Here are more biographies from the chapter on courts and the legal profession from the "History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, 1914" J. F. Ellis was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, New York, June 5, 1843. He came to Eau Claire in 1866 and studied law. He began his practice in 1870. Was county superintendent of schools for two years, and for six years a member of the school board. Arthur C. Ellis came to Eau Claire in 1861, and in May of that year enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving until 1867, when he was mustered out. He was wounded at the battle of South Mountain in 1863 and transferred to the reserve corps. He was lieutenant of Company B, and was with Sheridan in Louisiana after the war. In the fall of 1867 he returned to Eau Claire and practiced law from 1870 to 1880. Was county judge for seven years prior to his resignation in the fall of 1880, when he became connected with the Northwestern Lumber Company. He was born in Licking, near Granville, Ohio, September 17, 1843, and moved to Aurora, Ill., in 1856, remaining there until he came to Eau Claire. 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. +++++++++++++++ More to come on Monday! Have a super duper weekend, everyone! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net