The Annals of Iowa

Volume 2 | Number 4 ( 1896) pps. 250-259

Josiah Bushnell GrinnellL. F. Parker

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Recommended CitationParker, L. F. "Josiah Bushnell Grinnell." The Annals of Iowa 2 (1896), 250-259.Available at: http://ir.uiowa.edu/annals-of-iowa/vol2/iss4/2

ANNALS OF IOWA.VOL. II. No. 4. DES MOINES, IOWA, JANUAKV, 1800. THIHD SKHIES.

JOSIAH BUSHNELL GRINNELL.

BY PROF. L. F. PARKER, OP IOWA COLLEGE.

The town of Grinnoll is eminently the monument ofits founder, Hon. Josiah Bushneil Grinnell. Tho volume,*'Men and Events of Forty Years," written by himself, isthe best possible record of his life. More than "twohundred years before he was born" Huguenot ancestorsbegan in France to develop his power and purpose. Hemay have been improved by his ancestral environmentin Wales during a quarter of a century and among NewEngland Yankees five times as long. He aided the familyof Myron Grinnell to celebrate "Forefathers' Day" inNew Haven, Vermont, by becoming a member of it on thetwo-hundred and first anniversary of the landing of thoPilgrims at Plymouth. The names given to him .seemedto impose weighty responsibilities, for they had been borneby men distinguished in theology and in law. His familydesignation lias also been honored by such men as HenryGrinnell of Arctic fame, Moses H. Grinnell, long a con-gressman and a collector of the port of New York, andby Julius Sprague Grinnell who prosecuted tho Chicagoanarchists in 1887 and has been pilloried by GovernorAltgeld.

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The life of an average Yankee boy need not be writtenin detail, nevertheless young Grinnell was more than anaverage Yankee boy. That boy. too, was father of theman we know so well. He was early in love with animalsand with ñowers. with business and with boys, with inde-pendence and with mankind. An orphan at ten years ofage, at home later with a keen-eyed business man and anentertaining story toller, in winter schools and in summertrusts beyond his years, he became a school teacher atsixteen, an academy student at eighteen, and was in searchof a college for further study a year afterwards.

Those first years of Mr. Grinuell's life had been yearsof ever increasing slavery agitation in this country.Southern families had been alarmed by the Charlestonneg-ro insurrection in 1820, and still more terrified by NatTurner's bloody uprising in 1831. Congress had foughtits way aloug into the Missouri Compromise, had smotheredanti-slavery petitions and become almost ready to smotherthe ex-president, John Quiucy Adams, when he presentedthem. In the south, the life of a northern man who open-ly advocated the anti-slavery views of Jetîerson would nothave been worth a groat, and in the north itself $5,000were offered for the head of Artbur Tappan. Mobs madeanti-slavery meetings perilous, destroyed anti-slaverypresses, and murdered Elijah P. Lovejoy. Anti-slaverymen organized societies, divided themselves into Garriso-nian ultraists and Birney moderates, and in 1840 castnearly seven thousand votes for an abolitionist for Presi-dent of the United States.

Mr. Grinnell caught the growiug fever of the time andwas easily induced to enter Oneida Institute under thepresidency of Beriah Green, a noted Birneyite. The schoolwas lmown as a manual labor institution with a leaning to-ward moral and intellectual novelties; the President was aman of large heart, vig(jrous brain, little admiration forthe "heathen'" classics and a special love for the thought

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and the deed oí the hour. The Institute was his "length-ened shadow." Tho students caught his spirit and incar-natod his ideas. They put on Boriah Green; they usuallyput off no part (ïf themselves. Youug gentlemen of allcolors mot and mingled hilariously, seriously, studiously.Tlioy had a royal good time as boys, as students and os-pocially as dobaters who lovod to discuss live quostionsinthoir societies oxtomporaneously, that is, to speak on atheme given them after thoy had taken the stand and ad-dressed the chairman. That custom developed a readymastery of all thoir resources of wit, of logic and of memory;it may have led to some neglect of the deliberation of thejudge in an over stimulus in the arts of the advocate.

Such men as Alvan Stewart, the immensely wittyabolitionist, aud Gerrit Smith, tho very wealthy oue, weremost welcome at Whitesboro. Stewart, Smith and Greenleft thoir impress on that institution, but no influencesoomod so masterful over Grinnell as that of PresidentGroon.

During those yoars dietetic roform, also, was in theair, and with it tho promise of a richer purse, clearer brainand better scliolarship to all students who should adopt it.That "groat roform" broko in upou Oneida Institute, ofcourse. For a timo young Grinnell and others woro carriedoff their feet by it. They abjured tea and coffee, butterand meat, and theu stretched bodies which woro growingmore emaciated daily ui>on a single blanket on an oakboard at night. Por such physical vagaries nature fur-nished a ready rebuke in a weakened digestion and insemi-sleepless nights until the youug reformers woro readyto re-reform. (We may woU l^egret that nature does not pro-tost just as promptly and as offectivoly against all intel-lectual and spiritual Grahamism.)

Denunciation of the dime novel and advocacy of theserious pamphlots and booklets of tho American TractSocioty made Mr. Grinuell an agent of that society in Wis-

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consin in 1844. He wrote that at that time he "was vainenough to think that 'he' could speak to edification, andthat, with tho dash of an 'unfledged reformer'," he "mightrattle the bones, seemingly very dry, in the valleys of con-servatism." The absence of a liberal degree of solf-confi-donce at tho age of twenty-two is a prophecy of futureineñiciency; its presence is not always a proof of a brilliantfuture. Perhaps young Grinnell did not over-estimate hisown powers: he probably under-estimated the inertia ofthose conservative dry bones. Wliitesboro had elevatedand intensified his earlier purpose of manliest action.Fired by its enthusiasm he dashed into his Wisconsinfield with the confidence of a crusader. He preached andtalked politics, became acquainted with infiuential men andwas invited to a pastorate. He saw the prairies and fell inlove with them. The ministry had highest attractions:he returned to New York for further preparation.

Thenceforward till 1846 he maintained tbe tropicalultraism of Whitesboro in the midst of the arctic con-servatism of Auburn Theological Seminary.

Eventually like attracted like. The radical Congrega-tionalists of Union Village (near Albany, N. Y.) soughtthe pastoral ministrations of the Auburn radical. Hepreached there to '"nabobs and niggers," it was said sar-castically and extravagantly. It was true, however, thatmen of means did sit on one side of his church whilethe other was occupied by intelligent and industriouscolored men. A more dangerous field was then awaitinghim.

The capital city of this nation was a torrid region forabolitionists when the nineteenth century was pivoting in-to its closing half. 1850 was tho yoai- of most importantcompromise; Judge William Jay said that year began the"scoundrelizing of our people" by the enactment of theFugitive Slave Law. It was the year before Webster'sseventh of March sjieech which was the knell of his politi-

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cal death, tho fourth before *'Bleeding Kansas," seventhbefore tho Dred Scott decision mado the entire Union slaveterritory, and only the tenth before South (Carolina seceded.During that ovontful yoar Mr, Grinnoll bogan tho oroctionof an anti-slavery church in Washington, His tirst sornionin the building owned by that body was preachod on Nov.25. 18ÍÍ1, and in the presence of such men as Senators Sal-mon P. Chaso and John P. Halo, and of Ropresentativesliko Joshua R, Gidding.^,

He was aided there by Dr. Gamaliel Bailey, in whoseNational Era Uncle Tom's Cabin was then appearing as asorial. and by many active abolitionists in tho north.Novertholess, cautious in s])eech as ho was, ho soon learnedthat fow northerners who believed that all men who werecreatod otiual could long onjoy good hoalth in that city.He was politely, yet vory suggestively escorted to tho carsfor a permanent residence elsewhere. As ho parted withthose attentive friends he gave thoiu assurance that hewould moot them again, a proini,so which ho was neverable to redeom until, as a representative from Iowa, hevoted to confiscate the jn-operty of one of them who had be-come a little too bold as a "rebel in the civil war."

Mr. Grinnell was then far on toward Iowa, Ho madebut one further stop on his way; that was in Now YorkCity as a iiastor, where, as usual with him. technical the-ology was socond to practical i)hilanthropy, Thoi'o hecame into closer intimacy with Horace Greeley and hisTribune, with Joshua Lrfîavitt and tho Independent, and withmany others whose good will to him became hel^iful, atlast, to his prairie town and to Iowa, While there hemarried Miss Julia A. Chapin. of Springtield, Mass., whoseexact knowledge, balance of mind, workf ul sympathy andhigh aspirations were pi-omotive of all his later achieve-ments.

Excessive speaking in the opon air forced him to re-sign his pastorate. "Go west, young man, go west," was

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Greeley's famous advico to him at that time. A commis-sion as reporter for the Tribune bore him to Illinois in 1853to **write up" the annual Fair of that State. His subsequentinvitation through the New York Jndepeiident to those whowished to join him in forming a settlement where churchand school should be central in public i)lans, attractedThomas Holyoke from Maine, and Henry M. Hamilton andHomer Hamlin from Ohio, to unite with him in March,1854, in choosing the spot where Grinnell now stands asthe site of their contemplated Eden.

Mr. Grinnell became pre-eminently the builder of thetown of Grinnell. Dr. Holyoke was a scholarly physician,conservatively anti-slavery, said little and meant everyword he uttered, was true as steel in agreement and in dis-agreement, while he gave confidence, and won it, ratherslowly. Of the four. Mr. Hamlin was the most radical inthought and in feeling, but, as an invalid on the prairiefor his health, he was unable to devote much time orstrength to pnbïic effort, and survived only a few years.Honry M. Hamilton, was aman of rare clearness and bi-eadthof business vision, undemonstrative and uncommunicative,and spoko only when he had something to say. He wasinfinential in promoting the educational, the railroad andthe genoral interests of the place. Mr. Grinnell, on theother hand, who had originated the plan of the settlement,welcomed every man, woman and child that ever enteredthe town, placed every one under obligation by some per-sonal attention, and drew every new comer into some jointeffort for the common good. Probably no man ever hadgreater snccess than he in enlisting "saints, sinners andthe Beecher family" in a common work. Every personbecame more hopeful after meeting him; differenceslessened in his presence; agreements were more master-ful. Optimistic, excessively optimistic, of course ho was,and his optimism was so energizing that mucb which wouldhave been impossible without it became the actual with it.

JOSIAH BrSHNELL GRINNELL. 2^0

If one really immovable seemed inclined to remain here,in some way he usually found it for his interest to moveout and to move on, and Mr. Griimell helped him to move.

Good deeds were noticed: all ability was stimulated:t ho young wero never overlooked: the sick aud tho absentwere never forgotten. The eyes of strong men moistento-day as they recall the words and deeds of forty yearsago which wore then a pleasure to him and which gavenew courage and new lifo to thom.

He was constantly on the wing and always working forthe town. The railroad was noodod: he was in touch withall forces which govei-ned it. The educatioual ihonghtamong the settlers in 1855 blossomed into a Grinnell Uni-versity idea and bore fruit iu 1859 in Iowa College instruc-tion in Grinnell. Befoi'O and ever after the latter dato hebore tho college on his heart and aided it by his wido-openpurse. Purses, also, other than his were closed by springswliicb he could and did open for the college benefit, to adegroo uno(|ualled by anyone else. Blair Hall stands asthe monument of his success in obtaining funds from asingle contributor. Goodnow Hall and the Mary GrinnellMears Cottage are memorials t)f tho work of his spirit asit wrought through his daughter and her husband.

Wlien. on June 17. 1882, the tornado swe|)t throughthe town and over the college campus, smiting buildingsinto splinters and life into death. Mr. Grinui-Il at once tiewoastward, and thousands of relief came back quickly alongbis track from Chicago, from New York, from Brooklynaud elsewhere, Men like John V. Farwoli. William E.Dodgo and Henry Ward Beecher anticipated hi.s comingand aidod him in making such appoals as only he couldmake. He bad no peer before an audience in an hour likethat.

The year 1854 made Kansas central in imblic thought,and Grinnell soon became a station on the under-groundR. R. between Kansas and Canada. John Brown was

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welcome here. In Mr. Grinnell's house ho continued todovelope the plan for tho attack on slavery which he soonafter began at Harper's Ferry and ondod on the Virginiagibbet at Charlestown. Gov. WLse's search for co-con-spirators involved Mr. Grinnell in danger of arrest, thoughnot of conviction.

In those early Iowa docades it was a matter of coursethat Mr. Grinnell received the hearty support of his im-modiato noighbors for any political office to which ho mightaspiro. Ho iirst sought tho stato Senatorship in 1850.He had come to Iowa at a fortunate hour for such a whig-republican as he, for it was the year when James W.Grimes was made e-ovornor, and when for the first timethe State was iu hannony with his own temperance audanti-slavery views. At the first state convention whichho attended he was a coûter of observatiou; his ready witand strikiug characterizations wero captivating. He waschosen to write the address to the voters.

His conspicuous position in the State gave him greatadvantage in his senatorial campaign. He was in thoprimo of life, in the flush of highest expoctation. Hishail WEIS magnetic. His opponent was overwhelmed by atorrent of thought and speech to which only hesitatinganswers could be given. Tho Yankee was triumphantlyelected, of course, and as the champion of temperance,free soil and uuiversal education in free schools.

Tho nicho in oducatioualprogreas was waitiugfor him.He was made chairmau of the committee ou schools iu thosenate and piloted the free-school law of 1H58 throughthat body. He then voted, somewhat reluctantly, tomodify the prohibitory law by permitting tho sale of na-tive wino and boer, and for two reasons. He believedthat lager boer, at its best, was non-intoxicating, and(whatseemed mosb importiint) that, without that concessionto German thought, Iowii was likely to abandon its hos-tility to the extension of slavery into the national terri-

JOSIAH BUSHNELL GRINNELL. Z;if

tories, and at a time when that opposition was of supremenational concern. Whether right or wrong, he never re-gretted that vote.

Southern secession soon followed, then thn Civil War,a nomination for congress and an election ia 1862 whenthe great issue was the Emancipation Proclamation andthe admission of negroes into the army. The home votewas against him, (many of bis natural supporters hadgone south), but the ariny had become willing that whitemen should no longer monopolize the privilege of dyingon the battle field for their country. His majority wassomo 1400 in 1862, and four times as groat in 1864 whenhe was re-elected. He lacked little of a third nominationin 1866.

In Congress an act of politeness made ThaddensStevens his warm friend; his entire bearing brought himinto most genial relations with the ablest congressmen.Never was congressional ability in greater demand thanduring that time. There were giants in Washington inthose days, when Iowa sent such men there as John A.Kasson, James F. Wilson and William B, AUis(m, andwhen they stood beside such other men as Owen Lovejoy,Thaddeus Stevens, Henry Winter Davis, James A. Gar-field and James G. Blaine, even if we should omit thenamesofVoorhees, Vallandigham, Cox, Trumbull, Fessen-den and Henry Wilson. Great questions, great leadership,high debate characterized that hour. Mr. Grinnell wasnot silent. His words were meet for such high themes,such great companionship. On one occasion they evokedthe compliment of a physical assault from a KentuckyGeneral for an unanswerable criticism of a disgracefuldeclaration.

Out of Congress he continued to render great serviceto American industries, and to various public and privateinterests. His railroad activities extended to several cor-porations. As Receiver of the Iowa Central, he was sub-

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jected to the most rigid scrutiny of able and belligerentfactions, called before the Unitod States Judge, Hon. J. M.Lovo, for criticism and discharged with commendation andan increase of salary.

The presidential campaign of 1872 separated Mr.Grinnell for a time from his usual political friends, itsclose broug-ht intense sadnoss, and its memory a medleyof emotions. There was a wide-spread di,s satis fact i onwith Grant's ñrst term; deeper than that perhaps withMr. Grinnell was loyalty to Horace Greeley who had beena most helpful friend through many an emergency duringmore than a score of yoars. The New York Tribune hadbeon a power behind him when he was in Washington, inNew York City and during all his Iowa life, Grinnell, manand town, had beon most helpfully introduced to sympa-thetic circles through its columns. Coils of Y)ersonalobligation encircled him. An honorable man must feelthoir pressure, Mr, Grinnell yielded to it. Think as wemay of the wisdom or unwisdom of that e])ÍKodo, wo mustever honor as heroic a readiness to olîer a liberal sacrificeon tho altar of a long-chortshod gratitude. Ho who fails tofeel it is but an atom of a man.

This momorial must doso, as it began, with a roforouceto Mr, Grinnoll's written record of hi.s own lifo. The volumewas long in contemplation and in preparation. It was com-pacted and completed only during the enforced leisure ofthe author's last days. Tho a]>prociativo niomories of alifo-timo wliich were remodolod and finished by his dyingfingers, will bo read by many with tender emotion; theywill mako ungenerous criticism impossiblo.

All through and all between its lines the reader dis-covers the author undisguised. Fervid in feeling, gen-erous in aim. resolute in supremo ymrposo, facile inmethods, glowing in friondship, pootic in ai)prehonsion,and at times so pootic in expression as to touch the vergeof the unreal, he was easily first in his town, an eminent

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benefactor of the Stato, a worthy servant of the Nation.Few of us would have colored every life picture which hehas drawn with the exact tints he has nsed; some of nswonld have written an omitted name here and there and inbrilliant colors. Dilïoronces of vision, however, necessi-tate diversities of judgment. All in all, the book and theman we ]3lace in highest honor; the book, because of theinformation it imparts, and because it is so complete aphotograph of the writer: the man because he has been abenediction to our own and to many lives, a benediction tohis generation.

The wife whose life added luster to his own duringforty years survives him. Only two children of theirs areleft to honor them. Mary Grinnell Mears, the wife of Rev.Dr. D. O. Mears of Albany, Now York, and Carrie GrinnellJones, the wife of Prof. Richard D. Jones. Ph. D. ofSwarthmore College, perpetuate their name aud theirusefulness.

Mr. Grinnell's life has been lived; the last word con-cerning it has not been uttered. Men who met him in hispalmiest days will continue to long for the blessing of hispotential optimism and his enthusiasm, of his courage andhis superb service to College, to town, to State and Nation.

GRINNELL, Iowa, December, 1895.

MEMORIAL SERVICES in remembrance of Rov. Dr. S. F.Smith, author of "America," were held in Davenport, Dec-ember 1. He has a son, S. F. Smith, in that city, at whoseresidence he wrote an additional stanza to "America,"April 30, 1889. Ho preached in Des Moines in 1893, andafter returning east made some interesting manuscriptcontributions to the Historical Department of Iowa. Hewas born in Boston, Oct. 21, 1808, and died there, Novem-ber 16, 1895.