J. B. Griswold, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Grand Rapids, Mich., has been in active practice in this city since 1873, having previously had an extensive experience in the medical department of the military service of his country during the Civil War, and at other points outside the Valley city. His practice while in the army may be said to have been the ripening process which culminated in bringing his earlier studies to perfection through constant and onerous work, especially in the treatment of surgical cases. His has been an active and useful life, as the following record will fairly make manifest.

Dr. J. B. Griswold is a native of Vermontville, Eaton county, Mich., and was born June 21, 1842. His father, R. W. Griswold, was a son of the Green Mountain State, and as representative of one of the oldest and best families within its borders, and one of the original settlers of Vermontville. His mother, Abigail (Bascom) Griswold, was also a native of Vermont, and descended from an ancestry of unblemished record.

Dr. Griswold interspersed the life of a farmer’s son with attendance at the academy of his native place until sixteen years of age; in 1859 he entered the Agricultural college at Lansing; in 1861 he enlisted as a member of the band connected with the Second Michigan cavalry, and afterward was leader, but was discharged in 1862 on account of disability. As soon as his health permitted, he began the study of medicine with Prof. R. C. Kedzie, of the State Agricultural college at Lansing. He attended the courses of lectures of 1863 and 1864 at Ann Arbor, and in 1864 was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Fourth Michigan infantry. He was commissioned regimental surgeon in 1865, and served as such until mustered out in May, 1866; was also medical inspector of the department of San Antonio, Texas. On returning from the war he matriculated at the Rush Medical college at Chicago, and received his degree in the winter of 1867-68. He engaged in practice at Taylor’s Fall, Minn., until 1873, when he located at Grand Rapids, has been city physician two years, and was elected alderman of the Fourth Ward in 1880, and for four years was a member of the board of education, of Grand Rapids. He is a member of the Grand Rapids academy of Medicine of which he has been president; also of the Michigan State Medical Society, of which he is ex-president; also member of the American Medical association, International association of Railway Surgeons, and honorary members of the Minnesota State Medical Society. His practice in this city is extensive, popular, and comprehensive in its scope, and embraces all departments of the science which he has made his life work. The doctor is chief of staff of U. B. A. Hospital, also a member of the staff of Alma Sanitarium, at Alma, Mich. He is a member of the Michigan commandery of the Loyal Legion; also of Custer post, No. 5, G. A. R. He is a Mason, Blue lodge, No. 34, Royal Arch chapter, No. 7, and a member of the council, and is also a member of the society of the Army of the Cumberland.

Dr. Griswold was married at Ann Arbor, in 1868, to Mary B. Wisner. They have two sons and one daughter, viz: Roger W., secretary of the Widdicomb Furniture company; Grace H., at home, and Joseph H., in the engineering department of the university of Michigan. The residence is at No. 184 North Lafayette street.