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Rosters
  
         
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A Memorial and Biographical
Record of Iowa
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company,
1896
Submitted by Dick
Barton
CHARLES TRUMBULL GRANGER
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 trice 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 has
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.
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