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 ILLIAM GRANT, a worthy descendant of one of the pioneer families of this county, resides on section 6, Seven Hickory Township. He was born April 27, 1843, in Fountain County, Ind., and is the son of John and Sophia (Lively) Grant. His grandfather, Patrick Grant, was a native of Ireland, born near Belfast, where his sou. John, was also born, June 11, 1809. Sophia Grant was born June 28, 1817, in Virginia, and was the daughter of William and Mary (Martin) Lively, both of whom were born in Virginia the former in 1795, and the latter in about 1800. Mr. and Mrs. John Grant had a family of eight children. The following is their record: William, born April 27, 1 843 ; Arthur, born in July, 1845, and died in 1848; John F., born May 7, 1847, resides in Seven Hickory Township, and has a family of ten children, of whom six are girls and four boys; Mary J., born March 29, 1849, is the wife of Andrew Montz, a resident of Ashmore Township, and has a family of five children; Cynthia Ann, born Sept. 20, 1852, is the wife of I. W. Merritt, a resident of Hutton Township, and has two children now living, two having died in childhood; Thomas, born April 11, 1854, died Dec. 28, 1879, leaving a family of two children, one of whom is living; Robert, born June 29, 1856, died Aug. 11, 1866, and James, born April 22, 1859, lives in Hutton Township on the old homestead; he was twice married, and has one child by his first wife, and two (twins) by the second. William Grant was an infant, not quite six months old, when his parents settled in Hutton Township, this county, in 1843. His father emigrated to America in 1832, landing at Montreal. He went thence to New York State, and obtained employment on the New York & Erie Railroad. After remaining there about one year, he went to Virginia, where his marriage took place. He lived there several years engaged in operating on public works, and also owned a boat on the James River Canal, and then came West, ultimately settling in Coles County. William remained on the homestead with his parents, assisting in cultivating the farm, until he was twenty-nine years of age. His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wall took place Feb. 12, 1872. Mrs. Grant was born in Ireland, May 16, 1849, and is the daughter of John and Margaret (Kehoe) Wall. Her parents came to this country when she was an infant two years of age. They had but two children—Elizabeth and John; the latter resides in Humbolt Township. Mr. and Mrs. Grant have a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, as follows: William, born Nov. 20, 1872; John F., March 26, 1874; Thomas A., May 29, 1875; Margaret M., Sept. 28, 1879; James A., Feb. 25, 1882; Joseph E., May 31, 1885, and Francis O., Oct. 20, 1886. Mr. Grant purchased his farm in 1875, and it is well cultivated and improved. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, giving his attention in the latter exclusively to cattle and hogs. Mr. Grant has successfully filled several of the township offices. In 1872 he served as Collector, and in 1876 as Assessor; he was also a member of the Official Board at that time, both being Presidential years. In 1885 and 1886 he again served as Assessor and has been a member of the School Board for more than twelve years. He was a Trustee of the Roman Catholic Church at Humbolt, of which he is a member. In politics, he is a Democrat. |
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