Josiah Bushnell Grinnell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's4th district | |
| In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | William Loughridge |
| Member of theIowa Senate | |
| In office 1856–1860 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Josiah Bushnell Grinnell (1821-12-22)December 22, 1821 New Haven, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | March 31, 1891(1891-03-31) (aged 69) Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Julia Chapin |
| Education | Oneida Institute Auburn Theological Seminary (BA) |
| Signature | .png) |
Josiah Bushnell Grinnell (December 22, 1821 – March 31, 1891) was aU.S. Congressman fromIowa's 4th congressional district, an ordainedCongregational minister, radical abolitionist,[1] one of the founders ofGrinnell, Iowa and benefactor ofGrinnell College.
Grinnell was born inNew Haven, Vermont, in 1821. He studied first atOneida Institute starting in 1841. He graduated fromAuburn Theological Seminary inNew York City in 1847. He held pastorates inWashington, D.C., and New York City before moving to Iowa.
Although Grinnell claimed to be the young man to whomHorace Greeley is quoted as having given the famous advice, "Go West, young man," Greeley always denied telling anyone that phrase.[2] Grinnell was also involved in railway building and was instrumental in the move ofGrinnell College, known at the time as Iowa College, fromDavenport to the newly established town of Grinnell.
Grinnell married Julia Ann Chapin on February 4, 1852. They had four children: Catharine Hastings Grinnell, George Chapin Grinnell, Mary Chapin Grinnell, and Carrie Holmes Grinnell.[3]
In Iowa, Grinnell was elected to theIowa Senate, where he served from 1856 to 1860. At the same time, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1858, and set up his legal practice in Grinnell. He was a delegate to the1860 Republican National Convention that nominatedAbraham Lincoln for President.
Grinnell was also a 'conductor' on theUnderground Railroad and was associated withJohn Brown.[4] He provided shelter to John Brown in 1859 after Brown'santi-slavery raids inKansas andMissouri.[5] The gravesite of J.B. Grinnell is listed on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.[6]
In 1862, after the 1860 census increased the number ofU.S. House seats in Iowa from two to six, Grinnell ran for the newly created seat representing Iowa's 4th congressional district. The Fourth District was then a diamond-shaped configuration of twelve counties that included Newton and Iowa City, and ran from the Missouri border to the southern edge of Waterloo.[7] After winning the Republican nomination and the general election in 1862, he served in theThirty-eighth Congress. In 1864 he won re-election, serving in theThirty-ninth Congress. On June 14, 1866, he was assaulted by fellow congressmanLovell Rousseau for insulting him and his home state ofKentucky during a House debate.
Grinnell lost the Republican nomination for a third term, losing by thirteen votes to JudgeWilliam Loughridge in June 1866.[8]
After his service in Congress, Grinnell resumed the practice of law. He was also interested in the building of railroads, becoming a director of theRock Island Railroad, and receiver of the Iowa Central Railroad (later the St. Louis & St. Paul Railroad). He also served as president of the Iowa State Horticultural Society and of the First National Bank in Grinnell.
He died of throat disease, complicated by asthma, at his home in Grinnell on March 31, 1891.[9] He was interred in Hazelwood Cemetery.
Articles on his life,abolitionist activities andhis obituary are available fromDrake Community Library in Grinnell, Iowa. Many additional materials are available in the archives andlocal history website at Drake Community Library.
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| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| New constituency | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 4th congressional district 1863–1867 | Succeeded by |
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