My Genealogy Hound

J. W. Grady is one of the well-known farmers and stockmen of Prairie County, and is highly respected and very popular, for his career has been of much value to this community, both in material affairs, as a public spirited citizen and otherwise. Since 1867 he has resided on his present farm of 160 acres, seventy acres of which are under cultivation, and has continuously given his attention to the calling to which he was reared, that of farming and stock raising. After coming into this new country, he had many discouragements to overcome, and many obstacles to meet in securing for himself and family a comfortable home, but this did not deter him from putting forth every energy toward the ambition of his hopes. In his efforts he was warmly aided by his good wife, whom he married in August, 1865, and whose maiden name was Sarah J. Collier, a daughter of V. H. and Hannah Collier. To Mr. and Mrs. Grady have been born eight children: William L., Caroline (now Mrs. Petty of Prairie County), James, Anna, Francis, Joseph, Mary and Jackson. The mother of these children died at her home in Prairie County, in 1887, and the following year Mr. Grady espoused Lou E. Petty, a daughter of George I. Petty, of Prairie County. Mr. Grady is a Democrat, a Master Mason, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He was born in Alabama in 1841, and was the second child born to William J. and Caroline E. (Brown) Grady, the former of whom was born in the State of North Carolina about 1815. He was married there in 1835, to a daughter of Leroy Brown, a South Carolinian, and he and his wife became the parents of twelve children: Sophia E. (of Texas), J. W. (our biographical subject), Samuel H. (who lives in Mississippi), Nathaniel (also of Mississippi), Zachariah T. (of Alabama), Leroy (of Alabama), Caroline E. (Mrs. McKinney, of Alabama), Florence (Mrs. Tramell, of Alabama), Frances (who died at the age of seventeen years) and three infants (deceased). Mr. Grady moved to Alabama, shortly after he was married and reared his boys to a farm life in that State. He was a prominent Mason, and besides holding a number of official positions, he was Master of his lodge for a number of years. He was magistrate in the town where he lived, and was possessed of a keen insight into business, and very prosperous in farming. He died in Chambers County, Ala., in 1880, his wife following him to the grave five years later The Grady’s are of Irish descent, the grandfather, John Grady, having been born in the “Emerald Isle.” In 1861 J. W. Grady took up arms in defense of the South, and enlisted in Company D, Eighth Confederate Cavalry, and was under Wheeler, taking part in all the engagements in which the Army of Tennessee participated.