and at the Methodist and Baptist churches. He was honorably discharged in Sep 1945 and elected to stay in Myrtle Beach where he was the director of the City Bureau of Information.

He later moved to Crystal Lake, IL to be near brothers Sam and Bill and their families and his mother. Eventually Al and his mother Mabel returned to Decorah to live.

Al was desk clerk at the Hotel Winneshiek and organized a small dance band that played all around the area. Meanwhile he painted in oils, beautiful pictures that he would not sell, choosing to give them to family members for their homes as remembrances. Albert never married but all his nieces and nephews thought of him as a second father and loved him dearly.

The Grant family came from all over the Midwest to celebrate a long Memorial Day weekend together and were shocked to receive calls that their beloved uncle had suffered a fatal heart attack 1 Jun 1966. He is buried in Phelps Cemetery, Decorah.

Grant, Edward and Mabel (Stevens)

(Helen Grant Schmidt)

Edward Charles Grant, the elder son of Rev. Henry and Lucy (Adams) Grant, was born in Ottawa, Canada 13 Oct 1876. He met Mabel Oralette Stevens during his father's pastorage in Mitchell, IA. They were married Thanksgiving Day, 24 Nov 1898 with Rev. Henry Grant officiating. The bride was born in Mitchell 10 Nov 1879 to Samuel Daniel Stevens (b. 10 Nov 1854 in Brooklyn, NY) and Mary Lily Newell (b. 19 Jan 1855 in Spafford Hollow, NY).

The couple made several moves with his father’s family and in each town Edward had a photography studio. They eventually settled in Decorah where E.C., as he was usually called, worked as a photographer and also as an interior painter. For many years he was a volunteer fireman, a duty which he loved. His uniform was donated to the Decorah Fire Department by his granddaughter Helen Grant Schmidt and is on display at the fire station. He was very active in the Methodist Church when the Baptist Church disbanded.

Edward’s wife Mabel, a woman of tremendous energy and great good humor, took care of her invalid mother for many years and cared for her husband's mother through a 2 year illness prior to her death. She did this while minding their 5 children. When a neighbor or friend became ill she would take in the family and care for the children while she nursed the mother back to health. She used her lovely voice in the Methodist Church choir and sang at weddings and funerals. Her children and grandchildren loved her great repertoire of folk songs.

Edward and Mabel had 6 children: Laila Irene, born 26 Jun 1899 in W. Mitchell, Mitchell Co., IA; Charles Sanford, (12 Mar 1901-21 Mar 1901) in Tripoli, Floyd Co., IA; Frederick Auberey, born 17 Nov 1902 in Fredericksburg, Chickasaw Co., IA; Samuel Henry, born 8 Oct 1904 in Marble Rock, Floyd Co., IA; Albert Edward, born 24 Jun 1910 and William Frank, born 14 Nov 1914, both in Decorah.

When the children were grown the Grants sold the house in West Decorah and moved to an apartment in the business district. Mabel Grant, who was a great cook, opened a small cafe at 304 W. Water Street. Her granddaughters tell of helping out in the cafe and Grandma’s “low cash flow" way of doing business. Ground beef was always on hand in the ice box but menu items such as steaks and chops were always super fresh. When such an item was ordered the girls would go out the back door, through Noecker's Cab next door and across the street to Becvar’s Market to purchase the needed item. Then return by the same route. In no time at all the customer had the very freshest meat, superbly cooked, and went away singing the praises of Grant’s Cafe.

Edward C. and Mabel O. Grant

Edward passed away 9 Jun 1944 after a crippling stroke. Mabel was 90 at the time of her death 6 Mar 1970.

Samuel Henry (3rd son) was an athlete at Decorah High School. Later he played drums in the city band and worked as a salesman for the Watkins Co. He also ran Grant’s Taxi for several years. Samuel married Alice Violet Tabor 31 Oct 1925 in Decorah. They had 3 children, all born in Decorah: Edward LeRay; Florence Elizabeth; and Samuel Dean. The family moved to Crystal Lake, IL in the early 1940’s and none have returned to Decorah to live. Samuel died 30 Oct 1960. He and Alice are both buried in Woodstock, IL.

William Frank (5th son) joined his brother in Crystal Lake where he married and had 3 daughters. William did not return to Decorah. He died 15 Dec 1969.

Grant, Frederick and Hazel (Barth)

(Helen Grant Schmidt)

Frederick A. Grant, the eldest son of Edward C. and Mabel (Stevens) Grant, was born 17 Nov 1902 in Fredericksburg, IA and moved to Decorah with his family during his preschool years. He was educated in the Decorah Public Schools. His first job was driving a taxi for Noecker Cab. He met Hazel Gladys Barth who was