Charles Alden Grannell

  General Notes:

From the transcript written by Guy Grannell in the 1930's
"The eldest of Thomas Grannell's children was Charles Alden Grannell. He was born in Kentucky, but soon after his birth his parents moved to Greenfield Township, Huron County, Ohio and that was where he lived during his childhood. One day, while playing with other boys in the Huron River, he saved one of the them from drowning. That boy's name was Simmons. Later he became Dr. Simmons, long a leading citizen of Norwalk, Ohio. As a young man, C.A. Grannell joined the United States Army, and was under the command of General Custer. He soon grew tired of army life, and succeeded somehow in obtaining a discharge. It was fortunate for him that he did, because General Custer and all his men were surrounded by the Indians and killed not long afterwards (1876). Charles A. was married at an early age to Rose Dawson of Greenfield. In 1876 he was living on what is now the `Miller Farm', not far from Norwalk. The stone quarry on the farm was his chief interest there. An interesting anecdote of those days happened to be remembered by Rose Flanagan (afterwards Mrs. W.W. Grannell). One day during the sprig of 1876, Mrs Q. A. Grannell, took her little son, Frank, and some sewing and went to visit at Flanagans, about one half mile from her home. Time slipped by rapidly and she was a little late in getting started for home. Rose Flanagan accompanied her as she had much to carry. Charles A. had returned from the quarry tired, and hungrey and found no one at home. As they approached, they saw him working in the garden, and the following conversation took place. Mrs. Grannell: "Oh! Charlie, what are you doing?" Charles A.: "Planting" Mrs. G.: "But what are you planting?", Charles A.: "Gad-about seeds!" Mrs. G: "Oh, I hope you have a good crop.' A considerabe part of Norwalk, as it is today ws built during the 1880's. Many things were done that have since been changed. Thus, Norwalk used to have stone pavements on some of its streets. Providing stones for pavements and sidewalks and for the foundations buildings furnished much work for the stonecutters of those days. Much of the stone used in the building of Norwalk was taken from the Bronson stone quarry. Charles A may be said to have taken a leading part in that work, for during most of the 1880's , he was president and manager of the "Bronson Stone Company.' About the year 1890, he moved to East Norwalk and for a short time operated a stone quarry located there. The same year he was taken seriously ill with pneumonia and had a very narrow escape with his life. Referring to this illness at a later date, he wrote, `After I was sick in Norwalk, it took me two years to get back my strength and even then I did not get it all back and never will. And there were times when I came near giving up, but never did." He moved to Smithfield, Pa. about the year 1893, and that town remained the home of his family for many years. Until the time of his death (1902) Charles A. was engaged as a contractor, chiefly in railroad construction work. In partnership first with F.L. Stuart and later D.O. Bennett, he constructed bridges and tunnels in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland. In 1896, he constructed a bridge at Boyds, MD; in 1897 a tunnel in Falhope, PA; and in 1898 a tunnel in Punxsatuney, PA. While engaged in similar consturction work in Pinto, Maryland, he was taken seriously ill and died a few days later of pneumonia, early in the month of February 1902. There children in order of age were: Frank, Charles A., Elizabeth, Louis J., Roy, Mary, John Henry, Arthur, Ruth, Vincent, Marguerite Lucille, and Regina."

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census: Federal Census, 1880, Bronson, Huron, Ohio, USA. Page 9A

• Occupation: Works in a Stone Quarry.

Charles married Rose Dawson, daughter of John Dawson and Marjorie Margrette, about 1874 in Norwalk, Huron, Ohio, USA. (Rose Dawson was born in Apr 1856 in New York, USA and died in 1908.)