Preceden

J.B Grinnell's activities with the Railroads, Cattle Industry, and City

Railroad

Henry Farnam

1853

Henry is one of the railroad owners. J.B. meets him after a scuffle on a train.

Advises Grinnell to go to Iowa because he is planning on expanding the railroad there.

Investment

1853

Within two months of meeting Farnam, Grinnell gets three men together to but land in Iowa. They purchased 5,000 acres for $1.60 an acre.
By 1855 the land was going for $10 an acre.

58 residents of Grinnell

1854

246 residents of Grinnell

1856

Economic Recession stalls railway

1857 - 1858

Railroads were estimated to cost about $9,600 a mile.

Director of Mississippi and Missouri Railroad

1858

J.B. Grinnell elected president to connect all cardinal points

1858

Was to construct a line to connect all cardinal points

Elected president of Iowa Central Railway Co.

1859

Grinnell proposes North south Railroad through Grinnell

1859 - 1870

Did not materialize until 1870.
ironic because Iowa College left Davenport because traffic through the school was a menace. Now there is a loud train

Petitioned to get bond for Railway construction

1859

$100,000 in bonds approved
it was financed by a guy with the last name Sargent
Did not build for a few years which made J.B. mad so he refused to pay interest on the bonds. he lost the settlement in court and had to pay a financial penalty
Judge of U.S. Court John F. Dillion orders J.B. to be in charge of finances

Railroad reaches Iowa

1860 - 1863

Greeley's advocacy, federal grants, and civil war help push railway through Iowa

Railroad reaches Grinnell

1863

reaches Des Moines by 1867.
The route was not going to go through Grinnell which stressed J.B. greatly. Henry Hamilton, an engineer, saves the day with new proposed less expensive route through Grinnell
J.B. is president of Grinnell and Montezuma Railroads

Resigns from Central railroad in Iowa

1879

His financial integrity was questioned

Cattle Industry

Wool Industry Booming

1862 - 1865

By end of war, wool went from $1 to $.45 per pound. War stimulated wool growing in Iowa.

Grinnell fights for wool industry

1865

Grinnell is worried about wool industry and fights to save it. Served as president of Iowa Association.
Wool and Woolens Act failed and the number of sheep in Iowa fell drastically
Grinnell said that tariff legislation was only second to emancipation

Owned about 6,000 Cattle

1865

Imported them from other states

Sheep Shearing Festival in Grinnell

1865

J.B. entered the shearing competition and also payed for the awards

In support of high tariff bill

1866

Because of Grinnell's wool business he wanted high tariffs so that it was more expensive to manufacture the wool out of state. he wanted to develop manufacturing in Iowa. Was in support of "Big Business" - high tariffs
Iowans think high tariff will rob farmer and benefit manufacturer

J.B. appointed special commissioner in New York Custom House

1868

In charge of classyfying wools

Speech on texture of butter and good men

1879

happened at National Dairymen's Fair in New York

Mayor of Grinnell

1880

last elective office held

President of Fine Stock Breeders Association

1880

President of State Society of Wool growers

1880

Tornado

1882

32 dead, 100 seriously injured
J.B. raises thousands to rebuild college and town in just two weks after tornado

Passes Bill for Cattle Health

1884

Put in charge by acquaintances to pass a bill through congress that mandated the checking of cattle for pleuro- pneumonia

Elected President of American Agricultural Association

1885

was elected in New Orleans

City

Founds Grinnell College

1846

Year Iowa College began in Davenport

No Alcohol in Town

1854 - 1874

Settlement established

1854

Built three temporary log cabins with Homer Hamlin, Henry Hamilton who was a surveyor, and Dr. Thomas Holyoke

Sold Land for $1.62 an acre

1854

By 1855 it jumped all they way to $10 an acre

Vermont-ers

1860 - 1880

Recruited Vermonters to the college