Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-04

1
apoplexy.
The news of Gen Grifin's death was
first received in Madison by Gov.
Scofield and came as a great surprise
and shock. Only Thursday Gen. Grit
fin was here, apparently in excellent
health, and had a visit of an hour with
Gov. Seofield during which he dwelt
upon the work he expected to take up
on his return here after new years.
Gov. ScOfeld and some OF the other
state officers will attend the funeral.
Gen. Griffin was a se1f-made man
who achieved distinction as a citi-
zen, a soldier, a lawyer and a states
man. He was a native of Ireland
When lad of years he accompanied
his parent to America. For a short
time they resided in Canada and Hud-
son, Ohio, after which they made their
home in Newport, Sank county, Wis
cOnsln. 1t was here that young Griffin
was given common school education.
When the war of the rebellion broke
out he was among the first to offer his
services to the country of his adoption.
Mr.. Griffin was but 10 years of age
when he enlisted in Co. E. of the 18th
Wisconsin infantry. All through that
conflict which tried the souls of men
he smelled smoke and heard the roar
OF cannon and musketry. He partici-
pated in the campaigns of western Mis-
souri, and Kansas and western Ken
lucky and Tennessee and met many
rebels and guerillas in hand-to-hand
fights. He was made sergeant of his
regiment at Humboldt, Tenn, and was
advanced to second lieutenancy at
Goldsboro. Mr.. Griffin saw active SER
vice under Grant and Sherman in Ala
bama and Georgia and took part in a
number OF the engagements which
made those campaigns historic.
When the last shot had been fired he
returned to Wisconsin and buckled
down to the study of law at Kilbourn
City. At Portage two years later he
was admitted to practice and hung out
his single at the city of the dells. His
fellow toWnsmen early recognized his
worth and he was several times elected
member of the county board and re-
peatedly served as town clerk He
was also elected to the legislature from
Columbia county.
In 1876 General Griffin removed to
Eau Claire, where he formed a law
partnership with Judge Arthur G. Ell
lis, which was continued until 1880,
since which time Mr.. Griffin has con-
tinued alone in the profession In 1880
he was elected a member of the state
senate and in 1889 ne was appointed
quartermaster-ge general, filing both po-
sitions with credit In 1894 he was
elected to congress from the seventh
district to fill the uneXpired term of
George B. Shaw and was reelected in
1896, being succeeded by J. y. Esch, the
present seventh district congressman.
On the creation of the state tax COM
mission last winter by the legislature
Gen. Griffin was appointed by Gov.
Scofield to head it, the appointment
meeting with the greatest satisfaction
throughout the state. Gen. Griffin pre-
sided over the republican state conven-
ton in 1896 and was frequently men
toned in connection with the governor
ship.
General Griffin was a Well-knOWn
member of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, having twice served as COM
mander of his local post and having
been chosen department commander of
the state. The Loyal legion counted
him among its most valued members.
He is also a Mason and a Knight Of
Pythias. General Griffin was one of the
active citizens of the progressive mr-
nicipality of Eau Claire and did
much to advance the interest of that
thriving city. He was not only popular
in his home city but throughout the
state.