Bio of John R. GRINOLDS (b.1826), Faribault Co., MN

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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Karen Grinolds
Submitted: Apr 2002
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I would like to contribute a bio for John R. Grinolds, Walnut Lake,
Fairbault Co, MN.

This bio was taken from "The Memorial Record of the Counties of Faribault,
Martin, Watonwan and Jackson, Minnesota". Lewis Publ. Company: Chicago.
1895.

"John R. Grinolds, of section 19, Walnut Lake township (post office Easton),
is a old settler in this vicinity, arriving here as early as 1858. He was
born in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1826, a son of John M.
Grinolds, who was a native of Herkimer County, New York. The latter was a
son of Matthew Grinolds, who was a native of Rhode Island. John M. was
married, in Tioga County, to Miss Sallie Matson, who was born in Herkimer
County, a daughter of Eli Matson, a native of Rhode Island and a
Revolutionary soldier. They had nine children, namely: Roxanna, Lucy A.,
Dorcas M., Polly R., Sarah J., Almira, John R., Matthew and Stephen. The
last mentioned was a soldier in the last war, in a Wisconsin rregiment, lost
his arm by a shell and bled to death twenty days afterward. The family moved
to Juneau County, Wisconsin, in 1853, settling near Mauston, when the
country was new. The mother died at the age of eighty-four years, and the
father aged eight-eight. By occupation the elder Grinolds was a farmer, and
in his politics a Democrat. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Mr. Grinolds, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on a farm and
educated in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and Steuben County, New York. In
1854 he came West to Muscatine County, Iowa, and a year afterward went to
Juneau County, Wisconsin, and after a residence there two and a half years
he came to Freeborn County, Minnesota, to Albert Lea. In March, 1858, came
and took a pre-emption and proved up on it as a homestead,--160 acres, in
Faribault County. This place now has long been a fine, well-equipped farm,
and diversified crops are raised upon it. The premises are ornamented by a
splended grove of ten acres, one tree in which, planted by Mr. Grinolds, is
now nine feet in circumference. He had at one time 280 acres, but as he has
sold a portion, there are now only eighty acres.
In 1851, in Steuben County, New York, Mr. Grinolds married Laura A.
Schoonover, a daughter of Richard and Vina (Potter) Schoonover, natives of
Herkimer County, that State. These parents had nine children, as follows:
Job, Emeline, Mima Ann, Daniel, Leonard, Laura, Bailey (a soldier of the
late war, now living in Lucas County, Iowa), Jennette and Harriet. Mr.
Grinolds' living children are: George W., Richard F., Theodore M., Sarah
Maria and Ida A. The deceased are W. H., who died aged five months; and
Connie, who died eighteen months old.
Mr. Grinolds is a Republican, and he has served in nearly all the township
offices, giving satisfaction in all. In his religious principles he is a
member of the Baptist Church."

Karen Grinolds
San Antonio TX