A. P. Grainger
A. P. Grainger, a substantial and prosperous farmer and a progressive and public-spirited citizen of Paradise township, Crawford county, was born in Kingston, Canada, on the 24th of September, 1866, a son of P. K. and Amanda (Wemp) Grainger.
The father, whose birth occurred in County Fermanagh, Ireland, May 10, 1832, was but two years old when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, who took up their abode in Kingston, Canada, and there he was reared and educated. Upon attaining his majority he taught school for fifteen years, after which he was engaged in farming until 1881, when he came to Crawford county, Iowa, locating in Paradise township, where he improved and operated a farm for some time. Later he removed to another farm in Paradise township, which he also developed, and there he remained until his death on the 24th of June, 1908, his remains being interred in the Catholic cemetery north of Dow City, Iowa.
His wife was born at Amhurst Island, Canada, and long survived her husband, passing away February 24, 1910. By her marriage to Mr. Grainger she had become the mother of eight children, as follows: Mary, the wife of Marion Cole, who is engaged in the feed business in Dow City, Iowa; Anna, who wedded J. C. Grandy, a railroad telegraph operator of Warsaw, Indiana; Lucretia, deceased; A. P., of this review; James Allen, who is associated with our subject in farming; Edward F., an agriculturist of Paradise township; Charles, engaged in farming in Nebraska; and Rachel, the widow of John Cary, who makes her home at Denison, Iowa.
Reared amid the scenes and environment of his native country, A. P. Grainger attended the schools of Kingston and acquired a good common school education. He was a youth of fifteen years when his father crossed the border and sought a home in the United States, and after the arrival in Iowa the son assisted in the development and cultivation of the home farm in Crawford county. Upon attaining man's estate he entered the business world on his own account, wisely chosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared. He has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of eighty acres of land in Paradise township, all under a good state of cultivation. He has labored earnestly and today his farm, in its well improved condition, gives every indication of prosperity and is the visible evidence of a life of thrift, energy and determination.
Mr. Grainger was united in marriage, in 1910, to Miss Johanna Purcell, of Paradise township, and he and his wife are both faithful and consistent members of the Catholic church, the teachings of that denomination forming the guiding spirit in their lives. Although Mr. Grainger has ever given loyal support to the principles of the republican party, he has never sought nor desired public office as the reward of party fealty, but has preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business activities. His interest in community affairs, however, has never been slack, and he is a public-spirited citizen, interested in the general welfare. Progress may be said to be the keynote of his career, and he is recognized by his fellow men as a valued and representative member of the community.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.