Hon. James Benton Grant, the third governor of Colorado and the state’s first Democrat elected to that office, was a prominent figure in both public life and business. Born in Alabama in 1848, he pursued higher education in the United States and Germany, specializing in mining and metallurgy before settling in Colorado in 1877. His career combined political service, including his 1883–1885 governorship and leadership roles within the Democratic Party, with business leadership, most notably as vice-president of the Omaha and Grant Smelting and Refining Company and as a founder of the Denver National Bank. Grant also contributed significantly to education, serving on Denver’s board of education for many years, and maintained active involvement in civic and patriotic organizations.
Hon. James Benton Grant. The history of any city or state is best told in the lives of its people. Especially is this the case when its citizens are men of enterprise, breadth of intellect and sagacity of judgment, men whose influence is felt not only by those of the same generation, but reaches into the far distant future, affecting generations yet to come. Some men advance the welfare of their communities by their business acumen, some assist in shaping the destiny of the state and nation; and others, in still different lines, promote the highest prosperity of the people.
The influence of ex-Governor Grant has been felt both in commerce and in public affairs. As the chief executive of this state, he labored to enhance every interest, to increase the importance of every industry. As a business man he has worked not alone to secure personal success, but to aid in public-spirited and progressive enterprises whereby other business men may also be benefited. Especially in Denver is his influence felt. In 1882, five years after he came to Colorado, he settled in Denver, the company of which he is vice-president, the Omaha and Grant Smelting and Refining Company, having removed its headquarters here. In addition to his connection with this company, he is interested in a number of mining companies and is vice-president of the Denver National Bank, in the organization of which he took an active part.
The Grant family is of Scotch origin. The great-grandfather of Governor Grant, James Grant, emigrated from Scotland to North Carolina, where he was a planter. Prior to coining to this country he and two brothers, Captain Patrick and William Grant, had taken part in the battle of Colodin. Descendants of James and William are in America today, so that the family name is being perpetuated here. Hon. James Grant, a son of the original settler, was a planter in North Carolina and one of the most influential public men of that state, at the time of his death holding the office of comptroller of the state.
Thomas McDonongh Grant, M. D., son of Hon. James Grant, was born in North Carolina, and graduated in medicine from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia and the Medical College of Charleston, S. C., after which he began to practice in Alabama on the Chattahoochee River and also operated a plantation there. He died on his homestead at the age of sixty-six years. His wife was Mary Jane Benton, daughter of James Benton, who was a planter in North Carolina and died in early manhood. After her father’s death she was taken into the home of an uncle, Col. Jack Crowell, a prominent man and the first member of congress from Alabama, also for a time Indian agent for the Seminoles. The Crowell family removed to Alabama from North Carolina, whither they had come from England. The family name was originally Cromwell, but there was so much prejudice among the people against this name that they dropped the “m” after coming to America and afterward were known by the present name. The Benton family was also of English extraction, closely related to both the Grants and Crowells. Dr. Grant had four sisters and three brothers. One of the brothers is Judge James Grant, of Davenport, Iowa. Another, William A., died in Montgomery, Ala.; and the third, Lieut. Gough Grant, was an officer in the United States navy for eighteen years, but is now retired.
After the death of Dr. Grant his wife removed to Davenport, where she died at the age of sixty-two years. She was the mother seven children, of whom six are living, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Ragland, of Denver; Sarah, wife of Charles Whitaker, of Davenport, Iowa; Dr. W. W.; James Benton; D. C., of Scott County, Iowa; and Whitaker M., an attorney in Oklahoma. James Benton Grant was born on a plantation near Columbus, in Russell County, Ala., January 2, 1848. His boyhood was spent on a plantation in that county. His father taught him to make every kind of farm implement and its practical use in the cultivation of corn, cotton and farm produce. He also learned woodcraft and the use of the axe in felling trees and splitting rails. Thus he laid the foundation for a strong mental and physical development. Though he alternated school work with farming, yet before the age of fifteen he had read Virgil and had commenced to read Sallust. As he was growing toward manhood the dark clouds of war fell upon the nation and when he was but seventeen, January 2, 1865, he enlisted in the Confederate army as a member of Waddell’s battalion, in which he remained until the close of the war brought the disbandment of the troops, and he returned home in April, 1865.
In December, 1870, Mr. Grant went to Iowa, where he had an uncle in Davenport. Soon afterward he entered the Iowa Agricultural College, where he remained for two years. He then spent a year in Cornell, where he took a course in civil engineering. In 1874 he went to Freiburg, Saxony, Germany, where he studied mining and metallurgy for two years, then returning to the United States via Australia, New Zealand and the Sandwich Islands. Reaching this country in 1877 he at once located in Colorado and engaged in mining and assaying, but soon, in partnership with his uncle, started the Grant smelter at Leadville. In 1882 the concern was removed to Denver, where he has since made his home.
During 1882 Mr. Grant was nominated for governor on the Democratic ticket and enjoyed the distinction of being the first Democratic governor the state ever had. He entered upon the duties of office in January, 1883, and served until January, 1885. Besides holding this important office he has been prominent in his party in other ways. In 1884 he was a delegate to the national convention at Chicago, where Grover Cleveland was first nominated for president, and at that convention was chairman of the Colorado delegation and chairman of the committee on permanent organization. Another important position he has held is that of chairman of the state board of arbitration.
No biography of Governor Grant would be complete that failed to mention his interest in educational work. He is a champion of the public school system and one of its most earnest supporters. Of his time and influence he gives freely for the cause of free instruction to the youth of our land. In 1891 he was elected a member of the board of education in Denver, and he has served as its president for six years (since 1892), filling that responsible position with the same accuracy and efficiency he has endeavored to fill every position to which he has been called. In the moral training work, too, he is deeply interested, giving it the weight of his influence.
With a just pride in the record of his ancestors, he holds membership in the Sons of the Revolution, and was honored by the state association by being elected its president. His marriage occurred in Leadville and united him with Miss Mary Matteson Goodell, the granddaughter of Joel A. Matteson, at one time governor of Illinois. Two sons, Lester E. and James B., Jr., have been born of this union. Mrs. Grant is a daughter of R. E. Goodell, who formerly engaged in farming in Illinois, but removed from there to Leadville, and now resides in Denver.
A public office is a public trust. Realizing this fact, Governor Grant, while occupying the gubernatorial chair, endeavored to discharge his duties honestly, faithfully and efficiently. History attests that during his administration the industries for which the state is famous flourished and prospered. Settlers were attracted to the state in large numbers, new lines of business were opened and new industries inaugurated. Ranches were opened up for stock raising, towns were founded, while mining continued, as before, to draw thousands of men to the mountains. The whole career of Governor Grant has been one of progress and will furnish numerous lessons to other generations. He rose above and conquered many obstacles in his life and his successes have been more the result of his indomitable will and courage than a chain of lucky circumstances. In his social life he was ably seconded by his wife, who by her rare tact and intelligence made many of the social functions of Denver a success.
Source
Portrait and biographical record of Denver and vicinity, Colorado : containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States.. Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1898.