John M. Griggs

GRIGGS, HAWKINS, NAVE

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 4/2/2009 at 10:38:41

JOHN M. GRIGGS, attorney at law, Audubon, Iowa, was born in Indiana, Marion County, near Indianapolis. He is the fourth son of a family of eleven children of Hiram Lee and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Griggs. His father was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1803, and his mother, Elizabeth Hawkins, in Bath County, Kentucky. His father is still living and resides at Monrovia, Morgan County, Indiana. The father is a Methodist Episcopal minister, and has devoted many years to that service. John M. was reared in central Indiana. His father being a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, their residence was frequently changed, according to the custom of that church. He began studying law while attending the Zionsville Academy, and later attended Wabash College. On the 19th of April, 1861, he enlisted in the service of our country (first call) at Indianapolis, Indiana. At the time of his first enlistment he was studying law with Colonel C. C. Nave. Being discharged from first enlistment he resumed his studies with Colonel Nave. On July 6, 1861, he again enlisted for three years' service, in response to the call for 300,000, at Centreton, Indiana, becoming a member of the Twenty first Indiana Volunteers, Company K. This regiment was one of the first to leave the State under the three years' call. After about eighteen months' service the regiment was changed from infantry to artillery, and was thereafter known as First Indiana Heavy Artillery. In July, 1861, he was sent to Baltimore, thence on an expedition into Accomack and Northampton counties, Virginia, thence to Fortress Monroe, thence to Newport News, Virginia. On the 4th of March, 1862, he boarded the Constitution for Ship Island, left James' Bay on March 6th, witnessed the bombardment of Fort Jackson and St. Philips. His regiment was the first at the landing at New Orleans. Upon his discharge, dated July 31, 1864, we find the following indorsement: "John M. Griggs, character good. Participated in the following engagements: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August 5, 1862; Donaldsonville, Louisiana, September 24,1862; Bayou Des Almands, September 9, 1862; A. J. Cotton, January 14, 1863; Camp Bisland, April 12, 13 and 14, 1863; Port Hudson, May 27, 1863, to July 8, 1863, inclusive; Cane River Crossing, April 23, 1864; Marksville Plains, May 16, 1864; Yellow Bayou, May 18, 1864; Mansfield, April 8, 1864; Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864. CLAYTON COX, Captain Company K." In August, 1864, he returned to his home in Indiana by way of the Mississippi River on board the steamer Empress, which, while en route for Cairo, was fired at by the enemy at Gaines' Tow Head. On his return to his home in Indiana he resumed his studies of law, and during intervals taught school in Marion and other counties. In 1865 he went to Emporia, Kansas; remained there but a short time and returned to Indiana by way of Iowa. In 1867 he again returned to Iowa, locating in Audubon County, Iowa, where he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law, and has been a resident of said county ever since. "J. M. Griggs commenced the practice of law at Exira in the year 1869, and has given the profession the closest individual attention. He moved to Audubon immediately after the county seat was moved to this city. He has never missed a term of court in the county during the whole time. Naturally a man of studious habits, he literally lives with his profession, and we can truly say he is wedded to it. He has been singularly fortunate in his practice, gaining some splendid cases. He is a bold, ardent advocate. His success depends upon his profound learning, his clear judgment, undaunted courage, loyalty to his clients, his veracity and perfect understanding of his case. Taken altogether, he stands second to no lawyer of the bar of Audubon County." H. F. ANDREWS in Advocate, January 1, 1881.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 758-759