Ancestors of Michael J. Griffin [329]

John Bartholomew Griffin [1469]
(Abt 1829-1886)

Mary T. Lawler [1481]
(Abt 1835-1895)

Michael J. Griffin [329]
(1859-1911)

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
Katherine Cecilia Donoghue [440]

Michael J. Griffin [329]

Born: Oct 1859, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts ¹ ² ³
Marriage: Katherine Cecilia Donoghue [440] on 25 May 1890 in Massachusetts ¹
Died: 1911, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts at age 52 ¹
Buried: 1911, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts

bullet Noted events in his life were:

• He graduated from High school in 1876 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁴

• He worked as a Lawyer 1897 to 1911 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹ ⁵ ⁶ Studied law (however, he did not attend college) in the office of John R Callahan, Esq and passed the bar exam to become a lawyer. Listed occupation in 1900 US Census is Lawyer. The 1900 City Directory list 'Griffin, Michael J, lawyer, 194 High, h 17 Brooks ave'. 1911 Massachusetts Year Book and City and Town Register lists Directory of Lawyers: Griffin, M.J., 194 High St.

• He worked as a Clerk in a drug store after high school in 1880 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹ ⁷

• He worked as a Registered pharmacist in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹ His pharmacy was at 229 High Street, Holyoke on the corner of High and Dwight Streets. See the medicine packaging with his name. Seidlitz Powders <http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/effervesc_pulv.html> - an effervescing salt containing sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt and tartaric acid; used as a cathartic.

• He resided at 17 Brooks Ave from 1900 to 1911 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹

• He resided at 71 Center St in 1890 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

• He resided at 17 Brooks Ave from 1887 to 1910 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁸

• He resided at 132 Lyman Street in 1880 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁷

• He appeared on the census in 1910 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁹

• He appeared on the census in 1900 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ³ ¹⁰

• He appeared on the census in 1880 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹¹ ¹²

• He was elected as City Clerk 1883 to 1890 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁵ ⁸ In the Report of the Commissioner of Public Records, #52, 1900, City Clerks and Terms of Service, page 17, Michael J Griffin, 1880 - 1890, Declined reelection.

• He was elected as City Auditor 1883 to 1890 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹³

• He was elected as Mayor in 1891 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹ ⁵ ¹⁴

• He was elected as City Clerk between 1883 and 1890 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹ ² ¹⁴ ¹⁵ Holyoke, Massachusetts Directories, 1888-90, 1892 Record
about Michael J. Griffin
www.Ancestry.com

Name: Michael J. Griffin
Occupation: city clerk
Business Address: office City Hall
Home Address: boards 17 Brooks avenue
City: Holyoke
State: MA
Year: 1888

• See the document American Druggist, Vol XX, p 15 on 1 Jan 1891, New York, New York. Quite a number of the fraternity where successful at the recent municipal elections in Massachusetts. M. J. Griffin secured the mayorship in Holyoke, while a number were elected as aldermen and councilmen.

• Appointed: City Solicitor, 1905 to 1911, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹ ¹⁶ Salary as Coty Solicitor $1,200 in 1908.

• Appointed: Postmaster, Between 1893 and 1897, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹ ⁵ ¹⁷ During Cleveland's second term as President he appoint MJ Griffin Postmaster for Holyoke.

• He was educated at law student, 63 Main St in 1890 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Holyoke, Massachusetts Directories, 1888-90, 1892 Record
about Michael J. Griffin
www.Ancestry.com

Name: Michael J. Griffin
Occupation: law student
Business Address: boards 71 Center
Home Address: 63 Main
City: Holyoke
State: MA
Year: 1890

• He worked as a druggist between 1890 and 1897 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁵ Holyoke, Massachusetts Directories, 1888-90, 1892 Record
about Michael J. Griffin
www.Ancestry.com

Name: Michael J. Griffin
Occupation: city clerk; druggist
Business Address: boards 17 Brooks avenue
Home Address: office City Hall; 229 High
City: Holyoke
State: MA
Year: 1890
Comment: See page 567

• He worked as a Lawyer, City Solicitor in 1910 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁹

• His obituary was published in the Unknown newspaper in 1912 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁵

• Membership: St Jerome Total Abstinence Mutual Benevolent and Literary Society, treasurer, 1887, Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ¹⁸ Organized in 1868 and incorporated in 1872.

• See the document Emma Leonard vs. City of Holyoke in 1885, Boston, Massachusetts. ¹⁹ As City Clerk Michael J Griffin was servered with a civil claim that was appealed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court by the City of Holyoke. See Massachusetts_Reports, Snippet.pdf.

• See the document American_State_Reports, pp 526-530 in 1890, Boston, Massachusetts. ²⁰ A tort arguement before the Massachusetts Supreme Court, Michael J Griffin, administrator for the estate of Bartholomew Griffin vs Boston and Albany Railroad Co. American_State_Reports: Containing the Cases of General Value and Authority Subsequent to Those Contained in the "American Decisions" and the "American Reports" Decided in the Courts of Last Resort of the Several States, by Abraham Clark Freeman, 1890. See American_State_Reports, 1890, snippet.pdf.

Michael married Katherine Cecilia Donoghue [440] [MRIN: 190], daughter of Jeremiah B. Donoghue [1492] and Mary Brennan [1502], on 25 May 1890 in Massachusetts.¹ (Katherine Cecilia Donoghue [440] was born in Nov 1864 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts ¹ ² ³ and died in 1907 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts ¹.)

4 Unknow, THE DEATH OF M. J. GRIFFIN./A FORMER MAYOR OF HOLYOKE/As Postmaster and City Solicitor He Had Also Served the City.. THE DEATH OF M. J. GRIFFIN.

A FORMER MAYOR OF HOLYOKE

As Postmaster and City Solicitor He Had Also Served the City.

Former Mayor Michael J. Griffin of Holyoke, who died at his home on Brooks Avenue in that city early yesterday morning, had been ill for a number of months. Last fall he was taken with an attack of sciatic rheumatism, and complication developed, making his condition serious, and for the last few weeks practically no hope had been held out for his recovery. Mr Griffin had received many honors at the hands of Holyoke, and had deserved every one accorded him. He was always firm in his stand for what he believed was right, and nothing could swerve him from it. In public office this trait showed strongly, and a possible defeat for the office never caused

[Photo]
EX-MAYOR MICHEL J. GRIFFIN

him to adopt a course that he did not believe to be honest and straightforward. In public office he was a capable and efficient servant of the city, making a host of friends and few enemies. By hard work he accomplished much, and his record while in public life was one in which pride could well be taken.

He had suffered many severe trials and sorrows during the past few years, first losing a son and daughter, and about four years ago the death of his wife occurred, and last June death took his remaining son Daniel.

Mr Griffin was born in Holyoke 52 years ago, and was the son of John B. and Mary (Lawlor) Griffin. He graduated from the high school in 1876, following which he took a course in a business school in Springfield. He was then employed for a while time as a drug clerk, and in 1883 was elected city clerk, holding this office for the next eight years, and in 1890 was elected mayor, serving during 1891. At this time he conducted a drug store on upper High street, later locating at the corner of High and Dwight streets, in the property now owned by the McAuslan & Wakelin store.

During Cleveland's second term as president he appointed Mr Griffin postmaster, and he served in that capacity for the next four years. During his spare time he studied law in the office of John R. Callahan, and was admitted to the bar in 1897. He sold out his drug store and entered at once on the practice of law.

In 1905 he was appointed city solicitor by Mayor Nathan P. Avery, which office he held at the time of his death. For many years he was a member of the St Jerome parish and sang in the choir, but on the division of the parishes became a member of the Holy Cross parish. He leaves a daughter Hannah, a senior at Smith college, and four sisters, Annie Griffin and Mrs John F. Shea, Mrs A. F. Sickman and Mrs John R. Callahan, all of Holyoke. The funeral will be held Tuesday morning, the arrangements to be announced later.

The Holyoke bar association met yesterday afternoon and took action on the death of Mr Griffin, a committee being appointed, consisting of Judge Hohn Hildreth, District Attorney C. T. Callahan, James O'Shea and N. P. Avery, to make arrangements for attending the funeral and for furnishing a floral tribute. Another committee was appointed, consisting of James Tierney, P. J. Garvey and O. E. Genest, to draw up suitable resolutions.

5 Unknow, THE DEATH OF M. J. GRIFFIN./A FORMER MAYOR OF HOLYOKE/As Postmaster and City Solicitor He Had Also Served the City..

11 1880 US Census, US Census, 1880, Massachusetts, Essex, Other Townships, District 199, 69 pg 25.

13 Alfred M Copeland, Our County and Its People: A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts, p 26.

14 Alfred M Copeland, Our County and Its People: A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts, p 17.

15 Massachusetts City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts City Directories, Holyoke, 1887, City Information.

17 Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States (Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States
By United States. Congress. Senate
Published by , 1909
Item notes: v.29 pt.1 1893-1895
Original from the University of Michigan
Digitized Oct 16, 2008 by Google Books), pg 348.

18 Massachusetts City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts City Directories, Holyoke, 1887, City Information, pg 343.

19 Published by H.O. Houghton and Co., 1885, Massachusetts Reports: Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
By Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Supreme Judicial Court, Massachusetts (Google Books), pp 78-79.

Michael J. Griffin [329]

Sources