Year: 1868

sitiop of Governor of the State of New York. To
those of us who have known him intimately and
well who have learned to respect and love HIM Tor
the simplicity of his character for his directness ana
decision in all business relations for bis devotion TO
the public good, and for his noble, manly and gener-
ous life. little need be said by way OF conveying IN
formation concerning his present position or his past
career But TO others, account that shall embody
statement of some of the prominent facts of his
life Is not only due by of the high position
which he now holds as the standard bearer Of the
Republican party Of this State in the coming cleo


on but is also proper in order that those who have
known him by report only, may be able TO judge
fairly Of his character and qualifications patriot
and man.


I Mr.. Grswold was born at Nassau apleasant village
situated in the south western part of Rensselaer,
County in this State. His gandfathers and several
of his -grandfathers fought in the for Inde
pendence and of them was confined in that float


ing Andersonvle of the Revolution the Jersey Pris
ON Ship" Unless man becomes greatly renowned


the world does for the history of his early life
and detail of his boyhood characteristics yet in
the great majority of cases where mans life can DO
traced from its commencement the achievements Of
manhood are found to be the natural growth and
development of principles founded in youth.


| Without entering into particular account of bis
early days it will be sufficient for our purpose TO
state that the qualities which In later life have
served to elevate Mr. Griswold in the esteem Of men,
rendered him popular as boy, and gave him All in


uence which he never failed to exercise with yir-
| tue and discretion. Kind and generous, despisng
fasehood and deceit in any form, when he accepted
the leadership in bOysh sports he accepted also tho
consequences that might follow. AS student he
ALWAYS maintained a good position IN his classes and
received liberal share of attention from his teach
ers. The Out-Ofdoors activity of country life added
to inherited health, gave him avigorOus constitution
"A fitting companion for his strong Common sense
and genial nature.


Inclinine to commercial pursuits rather than to
either of the learned professions, his education was
directed accordingly. When about II years OF age
he came TO Troy and entered the iron and hardware
house of Hart Lesley, & Warren At the expiration
of year having been asked to take the position Of
book keeper in the office of c. H. 81 j. Merritt, cot
ton manufacturers and commission merchants, lie
accepted the trust. While with these gentlemen he
not only acquired general knowledge Of business,
but a special acquaintance also with the theory and
practice of bookkeeping. During this period OF his


fe he lived IN the family of his uncle, now the vet
eran warrior MajOr-Gen John +. Wool, and thus en-
joying the privilege of society refined and cultl-
vated his education advanced under the most pleas
ing influences and the fine traits of his boyhood
character developed into principles of noble liVn9
for the future man. With the Messrs Merritt he re-
mained until be embarked in business for himself IN
u wholesale and retail drug-hous Becoming inter
ested in the manufacture of iron, he subsequently
entered the Rensselaer, Iron Company as a partner,
and from that time henceorward the pursuits OF tho
iron trade and Of banking have in a great measure
| onEased HE atiisntiOn.


Although immersed in business, yet he still found
time TO devote some attention to public affairs.
From his father well as from his uncle, heinl-
bibed those old-fashoned principles of democracy
which teach that power is derived from the people,
and should be used for the good of the people, and
further that it is the duty of the people to sustain
the Government in all right and constitutional ac-
ton whatever consequences may follow. The favor
with which he was regarded by all with whom lie
came in contact soon led to public recognition of
his upright and manly character and in 1852 ~ the
candidate Of the Democratic party he was elected
Mayor of the city of Troy by tattering majority
During his mayoralty the public affairs of the city
were carefully guarded by him, and as the presiding
officer in the Common Council his urbanty and I'M
partial recognition of parliamentary mles gave
acknowledged satisfaction.


From the school Of patriotism in which Mr.. Girls
void had been trained he imbibed the principle
that a mans duty to his country follows directly IN
the train of his duty to God and to those lmmedl-
ately dependent upon him. As consequence at the
breaking out of the Rebellion, he at once arTayed
himself among the supporters of the Government,
and from this position he never sweryed. On the
18th of April 1851 the day after the arrival OF the
news of the fall of Fort Sumter he presided at
mass meeting held in Troy for the purpose Of raising
men TO protect the United States against Rebels, aud
means TO support the families of those who should
enter the service On this OCCASION at the organlza-
ton of the meeting he in a few words disclamed
any partisan action in his sOnduct, deplOred the
4 - t,a ,pfpt flQalQ
man who should be influenced by political cOnsidera
tions in such a crisis ought TO receive universal pub
lie execraton and expressed the hope that the cit-
zens would respond with alacrty to the call of the
President for men, The Second Regiment OF New
York State Volunteers the result OF the efforts
which followed this and similar meetings To the
formation of this regiment the efforts of Mr. Gris-
wold were literally and effectively devoted, rs was
also the case in raising the 90th l25th, and 6h Reg
iments of New-YOrk State volunteers, the Black
Horse Cavalry of the same State. and the 2lst New
York, otherwise known as the Griswod Light Cav
airy.


The fame of the British Warrior and of the French
Cloire having induced the belief that wooden walls
as fighting craft on the water 10 be superseded,
led Congress by an act approved Aug. 3, 1851, to
make an appropriation of 10000 for the constTne-
ton of one or more armored, or iron or steeiciad
steamships or floating steam batteries few weeks
later C. s Bushnell Of New Haven, Mr. Griswold
and John I. Wnslow Of Troy, were at Washington
engaged in closing contract with the Goyernntnt
for clothing wooden vessel with iron. Tbs bust
ness having been concluded these gentlemen eaiied
the attention of the Navy Department and ne N"vh
Board 10 a model of an iron-clad vessei maze oy
John Ericsson which they had brought with them.
and suggested the proprety of buildnga vessel
after his plans. The suggestion at that time was not
received with much favor, but no conclnsioh was