Charles James Hay Grant

  General Notes:

The Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office dated February 23, 1909 records Patent # 913-277, Valve for Grain-Separators to Charles J. H. Grant from Cedar Rapids, Iowa filed Oct. 3, 1907. Serial No. 395,782 ... see research notes for additional patent information.

U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project) records:
Charles James Hays Grant, born Sept 17, 1869 in Scotland, Naturalized on Sept 3, 1907 at the Sup. Ct. Linn Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The date and port of arrival into the U. S. is blank. This is the same place and date for his brother-in-law, William Smith.

See general notes on his wife, Jeane McCurrie Gairns, for 1900 census facts.

The 1910 Federal Census for Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa (ED#117, page 181B) records Charles J. H. (40) and Jeane (34) Grant with children William A. (7), Marjorie C. (4), and Jeane G. (2) living at 306 G Ave. Charles and Jeane have been married 9 years with 4 children of which 3 are still living. Charles is listed as emigrating from Scotland in 1899 and is listed as a Millwright in a "Cerial" Factory. Next door at 310 G Avenue is mother-in-law Catherine Gairns (67) (indexed as Catherine Gairus at ancestry.com) whose married daughter, Sarah (28), her husband, W. B. Smith (40) and son Robert B. (1) are living with her. See general notes on his mother-in-law, Catherine Gairns.

The 1920 Federal Census for Joliet City, Will Co., Illinois (ED# 167, page 7A) records Charles H. (50 - Scotland) and Jeane (44 - Illinois) Grant with children William A. (16 - Iowa), Marjorie C. (14 - Iowa), Jeane (11 - Iowa), Margaret M. (9 - Iowa), Catherine (6 - Iowa), and Isabelle S. (5 1/12 - Canada) living at 207 Campbell Street. Charles is listed as emigrating from Scotland in 1903 and naturalized in 1907.

The 1930 Federal Census for Joliet City, Will Co., Illinois (ED# 34, page162A) records Charlie J. H. (60 - Scotland/Scotland/Scotland) and Jeane (54 - IL/Scotland/Scotland) Grant with children Marjory C. (24 - Iowa/Scotland/IL), Jeane G. (21 - Iowa/Scotland/IL), Margaret M. (19 - Iowa/Scotland/IL), Catherine (17 - Iowa/Scotland/IL), and Isabelle S. (15 - Canada/Scotland/IL) living at 207 Campbell Street. Charlie is listed as emigrating from Scotland in 1899 and is employed as a Millwright for a Cereal Manufacturer. Marjory is a Librarian for the Public Library while Jeane G. is a Public School Teacher.

Illinois Death Index:
Last Name First Name Sex/ Race Age Cert # Death Date County City
GRANT CHARLES M/W UNK 2990465 1930-10-23 WILL JOLIET

  Research Notes:

TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
CHARLES J. H. GRANT, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA COMBINED PROTRACTOR AND PARALLEL-RULER.
No. 895,258.
Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 4, 1908.
Application filed March 16, 1908. Serial No. 421,406.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Charles J. H. Grant, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Protractor and Parallel-Ruler; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.
This invention relates to improvements in combined protractors and parallel rulers.
The object of the invention is to provide a protractor having a stationary and a movable blade, the latter provided with a series of apertures to receive the point of a pencil, whereby, when the blade is adjusted to various angles, a different number of parallel lines may be drawn to the inch.
With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of one side of the instrument, showing the manner in which the device is used for drawing parallel lines; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the reverse side showing the movable blade closed upon the stationary blade; Fig. A is a longitudinal sectional view on a line with the center of the movale blade; and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view through the protractor head on a line with the pivot screw and clamping nut.
In the embodiment of the invention I provide a protractor, 1, on one corner of which is formed a radiallv projecting stationary blade, or arm, 2, one edgc of which is in line with the straight edge of the protractor. The blade, 2, is of somewhat greater thickness than the protractor, and the inner end of the blade projects over onto the rear side of the protractor and forms a shoulder against which the movable blade of the protractor is engaged when said blade is in a closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The inner edge of the blade, 2, is preferably beveled, as shown at 3.
Arranged in the center of the protractor is a pivot screw, 4, on the rear end of which is secured the inner end of the movable blade, 5, of the instrument, said blade being provided on its inner end with a circular head, 6, and along the length of the blade is formed a series of perforations or apertures, 7, adapted to receive the point of a pencil. On the outer side of the protractor is arranged a guide plate, 8, having on its inner end a substantially circular head, 9, provided with a centrally disposed pivot hole, 10, which is adapted to be engaged with the outer end of the pivot screw, 4. The opposite end of the plate, 8, adjacent to the outer edge of the protractor, is bent downwardly to form a guide flange, 12. On the lower edge of the flange, 12, is formed a depending stud, which is adapted to be engaged with the innermost hole in the line of perforations, 7, thereby holding said guide plate and the movable blade of the protractor in parallel alinement and causing the plate and the blade to move together. The outer end of the pivot screw, 4, is threaded and on said threaded end is adapted to be screwed a similar clamping nut, 14, which, when screwed down into engagement with the plate, 8, will clamp the latter and the inner end of the blade, 5, into tight engagement with the protractor and thereby secure the blade in its adjusted positions.
While the device herein shown and described may be employed as a protractor, and for such work as an instrument of this kind is designed to perform, it is primarily intended for use in drawing parallel lines, and, when so used, the stationary blade and lower edge of the protractor are applied to a straight edge and the movable blade, 5, adjusted to the desired position, after which the point of a pencil may be engaged with each successive hole, or in any of the holes in said blade, and the instrument drawn back and forth along the straight edge, whereby inscribing a series of parallel lines, the distances between which may be determined by the angle to which the movable blade is turned, or by placing the pencil in each successive hole, or by skipping certain numbers of holes, thereby making it possible to draw any number of lines to the inch, and, by turning the straight edges to various positions, the parallel lines may be drawn at different angles, thus adapting the instrument for use in cross hatching or section-lining, in half-tinting, drawing screw-threads, and in many other instances where a number of parallel lines is required to be drawn at different angles.
From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.
Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:
1. In an instrument of the character described, a protractor having a stationary blade, a movable blade pivotally mounted on said protractor, said pivoted blade having formed therein a series of longitudinally disposed apertures, and means on said protractor to guide and hold said pivoted blade in its adjusted position, substantially as described.
2. An instrument of the character described, comprising a protractor having a stationary blade, a combined pivot screw and clamping nut, a movable blade pivotally mounted on said screw, said blade having a series of apertures, and a combined guiding, and holding plate secured by said screw and nut and adapted to guide and hold said movable blade in its adjusted position on the protractor.
3. A combined protractor and parallel ruler, comprising a protractor having a stationary, radially projecting blade, a movable blade pivotally mounted on said protractor, and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said stationary blade, a guide plate to engage the opposite side of the protractor from said movable blade, a guide flange on the outer end of said plate, a stud on said flange to engage one of the apertures in said blade, and means to clamp said guide plate and movable arm in their adjusted positions on the protractor, substantially as described.
4. A combined protractor and parallel ruler, comprising a protractor having a stationary, radially projecting blade, a movable blade pivotally mounted on said protractor, and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said stationary blade, a guide plate to engage the opposite side of the protractor from said movable blade, a guide flange on the outer end of said plate, a stud on said flange to engage one of the apertures in said blade, and a clamping screw and nut adapted to be screwed into engagement with said guide plate to hold the same and said movable blade in their adjusted positions on the protractor, substantially as described.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set co my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.
CHARLES J. H. GRANT.
Witnesses :
William B. Smith, Geo. B. Chamberlin.





1881 Scotland Census
Name: Charles I H Grant
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: Alexr
Mother's Name: May
Gender: Male
Where born: Knockando, Moray
Registration Number: 139
Registration district: Knockando
Civil Parish: Knockando
County: Moray
Address: Ballintomb
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 36
Line: 3
Roll: cssct1881_40
Household Members: Name Age
Alexr Grant 62
May Grant 52
Jessie J Grant 18
Isabella A Grant 16
Annie Grant 15
Lizzie Grant 13
Charles I H Grant 11
Thomas G H Grant 11
John Grant 9


1871 Scotland Census
Name: Charls James Grant
Age: 1
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: Alexander
Mother's Name: Mary
Gender: Male
Where born: Knockando, Morayshire
Registration Number: 139
Registration district: Knockando
Civil Parish: Knockando
County: Moray
Address: Mill Of Ballentown
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 1
Line: 9
Roll: CSSCT1871_26
Household Members: Name Age
Alexander Grant 52 Birth Place: Edinkillie, Moray
Mary Grant 42 Birth Place: Knockando, Morayshire
Alexander Grant 14
Jane Grant 17
May Grant 14
Margaret Grant 11
William Grant 10
Jessie Grant 8
Isabella Grant 6
Elizabeth Grant 3
Charls James Grant 1
Thomas George Grant 1
Peter Henry 45


1861 Scotland Census
Name: Alexr Grant
Age: 42
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1819
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : May - Birth place: Knockando, Moray
Gender: Male
Where born: Edinkillie, Moray
Registration Number: 139
Registration district: Knockando
Civil Parish: Knockando
County: Moray
Address: Ballintomb
Occupation: Mealmiller
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 92
Line: 7
Roll: CSSCT1861_19
Household Members: Name Age
Alexr Grant 42
May Grant 32
Alexr Grant 9
Jane Grant 7
Martha Grant 5
May Grant 4
Margt Grant 2
Wm Grant 3 Mo

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Mill Wright:Cereal Manfacturing (1900, 1910) / Machinist (1920) / Mill Wright:Cereal Manfacturing (1930).

Charles married Jeane McCurrie Gairns, daughter of William Gairns and Catherine McCurrie, about 1900. (Jeane McCurrie Gairns was born on 4 Jun 1875 in Chicago, Illinois and died on 8 Mar 1956 in Joliet City, Will Co., Illinois.)