History of Nassau, (Rensselaer County) New York United States of America

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John Augustus Griswold, representative, was born in Nassau, N.Y., Nov. 11, 1818. He was an inmate of the family of his uncle, Gen. John Ellis Wool, U.S.A., at Troy, N.Y., after he had reached his majority and was employed in the Rensselaer iron works, of which he afterward became principal owner. He was mayor of Troy in 1850. When the civil war began he was active in organizing the volunteer army and aided in fitting out three regiments of infantry, the "Griswold light cavalry" officially known as the 21st New York cavalry, and the "Black-horse cavalry." Heaided John Ericsson in building the Monitor and became personally responsible with C. S. Bushnell and John F. Winslow in its cost and in seeing that it was built and equipped within the 100 days prescribed by the U.S. government. Had the Monitor proved a failure Mr. Griswold would have been the loser of at least one-third the cost. He was a Democratic representative in the 38th congress, and a Republican representative in the 39th and 40th congresses, serving 1863-69. He was a member of the committee on naval affairs and was largely responsible for the iron-clad monitors constructed during the war. He was the defeated candidate for governor of the state of New York in the election of 1868. He was a liberal benefactor to the various charities supported by the citizens of Troy, and was a trustee of the Rensselaer polytechnic institute, 1860-72. He died in Troy, N.Y., Oct. 31, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Nassau, (Rensselaer County) New York

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