My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. GRANT. Although this gentleman is quite a young man, he has become well known in the town of Coloma, Berrien County, for his perseverance and honest and upright business methods. He was born in Elgin County, Canada, February 19, 1861, and is the son of George and Anna (Levrington) Grant.

The grandfather of our subject bore the given name of Robert, and, although of Scottish extraction, he was born and reared in Upper Canada, and for some time engaged in the pursuits of a farmer. He moved to Elgin County, thence to Huron County, Mich., where he and his worthy wife passed their declining years. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Wert, who lived about one year. His second wife was Miss Mary Poapst, who bore him the following children, six of whom are living: Daniel, Gilbert, Eliza Ann, Mary, Henry, Jane, George P., Alexander, Elsebet, John, Charles and Emma. The grandfather served in the War of 1812 as a British soldier.

Our subject’s father was also a native of Upper Canada, and went to Elgin County with his parents, where he cleared and improved one hundred acres of land, after which he removed to Van Buren County. Here he settled on eighty acres of rough land, which he immediately set about clearing and cultivating, and it was not long before he was enabled to buy more land, and now owns in all one hundred and twenty acres of good farm land. He is a man who takes an active part in public affairs, and has served as Supervisor for seven years. In politics he is a Republican, and is a worthy member of the Christian Church of this place. He reared nine children, namely: Allen, Rob, James, William, George, Edwin; Alice, now Mrs. Todd, of Mecosta County, Mich.; Aletha, wife of W. S. Morgan; and Agnes, wife of Eli Hill, also of Mecosta County.

When a lad, our subject helped on his father’s farm and was afforded only moderate opportunities of educating himself. At the age of eighteen years he began clerking in his brother Rob’s store, and remained there for three years, when he became a partner with his brother James, in 1882, but, at the end of two years, he returned to his former place, and since the fall of 1885 he has been engaged in the business alone. In 1886, he built the room which he now occupies, and has prospered, so that his business runs from $25,000 to $35,000 per year. Politically, he is a Republican, and is also a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, in which he has very creditably filled many of the offices.

The marriage of Mr. Grant and Miss Helen A. Pitcher occurred April 11, 1884, Mrs. Grant was born in Cass County, Mich., and is the daughter of John H. and Lydia (Witheral) Pitcher. The father was a native of New York, and died at St. Joseph in 1890. The mother, a native of Cass County, is still living. She has two children, Helen and Wallace. Our subject and his wife have had born to them two children: Homer and Harold. Mr. Grant is a gentleman in every respect and a reliable citizen, and is liked by all with whom he comes in contact.