Allamakee-Mitchell County IA Archives Biographies.....Granger, Charles Trumbull 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 12, 2007, 12:43 am Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896) HON. CHARLES TRUMBULL GRANGER, one of the most eminent jurists of Iowa, now serving as Judge of the Supreme Court of the State, has risen to his exalted position solely through his own merit. Cultivating the abilities with which nature endowed him and adding to these by deep and earnest study, he is the possessor of an analytical mind, keen perception and sound judgment which well fit him for the position which he is now so acceptably filling. Judge Granger was born in Monroe county, New York, not far from the city of Rochester, October 9, 1835, being a son of Trumbull and Sallie (Dibble) Granger, both of whom were natives of Connecticut and early residents of the Empire State. Their family numbered eight children, five sons and three daughters, but the Judge-the youngest of the family-is the only one now living. He lost his mother when he was quite young. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and was unselfishly devoted to the interest and welfare of her family. Trumbull Granger served as Captain of the State militia at an early day, and by occupation was a farmer. He removed to Ohio, thence to Illinois, and in 1854 came to Iowa, locating in Allamakee county, where he carried on agricultural pursuits. He died while visiting a daughter in Ohio, in 1869, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was twice married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Young, by whom he had nine children, five yet living, namely: Elizabeth, widow of Asa Bradway; Charlotte, wife of Stephen Meriau; Thoeodore, Maurice and Wallace. The Granger family is of English origin and the grandfather of the Judge, Pearce Granger, was a native of Connecticut. By occupation he was a farmer and also engaged in the work of the ministry as a preacher of the Methodist Church. He lived to an advanced age and reared a large family. The maternal grandfather died in New York. Although an Eastern man by birth, Judge Granger has spent the greater part of his life in the West. He was reared in Ohio and Illinois, and acquired his education in the public schools of those States, completing his literary course in the seminary of Waukegan, Illinois. Like many men who have become prominent in professional circles, his childhood and youth were passed on the farm amid quiet and uneventful scenes, but that early training undoubtedly did much to develop his stability of character and self-reliance. He came to Iowa in 1854, but the following year returned to Illinois and subsequently finished his education as before stated. Attracted toward the legal profession, he began reading law while on the farm near Antioch. In the spring of 1860 he again came to the Hawkeye State, continuing his legal studies, which were only interrupted by a season of school-teaching in the winter in order that he might have the funds necessary for his expenses. In October, 1860, Mr. Granger was admitted to the bar and then went to Mitchell county, Iowa, where he engaged in teaching until 1862. The Civil war was now in progress, and not content to remain quietly at home while his country needed the service of all her loyal sons, he joined Company K, of the Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, and was commissioned its Captain. Going to the front he entered into active duty, and during the next three years participated in the many important engagements, including the capture of Little Rock, the campaign under Sherman to Meridian, the Red river campaign under General Banks, and the battles of Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Nashville and Mobile. His courage and fearlessness on the field of battle did much to inspire his men, and commander and company made a creditable military record. Upon the close of the war Captain Granger returned to Waukon, Iowa, which has since been his home, and at once entered upon the practice of law. In 1855 was celebrated the marriage of Judge Granger and Miss Sarah J. Warner, daughter of Samuel Warner. She died in 1862, just before he entered the army, and in 1868 he married Miss Anna Maxwell, whose death occurred in 1890. They had two children, - Ula A., who died in 1891,at the age of twenty-one, and Rollo S., who is living with his father. The Judge has for several years been prominently identified with the Masonic order. He is a member of Waukon Lodge, No. 154, A. F. & A. M., of Waukon, in which he held the office of Worshipful Master for a number of years. He is also a member of Markavell Chapter, R. A. M., of Waukon, and Beausent Commandery, K. T., of Decorah, Iowa. In 1880 he entered the Grand Lodge of the State of Iowa, and in the years 1884 and 1885 served as Grand Master of that honorable body, and is now serving his second term, of six years, as one of the three custodians of the order in the State of Iowa. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to John J. Stillman Post, of Waukon. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, having supported that party since its organization, and frequently he has been honored with election to public office. For four years he served as District Attorney, was on the circuit bench of the State for fourteen years, or until the office was abolished, and then he was elected District Judge and served two years. In 1888 he was elected to the office of Supreme Judge of the State, and has now entered upon the first year of his second term, each term covering a period of six years. He has been continuously upon the bench since January 1, 1873, and no higher testimonial of his efficient public service could be given than his long continuance in office. His fine legal mind and thorough knowledge of the law well fit him for the position. The language of his decisions is always plain, simple and clear, vigorous and decided. The decisions themselves are models of perspicuity and judicial soundness. He started out to make his own way in the world with no capital, and with a laudable ambition he has grasped eagerly every opportunity of raising himself to the high standard which he set up, and, by his resolute purpose and commendable diligence he has attained the goal of his hopes. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA ILLUSTRATED "A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants."'—MACAULAY. "Biography is by nature the must universally profitable, universally pleasant, of all things."—CARLYLE "History is only biography on a large scale"—LAMARTINE. CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1896 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/allamakee/bios/granger131gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb