GRADY, Henry S.

GRADY, STEVENS, JEMMEFF, WOLAARD, DAWSON, SIZER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/4/2014 at 11:37:14

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 771-73. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ HENRY S. GRADY

Henry S. Grady a representative member of Cerro Gordo county's agricultural class and one whose sons are following in the paternal footsteps and giving an intelligent and enlightened consideration to the details of their calling, is Henry S. Grady, whose well improved farm with its attractive dwelling and handsome groves and orchards is situated in section 1. Dougherty township. Mr. Grady was born at Owen Sound, Canada, October 10. 1851. his parents being Thomas and Rebecca (Stevens) Grady. Both parents were natives of Nova Scotia, the father having been born at Halifax, July 4, 1813, the mother March 6, 1823. They were married in 1844 and in 1850 removed to Owen Sound. Twenty years later they came to Carroll county, Illinois, and engaged in farming, following this occupation there until their deaths, the father's occurring December 10, 1891, and the mother's November 4, 1908. They were the parents of ten children, the following eight of whom are living: John W., of Owen Sound, Canada; James G., of Goldfield, Nevada; Henry S.; Thomas, a resident of Moline, Illinois; Robert, whose home is in St. Paul, Minnesota; Annie (single) of Rock Island, Illinois; Lucy, wife of George S. Senneff, of Paton, Colorado; and Elizabeth, wife of George Woalard, of Beloit, Wisconsin. The father adopted the agricultural calling only after coming to Carroll county, having previously for some years been a sailor and master of a ship.

At the age of fifteen Mr. Grady set forth like the hero in the tales of adventure to seek his fortunes. He may have inherited some liking for the sea — at any rate he went to work on the Great Lakes as a sailor and for four years pursued this calling. Later he spent some time in the pineries of the north as a lumber jack. In June, 1871, shortly after the removal of his immediate relatives to Illinois, he joined them and remained under the home roof until 1875 when he came on to Cerro Gordo county. He worked out for a year and then rented land for another and in 1881 became an independent land owner by the purchase of one hundred and twenty three acres in section 1, Dougherty township, this being wild land which Mr. Grady proceeded to put into tillable condition. He is now the owner of two hundred and eight acres of land which he operates with the aid of his sons. He follows general farming in the main, but is nevertheless interested in cattle raising and has a fine herd of full blooded registered Poland China hogs, a herd of full blooded Short-Horn cattle and some registered sheep.

Mr. Grady is a whole hearted Republican and there is no important issue of the day which does not have his attention. He has held office, having been at different times, township trustee, school director and school treasurer. He is a stock holder in the Rockford Farmers' Co-operative Society and for nine years has been a director. He and his family are members of the Congregational church and supporters of its good causes.

On March 31. 1879, Mr. Grady was united in marriage to Miss Nathalia Dawson, born in Belvidere, Illinois, March 11, 1858. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Sizer) Dawson, both natives of Lincolnshire, England. They were married January 3, 1851, and came to the United States in 1854. The father was a carpenter by trade and had served an apprenticeship in his native country. In the year of his arrival here he located in Belvidere, Illinois, and for two years worked at his trade. In 1876 he came west to Cerro Gordo county and purchased land in Dougherty township upon which he lived until his death. He was born November 17, 1825 and died in 1896. The mother died in Minnesota, February 18, 1905, at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Grady are the parents of two fine sons, Harry Lee and Roy Bernard.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014