Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-03-16
JUDGE GRANTS DEATH.

Davenport's Most Prominent Cit
zen No More-Brief Biographical
sketch.
Judge James Grant, Davenport's most
prominent citizen, died at Oakland, Cal.
Saturday morning. and the remains are
en- route to Davenport for interment.
Judge Grant was born on q plantation
near the village OF Enfield. Halifax coun-
ty. N. c.. Dec. 10. 1912. At IS he was
prepared for college, but in Difference to
the advice of the venerable president Of
the institution who had taught his father,
his entrance was postponed for two years.
In 1928 he entered the sophomore class
OF Chapel Hill university North Carolina.
He was taken sick in his senior year but
graduated with class of IS others in
1881 while still under IS years o: age.
After leaving college he taught school
three years at Raleigh and emigrated to
the west at the age of 81 being governed
In this move partly by his aversion to the
institution OF slavery.
He read law with William II. Hay
wood, of Raleigh, N. c., who was at one
time senator from that state. In
1894 he removed to Chicago, then
village of 500 inhabitants where he
commenced the practice o; his chosen
profession. Shortly after his debut al
the bar. fist-ight about his first client
brought him into notice and he soon &C.
quired reputation an an advocate In
the same year Gov. Joseph Duncan ap-
pointed him prosecuting attorney for the
Sixth district of Illinois comprising all
the northern part of the state from CHS
cago to Galens. to Rock Island. Peoris,
Hennepin. La Sale and Iroquois-
He travelled this circuit on horse back
and travelled about three thousand miles
year. In June 1885 he resigned this
Office. finding that it interferred with his
home business. He remained in Chicago
till 1888 when il became more apparent
that the lake winds were detrimental to
his health and he removed to the then
territory of Wisconsin. selecting Daven-
port as his future home. In the same
year congress created the territory of
Iowa. For sometime after his removal
to the west side of the great river he
lived on farm near Davenport, and fell,
disposed to give up his practice
In 1874! he was elected a member of
the house of representatives of the Fourth
territorial assembly of Iowa to represent
the district composed of Scott and Gin
ton counties. In 1874 the people
OF Scott county elected him to
represent them in the first coosti-
tutional convention, and in 1916 he was
again sent by the people of Scott county
as their sole representative TO the second
constitutional convention and in both ses-
sions he drew up the bill of rights Al
though democrat in politics be was
nominated BY the territorial governor,
Chambers. whig. as prosecuting sitor.
ney in his district and was confirmed by
the council.
After the adoption OF the constitution
in 1S47, under which Iowa was admitted
to the union. Judge Grant was elected
district judge, and held the Office during
the term OF five years, declining re cleo
ton. In 1851 Judge Grant gave life and
vigor to the project of the Chicsgo &
Rock Island railroad; was its first presi-
dent and made contract with Messrs.
Sheffield and Farnhsm to build it. In
1862 he was q member of the legislature
from Scott county and was elected speak
er of the house.
Afterwards he engaged entirely in
the practice of law and his library be-
came one Of the most complete and best
known in the country, and as such it is
today.