Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Grinton, William 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 29, 2008, 1:02 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

William Grinton, chief clerk in the office of Munroe Brothers at Joliet, was 
born in Princeton, Ontario, Canada, March 17, 1844, and is a son of William 
and Hannah E. (Topping) Grinton. The father was born October 19, 1802, in 
Crammond, Scotland, and on crossing the Atlantic settled in Nova Scotia, 
whence he afterward removed to Canada, there remaining until the spring of 
1844. In that year he made a trip on horseback into the states, exploring the 
west and riding to the Mississippi river. He was at Nauvoo, Illinois, at the 
time of the expulsion of the Mormons, and brought away many souvenirs, 
including some of the type of the noted newspaper published there. In the 
course of his travels he saw nothing more to his liking than the region around 
Plainfield, in Will county, so that he took up his abode there and from 1844 
until 1848 was engaged in merchandising in the village. He then built a 
flourmill on the Dupage river, six miles south of Plainfield, and continued in 
milling, farming and merchandising until about 1875. He was one of the 
prominent pioneer business men of the county and his labors were an important 
factor in the substantial development and improvement of Plainfield and the 
surrounding country. In all of his dealings he was reliable and enterprising 
and commanded the respect of all who knew him. He died at Joliet, January 21, 
1884, while his wife passed away June 22, 1880, in the same city. One daughter 
is now living, Mrs. Reed Jones of Spokane, Washington. William Grinton, whose 
name introduces this review, was reared in Will county, where he attended 
school, later continuing his studies at Lake Forest. He has been engaged in 
various lines of business, including banking, real estate and insurance, and 
has been connected with the office of Munroe Brothers, in which he is now 
chief clerk, a responsible position, the duties of which he discharges with 
promptness, capability and fidelity. On the 24th of March, 1864, Mr. Grinton 
was united in marriage to Miss S. Anna Stevens, a daughter of Robert Stevens, 
a pioneer settler of the county. Mrs. Grinton, who was a native of Will 
county, died in 1879. In their family were five children: Robert William, who 
is living in Joliet; Anna Lorene, deceased; Albert E., who is engaged in 
business in Chicago and makes his home in Joliet; Mrs. Robert Rowen of Sonora, 
New Mexico; and Mrs. Edwin H. Messiter of Brooklyn, New York. William Grinton 
is one of the old-time residents of Will county and has written numerous 
sketches and articles for the papers concerning local history, notably the 
Cass street sketches, and Juliet and Joliet, which have also appeared in book 
form. Few men are more conversant with the development and upbuilding of this 
section of the state and his opinion is often sought on many disputed points 
of local history. He has been a most interested witness of the changes which 
have occurred here and feels a just pride in what has been accomplished in the 
county. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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