~ MARY E (CHANDLER) GRANT, b. 6 Aug 1822 ~ Related Surnames - GRANT, CHANDLER, McKELSEY, TUBBS, EWERS The homestead belonging to this lady presents to the eye of the passing traveler a picture of more than ordinary attraction as the abode of those possessing cultivated tastes and ample means. The estate embraces 160 acres of thoroughly cultivated land, some of the best in Maquoketa Township. Of this 120 acres lies on section 5, and forty acres on section 8, the residence and buildings being on the first mentioned. This comprised the property left Mrs. Grant by her deceased husband, and afterward she purchased forty acres. This is itself is proof of the excellent manner in which she has looked after the property, and she is steadily adding to its value and importance. The residence of Mrs. Grant is one of the neatest of country houses, is surrounded by evergreens, is handsomely furnished, and in all its appointments approaches the ideal of the well regulated rural home. The land is very productive, and largely devoted to grain-raising, while at the same time Mrs. Grant keeps a goodly assortment of live-stock, including particularly fine draft horses, two teams of which are employed to operate the farm. Mrs. Grant is justly proud of her success as a manager, and while her time is necessarily largely taken up with business matters, she has in no wise neglected the finer things of life. Her children are well educated, and especially fond of music, being able to perform on various instruments, and the home contains quite an orchestra within itself. There is no pleasanter place in the township in which to spend an evening, and the family number their friends by the score within its limits. Mrs. Grant is a native of St. Johns, Canada, and was born Aug. 6, 1822. Her father, Gen. Samuel Chandler, was born near the city of Boston, Mass., and the paternal grandfather, Joseph Chandler proscuted farming in that locality during the last years of his life. Samuel Chandler was a carpenter by trade, and when leaving the Bay State repaired to Albany, N.Y., and there met and married his future wife. They finally removed to the Province of Ontario, Canada, settling near Lundy's Land, where Mr. Chandler conducted a wagon shop two years. He then removed to St. Johns, and purchased eighty acres of land, where he carried on farming, and likewise engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. In the blacksmith shop connected with this he employed a large number of men. At the time of the Canadian Rebellion Mr. Chandler, who was a stanch Democrat, organized a military company, of which he was elected Captain, and during the conflict which followed he, with a number of others, was taken prisoner, and sentenced to be executed. His eldest daughter Sarah, then a maiden of eighteen years, went to the Governor, and plead for her father's pardon, which was granted, and he was sent to Van Dieman's Land, although restrained of his liberty. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, however, and worked himself into the good graces of his guards, who allowed him to get on board a ship, and he thus escaped, and returned to his home. Upon his arrival there he found that his property had been confiscated. He remained in Canada until 1844, and in the fall of that year made his way to the Territory of Iowa, and took up a tract of land in Maquoketa Township, this county. Later, however, he removed to the vicinity of Delaware, Iowa, where he purchased eight! y acres of land, and putting up a grist mill, carried on farming and milling a number of years. Then selling out he returned to this county, and spent the remainder of his days in Maquoketa, dying in 1868, at the age of seventy years. He was a man of much force of character, and in religious matters a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Eliza McKelsey, and a native of Albany, N.Y., as was also Grandfather David McKelsey. Mrs. Chandler survived her husband a number of years, and died at the old homestead in this county, in 1875. The parental family included eleven children, namely: Sarah and David, deceased; Mary E., Hydia, Joseph and Ezra, deceased; Julia, Case, Robert, Margery and Samuel, the latter deceased. The survivors are mostly located in Jackson County, Iowa. The subject of this notice spent her childhood in the vicinity of Niagara Falls, and received her education in the common schools. In the fall of 1845 she came to Iowa with her parents, they making the journey overland from Michigan with teams, thus occupying two weeks. The country was then wild and new, and game of all kinds of plentiful. Mrs. Grant developed into womanhood at the new farm in Maquoketa Township, remaining under the parental roof until her marriage with Mr. W. C. Grant, which took place Dec. 17, 1846. Mr. Grant was the son of Abner Grant, and a distant relative of Gen. U.S. Grant. He was a native of New York State, and a mechanic by trade. Upon coming West he first settled in Michigan, but soon afterward came to this county, and subsequently operated largely as a builder and contractor until his death, which occurred April 15, 1884, at the age of nearly sixty-six years. Mr. Grant while in Michigan had also learned the miller's trade, and for some time after coming to this county operated McCloy's mill until purchasing 120 acres of wild land, which constitutes a part of the present homestead. After this he gave his attention chiefly to the improvement of his farm. Much of the land was covered with timber, from which he cleared the greater part, brought the soil to a good state of cultivation, and put up the necessary buildings. The land was finely located, and watered from a running stream. Mr. Grant set out an orchard and fruit of all kinds, and was prospered in his labors. To Mr. and Mrs. Grant there were born eight children, the eldest of whom Samuel C., is married, and occupied as a traveling agent for The Northwestern Nursery, located at Le Mars, Iowa; Emily is the widow of Danvers Tubbs, and carries on a farm in South Fork Township; Robert is married, and is the Assistant Postmaster at Maquoketa; Eliza is the wife of Sidney Tubbs, a farmer of South Fork Township; Joseph is married, and farming in Maquoketa Township, wherein William also makes his home, and has a family; Martha married Mr. H.S. Ewers, who operates 300 acres of land in Sioux and Plymouth counties, this State; Gen. Lee assists his mother at the homestead. To Abner and Emma Grant, the parents of Mr. Grant, there were born four children: Miranda; William, the husband of our subject; Orson and Emma. The mother was a native of New York State, and spent her last years in Jackson, Mich. William Grant was an uncompromising Democrat, politically, officiated as Justice of the Peace, and was the Postmaster at Bridgeport for a period of twelve years; he also served on the Grand and Petit juries, and was a great temperance worker. Mrs. Grant is a lady greatly respected in her community, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which she contributes a liberal support. ("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)