Grinnell, Josiah Bushnell - 1821-1892

GRINNELL, LINCOLN, CHAPIN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 6/10/2017 at 22:56:22

The Clinton Daily Age, Clinton, Iowa, April 3, 1892

A NOTED IOWAN GONE

Death of Ex-Congressman J. B. Grinnell – Something of His Career.

GRINNELL, Ia. April 2 – J. B. Grinnell, the founder and foremost citizen of the city died Tuesday night at 10:15. The city is in mourning and business practically suspended. Arrangements are in progress for the funeral, which will be one of the most imposing demonstrations of public sorrow ever witnessed in the state.

Josiah Bushnell Grinnell was born in New Haven, Vermont, December 22, 1821. He was left an orphan at the age of 10. He graduated from the Oneida Institute in 1843 and from Auburn Theological Seminary in 1847. He entered the Congregational ministry and preached seven years in Vi-age, New York, Washington and New York City. He preached the first anti-slavery sermon ever heard in Washington. He came to Iowa in 1854 and founded the town of Grinnell and established the Congregational Church here. The town was platted by him January 26, 1855. He was a member of the state senate from 1856-1860, and was by Lincoln’s appointment a special mail agent from 1861 to 1863. In 1863 he was elected to congress by the republicans and served two terms. He was active in the building of railroads and in the advancement of free schools and the cause of temperance. Mr. Grinnell was married February 5, 1853, to Miss Julia A. Chapin, of Springfield, Mass., and they had two daughters, Mary C. and Carrie H. It was to Mr. Grinnell, according to tradition that Horace Greeley gave the famous bit of advice: “Young man, go west and grow up with the country.”