Grant, John M. 1854-1917

GRANT, MCKEAG, CLARK, EASTER, BRYAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/13/2010 at 10:01:51

OBITUARY; dated Oct. 5, 1917

JOHN M. GRANT

John M. Grant, oldest son of Andrew and Nancy Grant, was born in Pittsbugh, Pa., April 13, 1854, and passed to spirit life at the home, 535 Broad street, Wednesday afternoon, September 26, 1917. Mr. Grant was a paralytic sufferer for several months, patient and hopeful of recovery to the last. He is survived by his aged mother, now past 82 years old, his wife, two sisters and two brothers.

The parents came to Rock Island, Ill., when "Johnnie" was about two years old, where the family resided about twelve years, moving to Montezuma, Iowa, the winter of 1865-6. In the spring of 1866 the family moved to the new 80 purchased one and a half miles south of the present town of Ewart, Iowa. Other "80's" were later acquired and the Grant family still own the original purchases of two quarter sections in Pleasant township.

John M. Grant and Mary A. McKeag were married at Ewart September 24, 1876, and came to live in Grinnell about twenty-five years ago, and here they have many sincere friends. Four children were born to them, three dying in infancy and one, a daughter, the idol of their hearts, dying at two and one-half years. The surviving members of the elder Grant's family are two sons, Wm. M. Grant and Thomas C. Grant, and two daughters, Mrs. Jennie Grant Clark and Mrs. Ivy Grant Easter, all living in Grinnell. Another daughter, Mrs. Lida Grant Bryan, died in Grinnell last spring.

"Johnny" Grant, as he was familiarly named and known, came of a sturday Irish parentage, both parents being born in Ireland, and was a respected and worthy citizen, a skilled workman in his line of work, ever best satisfied when his services were in demand by contractors and builders. It was a sad day to him, his family and friends, when paralysis suddenly crippled his right arm, followed by a weakness that he couldn't overcome. Mr. and Mrs. Grant were kindly neighbors, ever ready to be of service and help to their many friends, and their presence will be sadly missed from the community around the corners of Broad street and First Avenue.

Short funeral services were held at the residence September 28th and the body thence taken to Ewart church, where old neighbors assembled later to pay the last sad rites to the dead. His body was laid to rest in Ewart cemetery beside that of the dear child lost to him in the early days of his married life. May he ever be remembered as a man of strict integrity and a worthy example of patient industry and frugal life without complaint.