John William and Mary Grant
1754-1826
John Grant was born in the Yakkin Valley of North Carolina January 30, 1754 to William Grant and Elizabeth Boone, sister of Daniel Boone, and a brother to Captain Squire Boone Grant. John married Mary "Polly" Mosby 25 Oct 1775 in Rowan Co. NC. He married Eliza Buckner as his second wife.
He and his family moved to Boonsboro in 1777 but trouble with the Natives forced them back to North Carolina. However, in 1780 they returned to Kentucky.
John Grant owned the land in Campbell County that salt was discovered on in 1793 by his nephew, Samuel Bryan. At that time the retail price of salt was $5 a bushel. Grant’s Lick is so named after John Grant.
John had visions of great riches coming his way and began making salt soon producing much of the salt used in the state and the money was rolling in. However, when word got around about the best saltwater in the state, three lawsuits were filed against John all claiming to be the rightful owners of the land. Four people who thought they had purchased the site from Benjamin Beall, settled for $2000.
Later, James Taylor Jr. and John Breckinridge produced another deed to the land. To settle this dispute, a company was formed called "Grant and Company Salt Works". John owned 50%, John Breckenridge 25% and James Taylor Jr. 25%.
Eventually the salt water diminished to producing only 8-10 bushels a day compared to 100 at its height. John was in need of cash, so he mortgaged his part of the company to John J Flourney for $4700. When the loan came due he sold his interest to James Taylor Jr. for $5000 to get the cash.
John died November 11, 1826 at his Pond Creek Farm in Campbell County.
To
learn more about the descendents of John Grant and Mary Mosby
visit Ray Jackson's site.