born in the Locust area 21 Apr 1907. Hazel worked at Frank Hanson's Sweet Shop near the cab office. Hazel was the daughter of George B. Barth, born 10 May 1865 in Pleasant Twp. and Helena Ellingson, born in Pleasant Twp. 22 Apr 1874. George was the son of Valentin, Sr. and Juliana (Baird) Barth. Helena’s parents were Rachel (Rogna) Severson and Ole Volden Ellingson (son of Elling Void).

The family of Frederick Aubrey Grant, 1946. Helen, Hazel, Charles, Wallace and Fred.

Fred and Hazel were married in Waterloo, IA 1 Nov 1924. Three children were born to this marriage: Helen Mabel,and Wallace Frederick, born, both in Pleasant Twp; and Charles Sanford, born in Decorah.

During the Depression Fred moved his family to his parents' home in West Decorah and he and a cousin Harry W. Chinn went West to follow the harvests and work wherever they could. He later worked for the Iowa State Highway Commission in the Decorah Shop. His daughter remembers that there was rarely a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day that Fred didn’t have to leave his family to plow snow so that other families could be together. Later Fred put to use the painting experience he had while working with his father when he and Ed Ringdahl started a painting business of their own.

Fred and Hazel eventually started Grant's Catering Service which was very successful, due in part to Hazel's cooking expertise (Fred was the prep person) and partly because they were both very good-natured, gregarious people who loved the social aspect of the work. They did this until their retirement.

They were both very active in the United Methodist Church and worked hard to establish a Senior Center for Decorah as well as the Depot Outlet-a second-hand store whose profits benefit many community organizations. Among these is the Boy Scouts of America to which Fred devoted a great deal of his time. He worked at several levels of scouting and was the proud recipient of the Wood Badge and the Silver Beaver. Fred and Hazel were presented the Governor's Leadership Award on 27 Oct 1984 at Iowa State University, Ames.

Fred passed away at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, MN 13 Apr 1987. Hazel died at home 27 Sep 1992. Both are buried in Phelps Cemetery, Decorah.

Fred and Hazel’s youngest child, Charles (Chuck) grew up in Decorah and married Kay Margaret Brown 9 Mar 1957 in Decorah. Chuck served in the Air Force as a Ground Radio Repairman from 1952 to 1956. Kay began her career with Northwestern Bell in 1954 and retired in 1991. The couple has made their home in MN. At this writing they live in Fairbault and Chuck is employed at Crown Cork and Seal. They have 4 children: Michael Julie, both born in St. Paul; Patricia and Dana , both born in Farmington. None of this family has returned to live in the Decorah area.

Grant, Rev. Henry and Lucy (Adams)

(Helen Grant Schmidt)

The Grant family became a part of the Decorah community in Dec 1891 when Rev. Henry Grant was called from his pastorate in Delta, CO to organize a Baptist church. A church building was erected at the corner of Water and Grove Streets in 1892. Rev. Henry was born in Keady, County Armagh, Ireland 25 Jun 1848 to Edward Grant (1811-1874) and Mary Elizabeth Obre (1821-?), both born in Cloncarrish, County Armagh, Ireland.

Rev. Henry was accompanied by his wife, the former Lucy Ann Adams. She was born 12 Aug 1845 in Watertown, NY to Edwin C. Adams (b. 1822 in Ontario, Canada) and Nancy Jane Rickert (b. 1822 in NY).

The couple brought with them 3 children: Edward Charles, age 15; Florence August, age 9; and Ulysses Sanford, age 5.

The Grant family

Back: Lucy Ann, Laila, Rev. Henry, Frederick and Edward C. Front: Mabel O. Stevens, Florence and U. Sanford.

The Grants bought property in West Decorah and built a home at 486 Center Street, across the street (to the west) of the West Side School. The house remained in the family until the mid 1930’s and has since been torn down.

Rev. Henry continued to serve the Decorah church until mid-1895 when the family went to Rockford, IA, serving there and in Mitchell, IA before returning to Decorah for a