Grant VAN SANT

Researched by Sue Rekkas

     Grant Van Sant, was born October 20, 1872 in LeClaire, Iowa to Samuel R. and Ruth Hall Van Sant.  He was educated at Amhurst, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota, Law School.  He belonged to the fraternities of D.K.E., Phi Delta Phi (Law Fraternity), and the T.N. E. Special.  Grant was admitted to the bar in May, 1896.  He was a partner with James T. Kennedy in the law firm of Kennedy and Van Sant engaging in the general practice of law.  He was also involved in banking and bonds.  He was raised a Methodist. He married Marion Sanborn, May 11, 1904. She was the daughter of Judge Walter Henry Sanborn and Emily Frances Bruce.  She was born July 16, 1879 in St. Paul, Minnesota. They had two children, daughter Virginia Van Sant and son Grant Van Sant, Jr. 

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The Davenport Times, Friday, May 2, 1902, page 5.

A NEW COMPANY

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IOWA AND MINNESOTA NAVIGATION CO. INCORPORATES

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Names River Navigation as Its Business and Has Son of Governor Van Sant at Head   

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     Articles of incorporation were filed this morning in the office of the county auditor for the Iowa and Minnesota Navigation Company, with principle offices and place of business at LeClaire.  The articles name as the incorporators Grant Van Sant, Elmer McCarty, Elmer McCraney, and Miles J. Scandrett.  The object of the company is to own, operate, purchase and sell steamboats, steamboat machinery, barges and produce; and to carry passengers and freight, make excursions, haul freight, rafts, etc.

Capitalize for $25.000

     The articles name $25,000 as the corporate capital of the company, the same to be divided into 500 shares of a par value of $50 each.  While the principle place of business will be at LeClaire, where the ways of the company will be, yet the company reserves the right to have offices in Minnesota, and to hold the annual meeting of stockholders in either Minnesota or Iowa.

Officers of the Company

  The officers of the company for the first year are as follows:

  President – Grant Van Sant.

  Vice President – Elmer McCraney.

  Secretary and Treasurer – Miles J. Scandrett.

  The board of directors for the first year is composed of these same gentlemen.

Is Governor’s Son

  President Grant Van Sant of the new company, is the son of Governor Van Sant of Minnesota, and with his father has long been interested in river transportation boats.  Elmer McCraney, the vice president of the concern, will also probably serve as general manager.  He is a naval and civil engineer of recognized ability, and is well known throughout the northwest.  Miles J. Scandrett, in common with his associates in the company, is a young man and is a step son of the late Bishop Whipple of Faribault, Minn.  He gained considerable distinction during his career in the University of Minnesota by very successfully captaining the football eleven one season and playing a strong game on the eleven throughout his school days.  All the men engaged in the new enterprise have been residents of Minnesota for some time past, but at least Mr. McCraney will at once take up his residence wither in this city or at LeClaire, and it is said that they will at once start the buying up of a fleet of boats for passenger and freight packet business.

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The Saturday Evening Post of Burlington, Iowa, February 28, 1918, page 8.

PARK BLUFF

       This company sold her, I think to the Iowa & Minnesota Navigation Company of which Grant Van Sant was president, Elmer McCraney vice president, and Miles J. Scandrett secretary and treasurer, who used her in the rafting business for several seasons, during which time she was sunk at South Stillwater, but soon raised.  James Ferguson, chief engineer was drowned when she sank.

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The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Tuesday Evening, November 7, 1939, page 15.

The Van Sant Funeral.

     Funeral services for Grant Van Sant, who died Monday in New York City, the son of S. R. Van Sant, former governor of Minnesota, will be held at 2:45 p.m. Thursday from Glendale Cemetery in LeClaire, Iowa, where burial will be.  The body will arrive in Davenport early Thursday afternoon and will be taken directly to the cemetery.  The McGinnis Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Wednesday Evening, November 8, 1939, page 11.

The Van Sant Funeral

     Funeral services for Grant Van Sant, who died Monday in New York City, son of the late Samuel R. Van Sant, native and former governor of Minnesota, will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Glendale Cemetery in LeClaire instead of 2:45 p.m., as previously announced.  The McGinnis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Friday Evening, November 10, 1939, page 13.

The Van Sant Funeral

     Funeral services for Grant Van Sant, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Virginia Van Sant Alvord, in New York City Monday, were held from the Glendale Cemetery in LeClaire, Ia., at 4 p.m. Thursday.  Miss Edna Watson officiated.  The McGinnis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

     Henry McGinnis sang “Abide With Me,” and Mrs. Alvord read one of Mr. Van Sant’s favorite poems.

     Bearers were James J. Ryan, Edwin Stevens, Robert Moore, Wilson Adams, Ewold Von Hein and Lafe Woods.

     Grant Van Sant was born in LeClarie, Oct. 20, 1872, the son of Ruth Hall and Samuel Van Sant, the latter former governor of Minnesota.  He married Marian Emily Sanborn, daughter of Walter Henry Sanborn, who at one time presided over the United States circuit court of appeals.

     He attended Amhurst and Northwestern universities and also attended the Harvard Law School.  He was admitted to the Minnesota and New York bars, later turning to banking.  He was head of the St. Paul Trust and Savings Bank of St. Paul, Minn.

     Surviving are the wife; one daughter, Mrs. Virginia Van Sant Alvord, New York City; one son, Grant, Jr., Howlette, Long Island; three grandchildren, John Sanborn Alvord, Rand Van Sant and Grant Van Sant III.

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The Daily Times, Friday, November 10, 1039, page 6.

Funeral Services for Grant Van Sant Held Thursday in LeClaire

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     Grant Van Sant was born October 20, 1872, the son of Ruth Hall and Samuel Van Sant, the latter a former governor of Minnesota for two terms.  He studied at Amherst and Northwestern Universities, and the Harvard Law School.  He was admitted to the Minnesota and New York bar, and later turned to banking, and was head of the St. Paul Trust & Savings bank of St. Paul.

     Surviving are his wife, the former Marion Emily Sanborn; one daughter, Virginia Van Sant Alvord, and one son, Grant Van Sant, Jr., and three grandchildren.

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