St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-30

behind his steeds. Not to one office or tt
one line of commercial life does he cOnfint
his talents, but in many places and in many
lines does he invest his money and interes
himself in their successful outcome. The
senior member Of the extensive fuel firm Of
Griggs 81 Foster is he, besides being thu
president and chief organizer OF the Lehigf
Coal and Iron company, a director in the
First and Second National banks, director
and vice-president of the st. Paul Nationa
bank, member of the wholesale grocery
firm of YAM, Griggs 81 Howes, the owner
of wholesale grocery establishments in Du-
luth and Montana, and having other invest
ments and commercial connections of {
varied character.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
he landed in st. Paul young man with 9
limited capital, considerable business ex
perience and determination to get ahead
IN the world to back him in the great battle
of life. He came to the then village Oh
May 4, 1856. Without more ado he started
out in the real estate business, combining
the duties of contractor when occasion
required. Within year be became asso
ciated in business way with A. P. Upham
who came out at that time from Connecti
cut. Subsequently the firm of Griggs &
Foster was formed, and has continued up
to the present time. His business gradu
ally drifted from real estate anC
contracting to coal and wood, and
soon included wholesale and retail
groceries. His every venture was finan
cial success and he prospered and became
identified with the banking business, will
which he has been more or less connected
ever since. On the breaking out of the re-
bellion he enlisted as private in the Thirc
Minnesota volunteers, and soon after reach
ing the front was promoted to captain
major and lieutenant colonel. At the enc
Of the seige of Vicksburg, in which he tool
part, he resigned on account of ill health
During his military career he passed several
months in the interior of a rebel prison al
Madison, Ga, and was for brief period al
inmate of Libby prison at Richmond.
THE OCCASION
of his becoming a prisoner of war was due
to the surrender of his regiment, sur
render made in direct opposition to his de-
SireS, as expressed in strong terms at the
council of war previous to the surrender.
The equalization took place at Marfreesboro,
Tex, July 10, 1862. On his return from
prison he was promoted to colonel for hi:
stand against the surrender, while the
officers favoring such a step were court
martialed. Coming home from the army.
broken down in health, he located for q
time in Carver county. Shortly after his re-
turn he was elected as a Democrat tC
represent that district in the lower branch
of the state legislature and the following
term he was sent to the state senate. Re
turning to st. Paul he was elected to the
lower house from Ramsey county, and is
now enjoying his second term in the senate
In addition to his legislative experience he
has been elected to the city council fol-
seven terms and has served on the Schoo
and water boards, being the vice-president
Of the latter commission at the present
time.
WHILE FIGURING
in politics and taking a financial and per.
Sonal interest in the various business enter
prlses with which he is and has been con
nected, he has not neglected to build and
beautify an elegant home which commands
a view of the river and surrounding country
from its eminence On st. Anthony hill.
The dwelling is complete in all its appoint.
ments, attractive alike to the passers-by
and those who occupy it. The existence
in the near neighborhood of a barn, within
which are stabbed horses with a
desirable pedigree, testifies that the owner
has a decided fancy for good horses, and
has invariably possessed one or more OF
some pretensions as to speed. Horses are
his one hobby, and his successes have en-
abled him to enjoy the possession of the
coveted animals. Col. Griggs was 0orn in
Connecticut, his birthplace being Talland, a
small village In that state, his birthday,
Dec. 81, 1882.
HIS BoYHOOD
was spent in his native place without any
remarkable incident. At the age of II he
came West and became the clerk in his
brothers store at Birmingham. Erie county,
0. The employment did not prove wholly
congenial, and in few months he returned
to his fathers home and attended one or
more terms at the Manson academy at Tai
land. AT the age of Is he graduated from
that Institution and taught school for a
session at Palmer, Mass. Although in his
teens, he not only secured the school
but had under him as an assistant man