The Press., 1888-07-26
Issued Every Thursday Evening.
[From St. Paul paper.l CHAUNCEY ". CRIGCS.


 A large and well-formed man, with a round and red face, whose coloring is inten- sified by a dark mustache hecked with grey, is often seen about the streets of St. Paul, seated in light double buggy and holding the reins over the sleek backs of a inely-matched team of horses. Beside him is the coachman, 8 second admirer of the team, dressed in dark clothes. He is all interest in the movements of the horses, and his dark grey eyes have an expression that indicates power of concentration and cool judgment. A beaver tile surmounts his large but well-shaped head. Seated in the vehicle he shows his weight and size, and would readily be accused of weighing in the neighborhood of 190 pound and measuring five feet and eleven inches. He IS an admirer also of the skillful man. her Tn which their owner, Col. Chauncey Wright Griggs, handles them. Although
 AN ARDENT ADMIRER
 of fleet horsefesh, and particularly proud of his own possessions in that particular, Col. Griggs finds time, inclination and op- portunity to greet many friends, associ ates and acquaintances as he drives to and from his own home on St. Anthony hill or one of his several places of business. Once at his office at o'clock in the morn- ing he finds plenty of employment until late in the afternoon, when he makes the return trip behind his steeds. Not to one office or to one line of commercial life does he confine his talents, but in many places and in many lines does he invest his mon. ey and interest himself in their successful outcome. The senior member of the ex- tensive fuel firm of Griges & Foster is he, besides being the president and chief or ganizer of the Lehigh Goal and Iron Cem- pany, a director in the first and second na- tional banks, director and ce-president of the St. Paul National Bank, a member of the wholesale grocery firm of Yang, Griggs x Howes, the owner of wholesale grocery establishments in Duluth and Mon- tana, and having other investments and commercial connections of varied char acter.
 THIRTY YEARS AGO
 he landed in St. Paul a young man with a 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 on May 4, 1856. Without more ado he start ed out in the real estate business, combin ing the duties of a contractor when occa- sion required. Within year he became associated in a business way with A. P. Upham, who came out at that time from Connecticut. Subsequently the firm of Griggs X Foster was formed, and has con. tinued up to the present time. His busi- ness gradually drifted from real estate and contracting to coal and wood, and soon in. cluded wholesale and retail groceries. His every venture was financial success, and he prospered and became identified with the banking business, with which he has |, kal a;, On the breaking out of the rebellion he enlisted as private in the Third Mlnne sota volunteers, and soon after reaching the front was promoted to captain, major and heutenant-colonel, At the end of the , siege ot VIcRsourg, m WhICn ne took part he resigned on account of ill health. Dur ing his military career he passed severa months in the interior of a rebel prison al Madison, Ga, and was for a brief period , an inmate of Libby prison at Richmond. THE OCCASION
 of his becoming prisoner of war was dut to the surrender of his regiment, a sur render made in direct opposition to his de sires, as expressed in strong terms at thC a council of war previous to the surrender f The equalization took place at Murfrees 3 boro, Tenn, July 10, 1862. On his return from prison he was promoted to colone . for his stand against the surrender, while f the officers favoring such step wert court-martialed. Coming home from tho & army, broken down in health, he located
 for time in Carver county. Shortly afte his return he was elected as a democrat t, V represent that district in the lower brancl of the state legislature, and the following A term he was sent to the state senate. Re s turning to St. Paul he was elected to tn I
 now enjoying his second term in the sen s ate. In addition to his legislative experi U ence he has been elected to the city coun F Gil for seven terms and has served on tn d school and water boards, being the vice O president of the latter commission at tn O present time.
 if WHILE FIGURING
 Y in politics and taking financial and per d sonal interest in the various business CD ,f terprises with which he is and has bee s connected, he has not neglected to bull V and beautify an elegant home which com n mands view of the river and surroundin Ie country from it's eminence on St. Anthon e hill. The dwelling is complete in all it is appointments, attractive alike to the pasE l. ers-by and those who occupy it. The ez Is istence in the near neighborhood of barr
 within which are stabbed horses with dt y sirable pedigree, testlhes that the owne le has decided fancy for good horses, an y has invariably possessed one or more ( t, some pretensions as to speed. Horses ar of his one hobby, and his successes have er g abled him to enjoy the possession of th n coveted animals. Col. Griggs was bor ve in Connecticut, his birthplace being To l. land, small village in that state, hi D. birthday, Dec. 31, 1882.
 IS HIS BoYHooD
 'i was spent in his native place without an
 remarkable incident. At the age of 14 | i. came west and became the clerk in h g brothers store at Birmingham, Erie couI al ty, O. The employment did not prov re wholly congenial, and in few months | k- returned to his fathers home and attende r. one or more terms at the Monson academ o. at Massachusetts. At the age of Is ,d graduated from that institution and taugl
 school for a session at Palmer, Mass. A - though in his teens, he not only secure
 the school but had under him as an assis
 ant a man his senior by many years. {
 the end of the school year he engaged
 the mercantile business in Connection or and sold out to go to Detroit, Mich on where, in 1850, he attended a commerci
 a0llaoa and AhrouUh xuith that oacurad