Everett Paul Griffin was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the son of Trumbull Dorrance Griffin and Mary Philomena (Davis) Griffin. His father was born at Clinton, New York, in 1835, on an estate purchased by his grandfather from George Washington in 1790. He was of colonial stock, his ancestors having settled in Massachusetts and Connecticut prior to 1700. He served with bravery and distinction as first lieutenant of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery throughout the Civil war, being seriously wounded at the battle of Stone River, but recovering in time to participate in the battle of Chickamauga and later in the battles of Chattanooga, Decatur, Atlanta and other engagements. One of his brothers was a captain in a Wisconsin regiment, and another, a lawyer in Detroit, was a major in the Fourth Michigan Cavalry and later was for many years professor of law at the University of Michigan and a member of congress from Detroit. In 1866 Trumbull D. Griffin came to St. Louis and established the St. Louis Market Reporter, which is still published, and was for many years a member of the Merchants’ Exchange. He was a man of the highest ideals and possessed the most rigid principles. Mrs. Mary (Davis) Griffin was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and was the daughter of a prominent and successful merchant of that city.
Everett Paul Griffin was educated in the public schools of St. Louis, graduated from the Central high school and Washington University. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from that institution in 1901 and delivered the commencement oration. Owing to the fact that there had been many lawyers in different branches of the family, his. interest was naturally attracted to the law and he accordingly entered the law department of Washington University, from which he graduated in 1903 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, ranking first in the class in the final examinations for admission to the bar and being awarded the thesis prize.
After graduation, Mr. Griffin engaged in the general civil practice until January 1, 1909, when he was appointed assistant circuit attorney in which capacity he prosecuted for the state of Missouri all the felony cases in one of the divisions of the circuit court, handling over two thousand cases, many of them of great importance. In 1913 he was appointed associate city counselor by Mayor Frederick H. Kreismann and reappointed by City Counselor Charles H., Daues under the administration of Mayor Henry W. Kiel. In this position he tried a variety of cases for the city in the circuit court and the supreme court as well as the United States courts. One of his achievements in this office was that for a period of three years he successfully defended the city in a variety of damage suits, among other cases, involving over a half a million dollars without losing a single case. He also argued before the supreme court of the United States, the “Billboard” case and the “Manufacturers Tax” case, both of which were decided in favor of the city. lie also prepared and argued on behalf of the city “The Mullanphy Will” case in the supreme court of Missouri.
In March, 1920, Mr. Griffin resigned office to become associated with the law firm of Nagel & Kirby in the general practice of law, his practice being largely of a corporation and commercial character.
Mr. Griffin is a member of the American, State and St. Louis Bar Associations and of the University, City, Riverview, Contemporary and Public Question Clubs. For many years he has been a member of the vestry of the church of the Holy Communion (Episcopal). In politics he is a republican. He is fond of literature and athletic sports. Whatever success he has achieved has been due to hard work and persistent efforts.
