This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kFB.2ACE/4214 Message Board Post: Merritt C. Griswold, cashier of the Lowell State bank, Lowell, Kent county, Mich., is a native of Guilford, New Haven county, Conn., was born February 23, 1859, and is the eldest of four children that graced the union of Thomas and Sophia F. (Bishop) Griswold, the remaining three being Allen B., Mary B. and Harry F. Thomas Griswold was born in Guilford, May 10, 1832, and descends from ante-Revolutionary ancestors. The Griswold family is of English origin, three brothers of the name having come to America with the first Puritan colony. Thomas was educated in the common schools of his native town, and by profession was a sailor and commander of vessels in the coasting trade. His wife, also of colonial Puritan descent, was born in Guilford, Conn., May 13, 1835. Her father was likewise in early life a follower of the sea and traded with the West India islands. The names of both the Griswolds and Bishops figured conspicuously in the early history of Connecticut, and the names are still conspicuous in many parts of the Union. Merritt C. Griswold attended the common schools of his native town of Guilford until fourteen years of age, then bade his parents farewell and shipped on board a merchantman bound for Porto Rico, and continued in the West India and South American trade about six years. He then came to Michigan and entered the employ of the Griswold Lumber Co., with which he acquired by practical experience a thorough knowledge of the lumber business from the stump to market. He later engaged in the lumber, hardware, and implement business at Middleville, Barry county, Mich., continuing these lines for several years, and until he sold out to accept a position as cashier in the banking house of Bowne & Combs, at Middleville, in which position he remained until October 1, 1888, when he resigned this position in order to open a banking office for Bowne, Combs & Striker, at Lowell, of which he was the cashier and manager until February, 1891, when they became incorporated, under the general! banking laws of the state, under the present title of the Lowell State bank, they being the first bank in Kent county, outside of the city of Grand Rapids, to incorporate under the state banking law, Mr. Griswold continuing as cashier the same as before. He opened a field of operations in Lowell which he has continued to broaden, and the result is most flattering to his business ability. His record as a financier shows him to be strictly conservative in his methods, leading to the indubitable success of his bank and other business enterprises. In politics Mr. Griswold is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield. Fraternally he is a member of Lowell lodge, No. 90, F. & A. M., and Hooker chapter, No. 73, R. A. M., both of Lowell; of De Molai commandery, No. 5, K. T., of Grand Rapids; of Saladin temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of the same city, and of Cyclamen chapter, No. 94, O. E. S., of Lowell. Mr. Griswold is happily united in marriage with Miss Jennie A. combs, daughter of Russell E. and Mary (Lynch) Combs. Mrs. Griswold, before marriage, was cashier of the banking house of Bowne & Combs, and is a lady well fitted for her high social position. She is a past grand matron of the order of the Eastern Star in the state of Michigan, and is a member of the board of control of the Michigan Masonic home at Grand Rapids. In all his business transactions Mr. Griswold has been strictly upright and bears a name that has never been impeached. His enterprise and energy in carrying out his various undertakings have invariably been crowned with gratifying success, and he now stands in the front rank of the business men and financiers of western Michigan.