Thomas Francis Griffin

Thomas Francis Griffin, member of the state legislature and an active practitioner at the bar of Sioux City, belongs to that class of men to whom opportunity spells success.  He has never been actuated by the spirit of vaulting ambition, yet he has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way.  Fortunate in possessing ability and character that inspire confidence in others, the simple weight of his character and ability has carried him into important public relations.  He was born upon a farm in Howard County, Iowa, April 19, 1865, a son of Thomas and Rose (Downes) Griffin, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former born in County Galway and the latter in County Westmeath.  They were brought to the United States in childhood, were married in New York City and in the early '60's came to Iowa, settling in Howard County.  Throughout his entire active life the father followed the occupation of farming but retired some years prior to his death, which occurred in 1910 when he was eighty-five years of age.  For a decade and a half he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1895.<

Reared in his native county, Thomas F. Griffin attended the country schools of Howard County and in June, 1888, completed a law course in Notre Dame (Ind.) University.  He took up his abode in Sioux City in August of that year and has since been engaged in general practice in northwestern Iowa.  He is an able member of the bar.  He possesses perhaps few of those brilliant, dazzling, meteorite qualities which have sometimes flashed along the legal horizon, riveting the gaze and blinding the vision for a moment, then disappearing leaving little or no trace behind, but has rather those solid and more substantial qualities which shine with a constant luster, shedding light in the dark places with steadiness and continuity.  He can hardly be termed an orator but has in an eminent degree that rare ability of saying in a convincing manner the right thing at the right time.  His mind is analytical, logical and inductive.  In 1893 he was called to the office of county attorney of Woodbury county and occupied that position for two years.  Popular suffrage made him one of the lawmakers of the state in 1912, the fifty-eighth district electing him to the general assembly, in which he is now serving.  His political allegiance has always been given the republican party and his earnest advocacy of its principles has been an element in its success in his district.

On the 30th of April of 1891, in Sioux City, Iowa, Mr. Griffin was married to Miss Rose Hartnett, a daughter of Daniel Hartnett, a native of Massachusetts.  They have two children, James A. and Thomas J.  The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Griffin also has membership in the Knights of Columbus, the Elks lodge, the Commercial Club and the Sioux City Yacht Club.  He has qualities that render him popular socially and, having carefully developed his talents as a lawyer through earnest, unremitting effort, he stands today as one of the capable members of the Sioux City bar.

History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties,
By Robert Herd Fairbairn (Published 1919 - Volume II)
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois
Transcribed by Janice Sowers