George Griswold was the son of Harry (H.H.) and Maria (Post) Griswold. They lived 3 miles west of White Hall, Greene County, Illinois.

He volunteered in Co. A, 61st Illinois Volunteer Regiment out of Carrollton, Illinois. He fought at the Battle of Pittsburgh Landing and during or shortly thereafter contracted an illness and died 6 months later on October 26, 1862 at the age of 23.

A quote from the diary of his brother, Henry Adonijah (H.A.) Griswold who had taken care of him, said on Oct. 27, 1862:
"At 11 o'clock was George's funeral. It was very hard to give him up."