Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Griswold, Charles A, A M, M D 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 2:56 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Charles A. Griswold, A. M., M. D., one of the leading physicians of Western 
Illinois, and the oldest resident medical practitioner of Fulton, was born in 
Saybrook, Conn., Nov. 24, 1830, and is the son of Selah and Rosana (Bull) 
Griswold. His father was a descendant of the Griswold family prominent in the 
early history of Connecticut, after whom Fort Griswold was named, and whose 
membership included one Governor of the State. The grandfather of Dr. Griswold 
was a pensioner of the War of the Revolution, while his father was a pensioner 
of the War of 1812-14. Charles A. received his primary education at Cheshire, 
Conn., entered Yale College, where he took a regular course, and graduated in 
the class of 1852. He took two courses of medical lectures at Yale, and spent 
three years in study in connection with the State Lunatic Asylum, at Utica, N. 
Y. He finished one course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New 
York City, and received the degree of M. D., in March, 1856, from the last 
named institution. He came to Fulton, Ill. early in September, 1856, and, 
unlike most young physicians, he entered upon a successful practice almost 
immediately. He pursued his profession at Fulton till October, 1862, when he 
entered the service of the Government, in the late war, as Assistant Surgeon 
of the 93d Regiment, Ill. Vol. Inf. He was in the Yazoo Pass expedition, in 
the siege of Vicksburg, and entered the city after its surrender, remaining 
there till September. He was at the battle of Mission Ridge, and followed 
Sherman in his celebrated march to the sea. He was detailed for special duty 
on many occasions, and in December, 1864, he was promoted to Regimental 
Surgeon of the 93d. He served in the 15th and 17 th Army Corps, till the close 
of the war, and was mustered out in July, 1865, having served three years, 
without meeting with a casualty, or failing for a day to be on hand for duty. 
While he endured many hardships incident to army life, his experience gained 
on the field, especially in surgery, has amply repaid him. In fact, his term 
of service in the late war marks an epoch in his life, o'f which he may well 
be proud, while the vivid recollection of the scenes through which, he passed, 
often terrible, and sometimes humorous, will always supply interesting matter 
for retrospection. After his return from the war, the Doctor resumed his 
practice at Fulton, and has steadily advanced to an honorable position in his 
profession. He was prominently identified with the Union Medical Society, of 
Whiteside Co., Ill., and Clinton Co., Iowa, and is also a member of the 
Whiteside County Medical Society. He was appointed Delegate to the American 
Medical Association, which convened at Minneapolis, Minn., in June, 1882. He 
was connected with the Northern Illinois College three years, during which 
time he lectured on Physiology, Anatomy and Hygiene. He was appointed Examiner 
of Pensions, on his return from the war, and has held that position 
continuously since. He has held various local offices, having served as Mayor 
of Fulton in 1868, Supervisor of Fulton Township two terms, and three terms as 
School Director. He has been a Freemason many years, and is a member of Fulton 
City Lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been Master four years. 
Dr. Griswold was married at Cleveland, Ohio, July 5, 1866, to Miss Alice E. 
Smith. They had four children, three daughters and one son, namely: Marietta 
Alice; Joe Adelaide, born March 8, 1870, died Sept. 30, 1870; Henrietta 
Beaumont; Charles Richard, born Dec. 1, 1874, died July 19, 1875. Marietta and 
Henrietta, his surviving children, are attending school at Cleveland, under 
the care of relatives. Mrs. Griswold died Dec. 10, 1874. The Doctor has been 
addicted to literary pursuits, more or less, as the spirit moved him, and has 
been a liberal contributor to the local press. At one time he was associate 
editor of the Fulton Advertiser, a Republican paper of this city, since 
changed to the Journal. He is a terse and expressive writer, whose articles 
are always of interest, on whatever subject he may touch. In politics he is 
a "stalwart Republican." He has always taken a lively interest in politics, 
and has done good service for the party. He has been a delegate to many local 
conventions. There is one episode in the Doctor's life that he will never 
forget, and from the effects of which he will never fully recover. He was 
returning from Connecticut, where he had been to attend the funeral of his 
father, who died in his 97th year, and was a passenger on the ill-fated train 
that made the fearful plunge through the Ashtabula bridge, Dec. 29, 1876, a 
distance of 140 feet, to the river below! He was taken from the wreck in an 
insensible condition, but with whole bones. He is satisfied that one such 
experience in a lifetime is enough.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/whiteside/bios/griswold2321nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 5.7 Kb