William Grinnell
William Grinnell, Ravenna, Ohio, a son of James and Julia (Luce) Grinnell, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., June 28, 1839. The family immigrated to Ohio, and settled in Franklin Township, this county, where Mrs. Grinnell died. James Grinnell is a resident of Summit County. Our subject lived on a farm until about eighteen years of age, when he entered a store at Kent, Ohio, as salesman. In the spring of 1859 he went to Hardin County, Ky., working on a farm a short time; then entered a store in Elizabethtown, same county, as salesman. During the winter of 1860 and 1861, a military company being organized, our subject was waited upon by a committee and urged to join for drill, but declined the invitation. This act rendered his stay in that locality rather unpleasant, and in the spring of 1861 he returned to Kent, Ohio; re-entered a store, where he remained until 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as Fifth Sergeant. He was promoted to be First Lieutenant; was wounded at the siege of Knoxville, Ky., November 29, 1863, causing confinement to hospital until April 1, 1864; was commissioned Captain of Company D soon after his return home, but discharged on account of wounds. Mr. Grinnell was united in marriage in 1865, with Rachel A. Phillips, a native of this county. He was acting as Deputy at the time of his election as Auditor of this county in 1868, which position he occupied twelve years. In 1883 he was appointed by the Governor a member of Tax Commission, to revise tax laws of State, but declining health necessitated his resignation. Our subject was one of the founders and builders of the Flint Glass Works at Ravenna, Ohio, and its Secretary and Treasurer until January, 1884. He was actively identified with the building of the new Court House, having drafted the original bill and forwarded the same to the Legislature, by which authority was given the Commissioners to issue bonds and erect said Court House, and then, by appointment of Common Pleas Court, was made one of the Building Committee.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885