Michael Griffin
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 7th district | |
| In office November 5, 1894 – March 3, 1899 | |
| Preceded by | George B. Shaw |
| Succeeded by | John J. Esch |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 30th district | |
| In office January 1, 1880 – January 1, 1882 | |
| Preceded by | Abraham D. Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Rockwell J. Flint |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Columbia 1st district | |
| In office January 1, 1876 – January 1, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | Marcus Barden |
| Succeeded by | David Owen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1842-09-09)September 9, 1842 County Clare, Ireland, U.K. |
| Died | December 29, 1899(1899-12-29) (aged 57) Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery Eau Claire, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Emma Irene Daniels
(m. 1871–1899) |
| Parents |
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| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Volunteers Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | 1st Lieutenant, USV |
| Unit | 12th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
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Michael Griffin (September 9, 1842 – December 29, 1899) was an Irish American immigrant, lawyer, and Republican politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing western Wisconsin from 1894 to 1899. He also served two years in the Wisconsin Senate and one year in the State Assembly. As a young man, he served as a Union Army officer through nearly the entire American Civil War.
Born in County Clare on the island of Ireland (the entirety of which was then part of the U.K.),[1] Griffin immigrated with his parents, John and Hannah Griffin,[2] to the British Canadian colonies in 1847, and then to Ohio in 1851.[1] He moved to Wisconsin in 1856[1] and settled in Newport, Sauk County. He attended the common schools of Ohio and Wisconsin.
On September 11, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Union Army for service in the American Civil War. He was enrolled in Company E, 12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, and served until the close of the war, attaining the rank of first lieutenant.[1]
He moved to Kilbourn City, Wisconsin, after the war, in 1865. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1868,[1] commencing practice in Kilbourn City. He married Emma Irene Daniels on September 6, 1871.[1][2] He was cashier of the Bank of Kilbourn from 1871 until 1876.
He served as member of the County Board of Columbia County, Wisconsin, in 1874 and 1875. He served as member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1876. He moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 1876, and was City attorney of Eau Claire in 1878 and 1879. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate in 1880 and 1881.[1]
He was the Department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1887 and 1888. In 1894, he was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-third Congress to fill the vacancy in Wisconsin's 7th congressional district caused by the death of George B. Shaw.[1] He was reelected to the following two congresses as well, serving from November 5, 1894, to March 3, 1899. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898.
He was appointed chairman of the State tax commission by Governor Edward Scofield on May 28, 1899.
He died of a stroke in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on December 29, 1899.[1] He was interred in Eau Claire's Forest Hill Cemetery. In 1972, he posthumously received a single protest vote for Vice President by a disgruntled delegate in that year's Democratic National Convention.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 2, 1875 | |||||
| Republican | Michael Griffin | 911 | 58.36% | +7.83% | |
| Democratic | O. D. Coleman | 650 | 41.64% | ||
| Plurality | 261 | 16.72% | +15.65% | ||
| Total votes | 1,561 | 100.0% | -7.30% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 4, 1879 | |||||
| Republican | Michael Griffin | 4,374 | 68.06% | +11.38% | |
| Democratic | W. H. Smith | 1,726 | 26.86% | -16.47% | |
| Greenback | Joel Foster | 327 | 5.09% | ||
| Plurality | 2,648 | 41.20% | +27.85% | ||
| Total votes | 6,427 | 100.0% | -8.43% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Election, November 6, 1894 | |||||
| Republican | Michael Griffin | 17,766 | 57.77% | +9.25% | |
| Democratic | George W. Levis | 9,992 | 32.49% | -8.85% | |
| Populist | Clement H. Van Wormer | 1,619 | 5.26% | +0.29% | |
| Prohibition | Edward Berg | 1,249 | 4.06% | -1.11% | |
| Independent | William F. Button | 125 | 0.41% | ||
| Scattering | 1 | 0.00% | |||
| Plurality | 7,774 | 25.28% | +27.85% | ||
| Total votes | 30,752 | 100.0% | -2.76% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 6, 1894 | |||||
| Republican | Michael Griffin | 17,489 | 57.36% | -0.41% | |
| Democratic | George W. Levis | 9,996 | 32.78% | +0.29% | |
| Populist | Clement H. Van Wormer | 1,626 | 5.33% | +0.07% | |
| Prohibition | Edward Berg | 1,250 | 4.10% | +0.04% | |
| Independent | William F. Button | 128 | 0.42% | +0.01% | |
| Scattering | 1 | 0.00% | |||
| Plurality | 7,493 | 24.58% | -0.70% | ||
| Total votes | 30,490 | 100.0% | -0.85% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 3, 1896 | |||||
| Republican | Michael Griffin (incumbent) | 24,073 | 65.80% | +8.44% | |
| Democratic | Caleb M. Hilliard | 11,718 | 32.03% | -0.75% | |
| Prohibition | James H. Moseley | 791 | 2.16% | +0.07% | |
| Scattering | 1 | 0.00% | |||
| Plurality | 12,355 | 33.77% | +9.20% | ||
| Total votes | 36,583 | 100.0% | +19.98% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Wisconsin State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Marcus Barden |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Columbia 1st district January 1, 1876 – January 1, 1877 |
Succeeded by |
| Wisconsin Senate | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 30th district 1880 – 1882 |
Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district November 5, 1894 – March 3, 1899 |
Succeeded by |
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