Children of Mr. and Mrs. Israel Griffith

Description

Oil on canvas painting of the "Children of Mr. and Mrs. Israel Griffith." ca. 1844, by Oliver T. Eddy. Israel Griffith (1799-1875) was born in Baltimore and became a successful dry goods merchant in the city. He initially went into business with his brother Henry Berry Griffith (1788-1832) under the name "Israel & Henry Berry." After Henry's death, Griffith brought in a bookkeeper named W. K. Merritt and renamed the company "Israel Griffith & Co." In 1852, he dissolved his business and retired. Griffith married his first cousin Sara Ann Griffith (1803-1877) of Frederick, Maryland in 1824. The couple had ten children. Two of their children, George (1838-1838) and George (1838-1843) died in childhood. This painting, created around 1844, features six of the Griffith children (from left to right): Israel Griffith, Jr. (1835-1862), Sarah Ann "Sallie" Griffith Ruddach (1835-1881), Mary Eleanor Griffith Farnandis (1828-1910), Frances Ann Griffith Hungerford (1830-1863), Alverda V. Griffith (1832-1901), and Emma Griffith Coleman (1842-1910) (seated on floor). The entire family is buried in Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.