WILLIAM GRANT, a
retired agriculturist of Dover township, has for
nearly half a century prominently identified
himself with the industrial and public affairs
of his township. Strength in overcoming
obstacles, courage in making new ventures, and a
persistency in carrying forward each undertaking
to a successful issue are among his dominant
traits. Mr. Grant is a thorough Scotchman both
by birth and ancestry.
William Grant, his
grandfather, a shepherd by occupation, passed
his life for the most part among the rugged
hills of Scotland. There, as a young man, he
married Margaret Halliday, and among their
children was a son James.
James Grant, father
of William, passed his early life in Coldingham,
Scotland. In that country he married Elizabeth
Brown, daughter of Thomas Brown, a blacksmith,
and his wife, Margaret (Blair). Mrs. Grant died
in 1888, at the age of eighty-two years, and is
buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery. Their union was
blessed with seven children: William, who is
mentioned below; Thomas, a retired farmer, now
residing in Detroit, Michigan; John (deceased),
who was a prominent contractor and builder of
Chatham, Ontario; Peter (deceased), who was a
farmer in Iowa; Maggie, who married Jonathan
Woodall, a shoemaker of Port Dalhousie, Ontario;
Jennie, widow of William Breckenridge, now
residing with her brother Thomas; and Elizabeth,
who married Alexander Robertson, a wagon and
carriage manufacturer, of Fletcher, Ontario.
Reports of the rapid
development of the resources of Canada induced
James Grant to leave his native country in 1842,
and, coming to County Kent, Ontario, he settled
in Chatham township, where, prospering in
business, he remained until 1870. Then he moved
to the State of Illinois, and located upon a
farm in Will County. The place proved a most
desirable one, yielding good money returns for
labor, and he operated it for about twelve
years. At the end of the period, however, it
seemed advisable to dispose of the property, and
in March, 1882, he returned to his farm in
Chatham township, and there he remained for the
next ten years, carrying on a flourishing
industry. Having made exceptionally well out of
his ventures, in 1892 he retired from active
farm work, and moved to Chatham. He died in
1893, at the age of eighty-six years, and his
wife in 1888 at the age of eighty-two years.
Both are buried in the Maple Leaf Cemetery at
Chatham. Mr. Grant was one of those strong men,
whose word carried weight in any community.
Far-sighted, energetic and frugal, he was a
splendid businessman, and he accumulated
considerable property. Both he and his wife
were long active in religious circles, and
devout members of the Presbyterian church.
William Grant was
born in Coldingham, Berwickshire, Scotland,
April 24th, 1827, and when fifteen years old
came to Ontario, and settled in Chatham
township. Reared to farm work, upon reaching
manhood he chose that occupation for his life
work. In Chatham, April 10th, 1856, Mr. Grant
married Mary McIntosh, who was born in November,
1831, daughter of Robert and Jane (James)
McIntosh, the former a prominent farmer and
hotel-keeper of Scotland.. Mrs. Grant died
January 29th, 1889, and is buried in Maple Leaf
cemetery in Chatham. To her and her husband
were born eight children: James, born June 4th,
1857, is a farmer in Dover, Kent; Robert died
young; John is mentioned elsewhere; Thomas is a
blacksmith, residing in Kalamazoo, Michigan;
William is a farmer of Northcote, Minnesota;
Robert is a farmer of Dover township; Mary, twin
to William, married James Jack, a farmer of
Dover township; and Maggie married David Barr, a
farmer.
In 1855, the year
prior to his marriage, Mr. Grant settled upon a
100-acre farm in Dover township, where he has
since resided. He has cleared up new tracts,
put large areas under cultivation, and has
raised almost every product adapted to the
soil. As fast as he has made money he has
spared some for improvements, and has equipped
the farm with all machinery necessary for
economizing labour. Some years ago he erected a
handsome brick house, which is still considered
one of the finest residences in the township.
In 1890, having done his share of hard work, he
retired from his labours, turning over the
management of his farm to his son John. He
still, however, abides at this fine old
homestead.
Mr. Grant's many
attainments have long commended him to the
esteem of the general public and for thirty
years he served his township faithfully as
justice of the peace, evincing much practical
knowledge of legal matters, and sound judgment
in discharging his duties. Zealous for the
advancement of education, he acted as school
trustee for twenty-five years. He is a man of
marked integrity, of strong religious
convictions, and has long been a leader in the
Presbyterian Church, of which he is still a
member. Politically he affiliates with the
Reformers.
p. 310, 311
