Northwest Spokane in Spokane County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Thomas Redding Tannatt
September 27, 1833 December 20, 1913
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Elizabeth Forster Tappan
December 10, 1837 February 22, 1920
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, August 30, 2025
1. Thomas Redding Tannatt / Elizabeth Forster Tappan Marker
Elizabeth Forster Tappan was born on December 10, 1837, to one of the wealthier families in Manchester, Massachusetts. She attended the highly regarded Chapel School in Manchester and graduated from the Charlestown Female Seminary.
In 1856, Thomas and Elizabeth met while he was at West Point. They were married on April 18, 1860, and soon moved to Fort Randall, Dakota Territory, after Thomas was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, 4th Artillery. At the beginning of the Civil War, Thomas and the 4th Artillery left Fort Randall on foot, reaching St. Joseph, Missouri, in December 1861. Elizabeth was active in nursing soldiers during the war.
Thomas was promoted to colonel of the 16th Massachusetts Volunteers in July 1862
this page online
Thomas returned to Manchester before moving to Colorado to secure mining interests. Ill health forced his resignation, and the Tannatts eventually moved to Tennessee where he was involved with the Tennessee Immigration Association. In Tennessee, Tannatt's GAR background was met with antagonism and, in 1876, they returned to Manchester where he became a general agent for the Oregon & California Railroad Company.
On April 1, 1880, Thomas resigned to accept a similar position in Portland, Oregon, where he entertained many distinguished guests including President [Rutherford B.] Hayes and Generals Sherman and McCook. Next, Thomas
Courtesy of Spokane Historical Monuments Committee and Rae Anna Victor, 2017
2. Thomas Redding Tannatt and Elizabeth Forster Tappan Marker
Relocating to Farmington presented Elizabeth and Thomas with new challenges and opportunities. Thomas had begun experimenting with orchards and packing plants. He established the Poplar Crest Orchards, specializing in apples and pears. Among the accolades he received were first prize at a National Apple Show in Spokane for a carload of non-irrigated commercial winter apples and a silver medal at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. He also started a hardware business.
In April 1893, Thomas accepted a position as a member of the Board of Regents of Washington Agricultural College (present, Washington State University) at Pullman, Washington. He served until October
Courtesy of Rae Anna Victor, 2017
3. Thomas Redding Tannatt and Elizabeth Forster Tappan Marker
Elizabeth and Thomas shared a mutual interest in preservation of local historic sites. With several members of the Esther Reed Chapter they embarked on a campaign to place a monument at the Steptoe Battlefield. They traveled to Rosalia and met with three survivors of the campaign who were able to identify the location of the battlefield. The formal dedication of the battleground occurred on June 15, 1908, with an address by General Tannatt. On June 15, 1914, the ceremony dedicating the completed monument was held, with a large crowd including Governor Ernest Lister, the three battle survivors, 400 uniformed soldiers from Fort George Wright, and members of the Esther Reed Chapter of the DAR.
In 1906, Elizabeth and Thomas moved to Spokane and sold the Poplar Crest Orchards. Thomas died on December 20, 1913. The headline in the Spokesman-Review read "Lincoln Adviser in
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, August 30, 2025
4. Thomas Redding Tannatt / Elizabeth Forster Tappan Marker
Erected 2017 by by the Fairmount Memorial Association in cooperation with the Spokane Police Department History Book Committee, the Spokane Law Enforcement Museum, and the Jonas Babcock Chapter, NSDAR.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is February 22, 1920.
Location. 47° 42.216′ N, 117° 29.355′ W. Marker is in Spokane, Washington, in Spokane County. It is in Northwest Spokane. It can be reached from West Wellesley Avenue. The monument is at the gravestone of Thomas and Elizabeth Tannatt in Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane, Spokane County, Washington Lawn 12 Sec 12D Sp 2a. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 North Government Way, Spokane WA 99205, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Elizabeth Tappan Tannatt Memorial (here, next to this marker); Byron C. Riblet (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Herbert Bolster (about 400 feet away); Matsutaro and Hatsume Kawaguchi (about 700 feet away); A Legacy of Joy and Wonderful Memories (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jesse Ray Drowley (approx. 0.3 miles away); Never Forget Garden (approx. 0.6 miles away); Whist-Alks Way (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spokane.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Col. George Wright (was approx. 2.3 miles away but has been permanently removed).
More about this marker. A protective-coated carved granite tableau is installed in a concrete base, secured on an excavated concrete foundation, dressed by stones of natural basalt, and set by professional stone masons.
Regarding Thomas Redding Tannatt / Elizabeth Forster Tappan. This memorial was placed to honor Thomas Redding Tannatt and Elizabeth Forster Tappan (Historic Preservationists - Brevet Brigadier General Civil War and Organizing Regent Esther Reed Chapter NSDAR at Fairmount Memorial cemetery. Jonas Babcock Chapter, NSDAR Historians Office helped in the research, writing and editing of the script, created the programs, and helped plan and carry out the dedication ceremony. The memorial is maintained through perpetual maintenance endowment through Spokanes Fairmount Association. Thomas and Elizabeth met while he was at West Point in 1856, and they were married on April 18, 1860. They moved to Fort Randall, Dakota Territory after Thomas was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant.
Also see . . .
1. Captain Thomas Redding Tannatt. Library of Congress
Captain Thomas Redding Tannatt of 4th Regular Army Light Artillery Regiment, 16th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment in uniform] / J.W. Black, 173 Washington St., Boston(Submitted on July 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
2. COL Thomas Redding Tannatt. Find a Grave (Submitted on July 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
3. Thomas & Elizabeth Tannatt: Pioneer & Civil War Officer. Fairmount Memorial Association (Submitted on September 7, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 121 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 30, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. 4. submitted on October 6, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
