Husband William James Grandin 1 2
Born: 26 Aug 1838 - Pleasantville, Oil Creek Twp, Venango Co, PA 1 2
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Died: 7 Dec 1904 - Philadelphia, PA 2
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Father: Samuel Grandin (1800-1888) 1 3 4
Mother: Sarah Ann Henry (1807-1852) 2 5 6
Marriage: 7 Jun 1881 7
Other Spouse: Mary Brennesholtz ( -1878) 7 - 27 May 1863 7
• Additional Image: William J. Grandin.
Wife Annie Helena Merkle 7
Born: 19 Mar 1858 - Limestone Twp, Warren Co, PA 7
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Father: Michael Merkle (1809-1892) 7 8
Mother: Wilhelmina Magdalena Johanna Killinger (1814-1898) 7
Children
1 M Guy Merkle Grandin 7
Born: 11 Jan 1885 - Tidioute, Deerfield Twp, Warren Co, PA 7
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2 F Anna Grandin 7
Born: 15 Mar 1888 - Tidioute, Deerfield Twp, Warren Co, PA 7
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General Notes: Husband - William James Grandin
He obtained a practical education in the schools of the neighborhood, and upon attaining a suitable age engaged in the lumber and mercantile business of his father, as did also his brother, John L., and they conducted the same successfully for several years. They built the store adjoining the Ryan Hotel, which they conducted in a thoroughly practical manner, deriving from it a good income. In 1868 John L. Grandin and A. Clark Baum established a general banking business, which was successful from the beginning and which soon assumed large proportions. In 1870 William J. Grandin purchased the interest of Mr. Baum, and the institution became Grandin Brothers Bank. Enlarged quarters were necessary for the rapid growth of the business, and in 1870 they erected a spacious and beautiful three-story brick block, they occupying the larger part of the first floor, their general and private offices being equipped with all modern improvements. The remainder of the structure was occupied by various enterprises, including an opera house, which afforded the citizens of Tidioute every facility for enjoyment in the way of entertainments. The brothers conducted a general banking business up to 1894, when, owing to the wide extent of their individual interests, it was nec-essary to curtail the banking business and to restrict it to private banking. They then dealt largely in bonds, mortgages and such general securities as were handled by private bankers in the line of investments.
In addition to the above the brothers were extensive oil producers in the local and adjoining oil territories, and this also proved a successful enterprise. They also erected a number of houses in Tidioute, and in addition to this were the owner of vast farming interests, having seventy-two thousand acres of land in North Dakota, which they received in the settlement of affairs of the banking house of Jay Cooke. They disposed of considerable of the property, retaining thirty-six thousand acres, located at Grandin, North Dakota, twenty-five thousand acres being under cultivation. They were also the owners of twenty-seven thousand acres of fine land at Mayville, North Dakota, upon which was raised many thousands of bushels of wheat. They built up villages and small cities surrounding their great farms, erected elevators and stores and built railroads, affording transportation facilities both for themselves and the people in the country adjacent to their farms. William J. Grandin was also active in promoting and advancing the general business and commercial interests of Tidioute. Although frequently requested to serve in public office, he would never allow his name to appear as a candidate, preferring to devote his entire energy and thought to his vast business interests.