Griffith, George A.
(born: Sept. 27, 1846 - died: Oct. 6, 1908)George A. Griffith was one of the first two African Americans to practice law in Kentucky, admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1871. From Owensboro, KY, Griffith practiced law there and later in Louisville, KY. He also was admitted to practice law in Baton Rouge, LA in 1872 [source: "George A. Griffiths...," New Orleans Republican, 10/22/1872, p. 4, c. 1]. In 1881, he was still a storekeeper with the Internal Revenue Service, a job that he had for some time [source: Official Register of the United States...].
Griffith had served during the U.S. Civil War. He enlisted on November 1, 1863 in Gallatin, TN [source: U.S. Colored Troops Military Service Records (Ancestry)]. The family left Kentucky and moved to Wyandotte, KS, where he died October 6, 1908.
Griffith had been admitted to the Kansas Bar in 1882. He ran unsuccessfully for the Kansas Legislature in 1886. His family was also listed as living in Wyandotte in the 1900 U.S. Census when Griffith was a minister.
For more see "Mr. George A. Griffith," The Atchison Daily Champion, 11/6/1886, p. 2; The Owl: The Newsletter for Employees of the University of Louisville, vol. 17, issue 1 (February 2002), p. 2; Emancipation: the making of the Black lawyer, 1844-1944, by J. C. Smith, Jr.; "Argentine, Kan.: Rev. George A. Griffith pastor of the AME Church in Argentine," The Topeka Plaindealer, 10/30/1908, p. 7; and George A. Griffith at Find a Grave.