Representative Isaac Watts Griffith View All Years

COL. ISAAC W. GRIFFITH was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 2, 1820, and died in Des Moines, January 6, 1897. For nearly forty years he was one of the most familiar figures in the capital city. He had enjoyed the acquaintance of most of the distinguished lawyers, legislators, jurists, soldiers and pioneers of early Iowa. In 1846 he volunteered under the first call for troops for the Mexican war, and was made a sergeant in the 15th U. S. Infantry. He participated in many battles and skirmishes, and at Churubusco lost his right arm at the shoulder. Disabled for most of the active vocations of life, Col. Griffith, as was eminently just and proper, was almost constantly in public employment. He served in the Legislature of 1849, as a member from Lee county, and deserves the distinguished credit of having introduced and secured the passage of the Iowa Homestead law. He first came to Des Moines with the appointment of Register of the U. S. Land Office in 1858, in which position he served with entire satisfaction to all with whom he had business relations. Despising no useful employment, when his term expired, he became the toll-gate keeper on the old wooden bridge which crossed the river at Walnut street. He was at times bailiff in the State and United States Courts. From his kindly nature, strict honesty, no less than from the serious character of his disability, he always possessed the sympathy of his wide circle of acquaintances. When Judge Mason’s portrait was placed in the Supreme Court rooms, May 22, 1895, the compliment of unveiling it was accorded to Col. Griffith, who had long served as bailiff in his courts. From this brief statement it will be seen that his life was one of rare usefulness. “Old Churubusco,” as he was familiarly called, went to his final rest a truly historical character, universally respected and beloved.