Charles T. Grant
Charles T. Grant, a resident of Ashley, Oxford Township, who is now living in retirement, comes of one of the pioneer families of this vicinity. He was born January 28, 1823, in Providence, Rhode Island, and was about six years of age when brought by his parents to Delaware County, Ohio, where he has since lived continuously, although in different townships.
Charles Tilson Grant is of Revolutionary stock on both sides of the house, the Grants and Whipples having come to this country during colonial days. He is a son of Aaron. Jr., and Dianna (Whipple) Grant, a grandson of Aaron, and great-grandson of Ebenezer Grant. The last named was the first of the family to come to America, having come from Scotland, where the family was prominent back to the time of the deadly feuds that existed between the Grants and McPhersons. Ebenezer Grant came to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, in which two of his sons served, John being a drummer and Bryer a fifer. Both served under General Warren in the battle of Bunker Hill and were in other memorable struggles. Ebenezer was twice married, having three sons, Bryer, Jabez and John by his first wife, and four by his second, namely: Rhodes, Eliphaz, Aaron and Rufus.
Aaron Grant, Jr., left Rhode Island in October, 1829, in company with his family and his brother-in-law, James Whipple, whose father. Reuben Whipple, had previously moved west and located in what is now Peru Township, Morrow County, then Delaware County, on a farm which is still in the family, it being owned by his grandson, Frank Whipple. Mr. Grant, upon arriving at Sandusky City, Ohio, employed a wagoner named Morris to haul them and their possessions to Delaware County. They made the journey with a five-horse team, and at places was obliged to go ahead and cut a way through the timber. It was a memorable trip, in which they met some Indians and killed game in abundance. Jason Whipple having a new cap gun, one of the first guns of that pattern made. Aaron bought a farm of 100 acres of Israel Daggett, but as the puncheon had been taken out of the cabin on the place, thev rented a double cabin of Milton Van Duser, on the opposite side of the road. This place had been unused for a time and wild turkey filed through it in search of corn. The Indians had been on the place the previous year, and two camp grounds on the farm are still discernible.
Charles Tilson Grant was reared on his father's farm in Brown Townshp, which he helped to clear. He attended an old log school, taught by Cynthia Finch, two miles distant from his home. He followed farming on the home place, having bought out the other heirs, and lived there until in the nineties, when he retired from active business and located in Ashley. He sold the farm in 1903.
February 17, 1861, Mr. Grant married Diana Hibbard, who was born January 6, 1842, in Morrow County, and was a daughter of Lucius Hibbard. She died July 12, 1905, leaving two children—Horace Plum and Mary Emma. Horace Plum, born April 8, 1862, lives in Ashley. He married May Perfect and had a son, Leon, and formed a second union with Daisy Gano; Mary Emma, second child of Mr. and Mrs. Grant, born July 12, 1866 married Eugene Watters and has a daughter Shirley. Politically, Mr. Grant is a Democrat and served as infirmary director three years, being elected in face of overwhelming odds. He was formerly a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.
20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908