In Memoriam, March, 1941

Joseph G. Griswold, president and general manager of Widdicomb Furniture Co., and one of the leaders of the Grand Rapids furniture industry, died unexpectedly Friday, February 14m, at Butterworth hospital just two days before his 60^th birthday.

Mr. Griswold’s first association with the firm was in 1899 when he came from his home in Vermontville, Mich., to work in the factory. Two years later he joined the Tobey Furniture Co.,. in Chicago, where he learned the retail operation.

After nine years at Tobey’s he returned to Grand Rapids and succeeded Clarence S. Dexter as Pacific coast representative for Imperial Furniture Co., and Grand Rapids Chair Co.,

In 1916 he acquired an interest in the Widdicomb Company and became vice president and sales manager. In 1928 he purchased additional holdings and became president and general manager.

Mr. Griswold was a director and past president of the Furniture Manufacturers Association of Grand Rapids Furniture Make4s Guild, and a director of Furniture Mercantile Service, Inc. Besides the Peninsular Club he was affiliated with Kent Country Club. He was a 32erd degree Mason.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Marguerite Hurd Griswold; two sons, Joseph, Jr. and William; and a daughter, Miss Mary Griswold, all of Grand Rapids; two brothers, Graham A., of Portland, Ore., and Robert L., of Corvallis, Ore., and three sisters, Della and Catherine Griswold of Portland, Ore., and Mrs. C.A. Paulden of Tulare, Calif.

Transcriber: Barb Jones
Created: 4 October 2009
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/obituaries/local/griswoldJG.html