E. F. Grainger
E. F. Grainger, a well known and prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Paradise township, is one of Canada's contributions to the citizenship of Iowa, his birth having occurred on Amhurst island, near Kingston, on the 18th of September, 1871.
His parents, P. K. and Amanda (Wemp) Grainger, were natives of Ireland and Canada respectively, the father having come to the new world on the 10th of May, 1832. In Kingston, Canada, he was engaged in teaching school for several years and was also identified with farming interests until 1881, or the year of his arrival in Iowa, when he located upon a farm in Crawford county and here gave his attention to agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on the 24th of June, 1908. His wife survived until the 24th of February, 1910.
Their family consisted of eight children, as follows: Mary, the wife of Marion Cole, who is engaged in the feed business in Dow City, Iowa; Anna, who married J. C. Grandy, a telegraph operator of Warsaw, Indiana; Lucretia, who has passed away; A. P., engaged in farming in Paradise township, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; James Allen, associated with his brother A. P. Grainger in agricultural pursuits; E. F., of this review; Charles, who carries on farming near Hancock, Nebraska; and Rachel, the widow of John Clary, residing at Denison, Iowa.
E. F. Grainger was a lad of ten years when brought by his parents to Iowa, and his education, which had been begun in the schools of Canada, was completed in the Hawkeye state. Reared amid the busy activity of rural life he was at the same time thoroughly trained in the work of the farm, assisting his father when not busy with his text-books by performing such tasks as usually fall to the lot of the country boy.
After leaving school he turned his attention entirely to agricultural pursuits and remained at home with his parents until 1906, when he rented one of his father's farms and became an independent farmer. Later he purchased that property and it has since remained his home. He has erected good buildings upon the place, has introduced many modern conveniences and accessories and the farm, which consists of eighty acres, is now a highly improved and valuable property. He engages in general farming and also devotes much time to stock-raising, making a specialty of breeding fine Duroc Jersey bogs. A spirit of enterprise and progress characterizes his efforts and his practical methods and businesslike management of his interests are elements in the attainment of a success which is at once substantial and gratifying.
Mr. Grainger laid the foundation for a happy home life in 1906 by his marriage to Miss Mabel Pollock, a daughter of W. C. Pollock, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Grainger holds membership in the Presbyterian church, while Mr. Grainger is a communicant of the Catholic church.
He gives his political support to the republican party and has served as school director, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He has also served his township in the capacity of road boss and his public-spirited citizenship prompts his interest in and advocacy of all measures and movements which have for their object the permanent upbuilding and development of the community in which he resides. Spending the greater part of his life within the boundaries of Paradise township, E. F. Grainger has a wide acquaintance in this section of the state, and the fact that many who have known him longest are numbered among his warmest friends is indicative of a life that has ever been guided by honorable principles.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.