Known Activities
Military Service. Griggs enlisted on August 17, 1861, in Company B of the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. According to the 1904 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, he participated in Sherman's March to the Sea, placing him among the Union forces that swept through Georgia and the Carolinas in 1864–65. (Source: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County (1904))
Farming. Following the war, Griggs pursued farming in Kane County, Illinois. The nature and precise location of his agricultural holdings are not recorded in the available source.
Public Service. Griggs served in local educational governance as both School Trustee and School Director, roles that were common avenues of civic participation for established farmers in rural Kane County townships during the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 4, 1841 | Born in Plato, Kane County, Illinois |
| August 17, 1861 | Enlisted in Company B, Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry (Source: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County (1904)) |
| 1864–1865 | Reportedly participated in Sherman's March to the Sea |
| Post-war | Returned to Kane County; took up farming |
| Date unknown | Served as School Trustee and School Director in Kane County |
The sole source currently available for Griggs is a brief entry in the 1904 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County. His date of death, the specific township in which he farmed, the duration of his school board service, and further details of his military record have not yet been established from available materials. Researchers interested in his Civil War service may find additional records in Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry muster rolls held at the Illinois State Archives.
Sources
- Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, 1904. Internet Archive.