Biographies:  Michael GRIFFIN, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI 

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Michael Griffin was born in county Claire, Ireland, September 9, 1842.  In 
1874 his parents emigrated to America, and after a short time spent in 
Canada in 1851, they moved to Hudson, Summit county, Ohio, where the boy 
attended the common schools.  In 1856 the family moved to Wisconsin, 
locating in Newport, Sauk county, where he continued his studies in the 
district school.  He enlisted at the age of nineteen, September 11, 1861, 
in what became Company E of the Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.  He 
was with the rest of the company mustered into the United States service 
November 5, 1861, and was appointed sergeant the same day.  January 11, 
1862, the regiment left Wisconsin, being ordered to Fort Leavenworth.  The 
regiment finally joined Grant in the south and participated in many 
engagements.  At the battle of Bald Hill, Atlanta, Ga., July 21, 1864, Mr. 
Griffin was wounded in a charge on the enemy.  He was ordered to the 
hospital, and though suffering severe pain, assisted the surgeons in tending 
to the more seriously wounded.  He was commissioned second lieutenant, 
February 11, 1865, and mustered as such on March 30 following.  He was 
commissioned as first lieutenant July 5, 1865.  He was mustered out of the 
service July 16, 1865, on account of the close of the war.  He then returned 
to Newport, and during the following fall began reading law in the office 
of Jonathan Bowman, at Kilbourn City, Wis.  He was admitted to the bar of 
the circuit court at Portage City, May 19, 1868, and entered on the practice 
of his profession at Kilbourn City, where he resided until 1876.  In addition 
to his professional duties, from 1871 to 1876 he acted as cashier of the 
bank of Kilbourn.  In 1875 he was elected to the assembly from the first 
district of Columbia county.  At the close of the session of 1876 he moved 
to Eau Claire, where he became actively engaged in the practice of law.  He 
was appointed city attorney in 1878, and reappointed in 1879 and in 1880.  
In 1879 he was elected state senator from the thirteenth senatorial district, 
comprising the counties of Dunn, Eau Claire and Pierce.

In 1889 he was appointed by Governor W. D. Hoard quartermaster general of 
the state.  During the two years he occupied that position the Wisconsin 
rifle range for the militia was established at Camp Douglas, and out of the 
first appropriation made by the state he purchased the land and directed 
the construction of suitable buildings for that purpose.

General Griffin was an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic and 
occupied many positions of trust in that body.  He served several times as 
post commander, and two years served as judge advocate of the department of 
Wisconsin.  In February, 1887, he was elected department commander, and 
served one year.  He was a member of the Wisconsin Commandery, Milwaukee 
Order of the Loyal Legion, also of the commandery, chapter and blue lodge 
of the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum.

In the early fall of 1894 the death of George B. Shaw left his congressional 
district without a representative.  General Griffin yielded to the request 
of his friends and agreed to accept the nomination.  His name was brought 
before the convention held at Eau Claire on October 3, 1894, and on the 
first ballot he was chosen to lead the party to victory; was re-nominated 
in 1896 and served on committee on military affairs in 54th and 55th 
congresses.  As a man of business Mr. Griffin displayed the same ability 
as he did in his profession, and was successful.  He was interested in the 
Lea Ingram Lumber Company, of Iron River; the Eau Claire Grocery Company, 
and the Eau Claire National Bank.

--Taken from "The History of Eau Claire County, 1914, Past & Present",
page 273.