"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



The Hon. George W. Grant, representative in the Minnesota state Legislature from the Cottonwood county and a well-known and progressive farmer of Lakeside township, that county, is a native son of Minnesota, having been born on a farm in Jackson county, this state, January 13, 1877, son of J. F. and Mary (Geddes) Grant, the former of whom was born in Ontario, Canada, September 11, 1845, and the latter, at Albany, New York, in 1854, who later became pioneers of Cottonwood county.

J. F. Grant was one of the organizers of Cottonwood county and served the public for some time in the capacity of county commissioner and also as a member of the school board. He had a fine farm in Lakeside township, where he made his home until 1904, when he retired from the farm and moved to Windom, where he lived until his removal, in 1911, to Eugene, Oregon, where he is now making his home. J. F. Grant was thrice married. His first wife, Emma Greenfield, died many years ago, leaving one child, Emma, who married E. J. Frost. Mr. Grant then married Mary Geddes and to that union six children were born, of whom George W. was the first-born, the others being Charles F., John G., James A., Fred R. and Mary A. The mother of these children died on November 3, 1902, and Mr. Grant later married Mrs. Hermena Schroeder, which union has been without issue. In a biographical sketch relating to John G. Grant, a well-known farmer of Lakeside township, presented elsewhere in this volume, further details regarding the history of the Grant family in Cottonwood county are set out.

George W. Grant was reared on the paternal farm in Lakeside township, receiving his elementary education in the district schools of that neighborhood and afterward attended the Windom high school for three years. He then entered the Minnesota State Agricultural School, from which he was graduated in 1902, after which he began farming in his home township and has ever since resided there, being the owner of a fine farm. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Grant has given considerable attention to the raising of 'live stock and has done very well. He has given close attention to local civic affairs; served as township clerk for two years, as assessor for one year, and in 1914 was elected representative from his district to the lower house of the Minnesota General Assembly,

In 1906 George W. Grant was united in marriage to Tillie V. Swenson, daughter of John Swenson, and to this union five children have been born, Virgie C, Wilbur E., Mary C, Walter F. and Loren S. Mr. and Mrs. Grant are members of the Baptist church and take a prop�r interest in the general beneficences of the same, as well as in all neighborhood good works. Mr. Grant is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and takes a warm interest in the affairs of both these organizations.