Nathan Kirk Griggs

Born 1844-10-25 Frankfort, IN (USA)

Died 1910-09-04
Lincoln, NE (USA)

Buried
Lincoln, NE (USA)
Wyuka Cemetery

Nathan Griggs was a highly respected politician and statesman in the early history of Nebraska. He was a pioneer lawyer in Beatrice and Gage County beginning in 1867 and served as president of the Nebraska State Senate in 1875. He was being considered for more powerful national political offices, but was viewed as incorruptible and was therefore not suited for higher office. In order to eliminate his presence in the political arena, he was sent to Chemnitz, Saxony (Germany) as a consul. He took this in his stride and made good use of his time while he was in Europe. He amassed an enormous personal library and discovered that he had real talent as a poet and composer. Upon returning to the United States, he chose to continue his work as a lawyer, this time for the Burlington Railroad. He was often out of town on railroad business, and it was on these road trips that he found the time to compose most of the music found in this collection.

On the Temperance Movement: In Nebraska, the alcohol problem had been a part of local politics since the territorial days; politicians like Nathan K. Griggs and William Jennings Bryan were in the thick of the fray and were ardent supporters of the "dry" track.

Places Lived

Frankfort, IN
Beatrice, NE
Lincoln, NE
Evanston, WY
Cambria, WY
Chemnitz, GERMANY

Author Of

Poetry
Music and Audio

Keywords

Poetry; Music; Songs

Education

Law Degree, 1867, Indiana University

Occupation

Teacher, Clinton County, IN
Director, Columbia Oil Company, Evanston, WY
Director, Cambria Fuel Company, Cambria, WY
Trustee, Cotner University, Bethany, NE
Attorney, CB&G Railroad
Senator, Nebraska Senate 1872-1876
Lawyer, Beatrice, NE
President Grant's Consul to Chemnitz, Saxony (6 years)

Places Worked

Schools in Clinton County, IN
CB&G Railroad
Columbia Oil Company, Evanston, WY
Cambria Fuel Company, Cambria, WY
Cotner University, Bethany, NE
Private Law Practice, Beatrice, NE
Nebraska State Senate

Honors

President, Nebraska State Senate, 1875

Associations

Chairman, Nebraska State Republican Conventions

Bibliography

Lyrics of the Lariat. 1893.
Moanings of the Winds. 1899.
Rumbling of the Winds. 1899.
Sighings of the Winds. 1899.
Sportings of the Winds. 1899.
Winding of the Winds. 1899.
Five Addresses and Devotional Poems. 1911.

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