton Company. They sailed on the Windermere and landed in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 23.2 Thomas joined the Job Smith Company on June 7, 1854 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 23.3

Life in the Salt Lake Valley

For work, Thomas did what he could, including working as a mortar. Thomas married Amanda Ellen Perkins on Oct 19, 1856 in Salt Lake City, Utah.3

Thomas participated in an annual exhibition of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society in 1856. During it, he was awarded a silver medal for the first model steam engine built in Utah. The steam engine is currently displayed in the DUP Relic Hall in Richmond.3

Life in Richmond

After the conflict of the Utah War, the Griffin family moved to Richmond in 1860. 

On the October 19, 1871 City Council meeting, Thomas received the first water privilege to use occasionally for his blacksmith, but most frequently on his butter churching machine.1

Thomas served in many callings while in Richmond, such as Commioner of Cache County 1891, Commissionary to locate university lands 1892, and member of the federal grand jury at Salt Lake City 1901.5 A newspaper clipping said of Thomas:

"The selection of Thomas Griffin of Richmond as on of the three Commissioners on University Lands for the Territory, was a recognition of merit. Mr. Griffin has made a record as a guardian of public interests and is especially trustworthy in all matters where public property must be looked after. He is on of Utah's Pioneers, and knows the value of public lands as well as any man within this Territory."

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. Thomas was appointed as a Private in both instances.

Member of the City Council (1898 - 1899)

Mayoral Term (1886 - 1898, 1904 - 1906)

1886-1898

Thomas H. Griffin served six terms as the 7th Mayor of Richmond from 1886-1898. Due to poor record keeping, many of his years of service are not kept.

Thomas Griffin was succeeded by James I. Shepard.

1904-1906

Thomas H. Griffin served one term as the 10th Mayor of Richmond from 1904-1906. With this second, nonconsecutive term he holds the records of:

• First Mayor to have nonconsecutive terms.

• First Mayor of Richmond who was born in Europe.

• Served as the last Mayor to also be a Pioneer.

• Holds the longest time as a Mayor with 14 years of nonconsecutive service.

• Appointed at the age of 74, the oldest Mayor ever appointed.

He was succeeded by James W. Funk.

Epilogue