Established in 1910
Alexander Grant was born in Rochester, New York in July 1883. His parents brought him to Canada in 1884. In July 1907 he married Henrietta Newton. In May 1910, at 27 years old he filed on a homestead south of Swift Current. That fall he came west, but went back to Ontario that winter and in the spring of 1911 shipped his stock, equipment and lumber for building to Swift Current. In the summer of 1911 he made 11 trips from Swift Current to the homestead freighting the supplies; each trip took 5 days. He broke some land that summer and went back to Ontario in the fall.
The First Generation
Grant family gathered for Christmas 1960
In the spring of 1912 Alex, Henrietta and sons George and Peter came west to stay. Henrietta went back to Ontario in the fall of 1912 and returned in March 1913 to stay in the Hillandale district. Alex was active in the community helping to organize and build the school at Hillandale in 1916. Alex and Henrietta had seven children: George, Peter, Jennie, Duncan Stuart, Amy, Jessie, and Ian.
In 1925, Alex bought the McQuarry Ranching Co. (owned from 1909 to 1921 by Henrietta’s Uncle Fred Cains and son Gordon), which was 4 miles north of Hillandale School. They moved several times throughout the years. Alex died in August 1934, at which point Henrietta continued farming with her sons Ian and Stuart. Ian and Stuart continued expanding the operation until 1958 when they dissolved the partnership.
The Second Generation
Duncan Stuart Grant was born in 1915 and at 19 years old went into a ranching partnership with his mother, Henrietta. He married Esther (Klath) in April 1939.He was always available to help a neighbour or assist in a community project. In the 1950s and 60s they hosted the 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day just east of their house.
In 1945, Stuart was elected to the Bard of Directors of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) and served until 1977. He also served on the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA).
Lynn, Stuart, Larry, Esther & Dean Grant
In 1958, when Ian and Stuart dissolved their partnership, Stuart continued to ranch with his 3 sons (Larry, Lynn and Dean). One of his goals was to offer each of them the opportunity to ranch. The fact that all three are doing so is fruit of his succession planning.
Dean, Larry, Stuart, Esther & Lynn Grant
The Third Generation
Lynn (24) and Dean (20 years old) returned to Val Marie in 1975 and 1976 respectively to farm with their father (Stuart). They took over the ranch when Stuart died in 1985 and continue to operate it today.
Details on the current generation can be found on Our Team page.
Taken from “Prairie Footprints Then & Now” pages 369-76.