Nelson Grant

Nelson Grant, son of Joshua and Thalia Grant, natives of Connecticut, was born in Brown county, N. Y., February 16, 1810. His parents moved from Connecticut to New York and thence to Illinois, both ending their days in Knox county. Nelson received a practical education in the district schools here, but the greater part of his time was devoted to farm work. On September 12, 1831, he married Miss Polly, daughter of Isaac and Sabra Chatfield, pioneers of Peoria county, Ill. In 1835 he and his wife moved into the original western part of Putnam, then a part of Knox county and now Stark, settled near Lafayette, where he purchased eighty acres of prairie and erected a bass-wood log cabin. Here the young couple began life in its real form and resided for about forty years. In 1835 deer, wolves and many other animals of the chase were natives or visitants of these prairies, but like the wild grass and flowers, and even the lazy red man, they disappeared before civilization. Mr. and Mrs. Grant were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Hloward P., Isaac, Lois, wife of J. S. Atherton; Nelson, Jr., Julia, wife of William Gibbs; Orsin, deceased; Caroline, wife of A. D. Scott, and Joshua. Mrs. Grant was born in New York state, November 10, 1814. Mr. Grant is one of the few pioneers left us, if not one of a trio of the first settlers now in the county. For years he was a devoted Republican until the newly-organized goddess of Prohibition won his allegiance. His connection with pioneer times and the official history of his township and county is related in other pages.