Edward M. Grant (1853-1923)

Edward M. Grant was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1853. The young man was educated in Cleveland public schools before going to work as an office boy for Hussey & McBride, an oil refining company. By the age of fifteen, Grant had displayed precocious talent and was responsible for the company’s bookkeeping. In 1872, the nineteen-year-old Grant was sent to supervise oil production sites directly. Grant married Florence Dale in 1876 and the couple had five children over the years. Grant greatly enjoyed his work with natural gas and in 1885 purchased a controlling share in the Union Light & Heat Company based out of Foxburg, Pennsylvania. This decision greatly shaped the latter half of Grant’s life.

In 1889, Grant and his family moved to Morgantown, where Grant planned to leverage his control of Union Light & Heat Company. He reorganized the company as the Union Improvement Company and began creating utility infrastructure in the Morgantown area. By 1890, the Union Improvement Company had made water and gas utilities available to all 1,500 Morgantown residents. Grant continued to involve himself in the economic development of Morgantown. He served as both treasurer and secretary for the Morgantown Building & Investment Company and the Morgantown Brick Company. Grant was also vice president of the Federal Savings & Trust Company.

While living in Morgantown, Grant became involved in politics and public affairs. He represented Monongalia County in the state legislature for two terms, from 1889 until 1903. One of Grant’s most significant contributions as a politician was the securement of the largest appropriation West Virginia University (WVU) had ever seen. For this service, Grant was asked to serve on the WVU Board of Regents, a position he filled until his death. In 1908, Grant served as a delegate from West Virginia for the Republican National Convention. In addition to his political activity, Grant was extremely community involved. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Morgantown Union Lodge, Orient Chapter, Crusade Commandery, Osiris Temple, Royal Arcanum, Royal Tribe of Joseph, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Morgantown Fishing and Hunting Club. Grant also served as Morgantown’s postmaster from 1921 until his death in 1923. 

Caplinger, Michael. '... and elegant water Tibbs Run water is:' The Story of Bringing Clean Water to Morgantown, West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc.. May 1st 2012. Accessed September 28th 2020. https://www.wvbg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/wvhc-pamphlet-final-5-16-12.pdf.

Kestenbaum, Lawrence. West Virginia Delegation to the 1908 Republican National Convention, Political Graveyard. August 19th 2019. Accessed September 28th 2020. http://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/R/1908/WV.html.

Men of West Virginia. Volume II. Chicago, IL. Biographical Publishing Company, 1903.