Jedediah Wilder Granger (October 25, 1818August 17, 1902) was an American farmer, Republican politician, and pioneer settler of Iowa and South Dakota. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Chippewa and Dunn counties in the 1870 session.

Early life

Jedediah Granger was born in Sodus, New York, in October 1818. He was raised and educated in New York. After his marriage, in 1840, he moved west to Mackinac County, Michigan, where he worked in the logging industry as a surveyor and estimator. In 1855, he moved to Allamakee County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm in Post Township. While living in Allamakee County, he became involved in local politics and was elected county coroner, serving from 1859 through 1861.

Civil War service

In 1862, Granger volunteered for service in the Union Army and was commissioned first lieutenant in Company A,

27th Iowa Infantry Regiment The 27th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 27th Iowa Infantry was organized at Dubuque, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on October 3, ...

. He was wounded at the

Battle of Pleasant Hill The Battle of Pleasant Hill occurred on April 9, 1864 and formed part of the Red River Campaign during the American Civil War when Union forces aimed to occupy the Louisiana state capital, Shreveport. The battle was essentially a continuation ...

in April 1864. Near the end of the war, he was designated for promotion to captain, but he was never mustered at that rank. He mustered out with the regiment in August 1865.

Postbellum years

After returning from the war, Granger moved to Dunn County, Wisconsin. He established a farm in the town of New Haven and was soon elected to the county board of supervisors. In 1869, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, running on the Republican Party ticket. He represented both Dunn County and neighboring Chippewa County. After his legislative term, he relocated to a farm in the town of Tiffany, Wisconsin. He worked as a census-taker in Dunn County for the

1880 United States census The United States census of 1880 conducted by the Census Bureau during June 1880 was the tenth United States census.Webster Webster may refer to: People *Webster (surname), including a list of people with the surname *Webster (given name), including a list of people with the given name Places Canada *Webster, Alberta *Webster's Falls, Hamilton, Ontario United State ...

, Dakota Territory, where he remained for the rest of his life. He died at his farm in Webster on August 17, 1902.

Personal life and family

Jedediah Wilder Granger was named for his uncle Jedediah Wilder. Iowa Supreme Court justice Charles T. Granger was a first cousin and was also an officer of the 27th Iowa Infantry Regiment during the war. Union Army general Gordon Granger was a second cousin. The Grangers were descendants of Launcelot Granger, who was kidnapped as a child from England and brought to the

Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the ...

as an indentured servant in the 1640s. Jedediah Granger married Mary Baker, of

Greene County, New York Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 47,931. Its county seat is Catskill. The county's name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. History ...

, on February 2, 1840. He and his wife had ten children, but only one child outlived them. Their eldest son Robert E. Granger enrolled as a private in the

1st Iowa Cavalry Regiment The 1st Iowa Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The first Iowa Cavalry was organized at Davenport, Iowa in August and September 1861 and mustered in for three years of Fede ...

and was mortally wounded at the

Battle of Bayou Meto The Battle of Bayou Meto, also known as the Battle of Reed's Bridge, was fought near present-day Jacksonville, Arkansas, along the Bayou Meto River, on August 27, 1863. During the American Civil War, Union forces left Helena, Arkansas, to move ...

, in Arkansas; he was 20 years old. Their second son, Charles, also enrolled with the 1st Iowa Cavalry and survived the entire war, mustering out in 1865.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grager, Jedediah W. 1818 births 1902 deaths People from Sodus, New York People from Mackinac County, Michigan People from Allamakee County, Iowa People from Dunn County, Wisconsin People from Dakota Territory People from Webster, South Dakota County officials in Iowa County officials in Wisconsin Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly People of Iowa in the American Civil War Union Army officers American coroners