Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1897 — HON. JOHN W. GRIGGS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HON. JOHN W. GRIGGS.

New Jersey’s Chief Executive May Succeed Attorney General McKenna. Attorney General Joseph McKenna is to step out of the cabinet and take a seat on the Supreme Court bench, in place of the venerable Stephen J. Field, who has resigned. Judge McKenna’s promotion will leave a vacancy in the cabinet which, a Washington correspondent asserts, will be filled by the appointment of Gov. John W. Griggs of Jersey to the Attorney

Generalship. Gov. Griggs will continue as chief executive of New Jersey until the Legislature meets in January, when his successor will be elected. John W. Griggs is a native of Newton, Sussex County, N. J., and was 48 years of age last July. He was only 19 years old when he graduated from Lafayette College and took up the study of law. Admitted to the bar in 1871, and locating in Paterson, he soon gained a reputation for legal ability. Meanwhile he had entered politics and in 1875 was elected to the lower house of the Legislature. In 1877 he was again elected to the House of Assembly, but the following year he was defeated. For several years he devoted himself to building up his private practice. In 1882 he was elected State Senator, being re-elected in 1884, and again two years later. In the Sedate of 1886 he was elected to the presidency.

JOHN W. GRIGGS.