John David William Grady

Great-Granduncle to Fred Von Hofe Grady

According to the Grady family Bible, passed on to us via Peter Grady, on 23 September 1832 JDW Grady was born to John Grady and Mary Jane Rachel Gray. Census records would later indicate that he was born in North Carolina.

The 1855 NY State census lists John David William (22) as the eldest living home with his mother Mary Jane Rachel, brothers Joseph BF, Charlie, and sis, Mary E. Grady. The elder sisters,  Marie Theresa and  Mary Cecelia , who married William Harris had died 4 years previous and were buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. Like his two brothers, JDW was a clerk.

On 26 January 1858, JDW married Elisabeth Martha Wingham, b. 1836 in Brighton England.

They had four children, though only the three girls survived infancy: John Charles, who died at birth in Brooklyn 1959, Mary Elizabeth b. 1862, would become an MD and practice in Brooklyn, Amy Theresa b. 1869, and Emma Louise b. 1872 who’d marry Chauncy Fremont Howell and live for 90 years!

By the 1870 Census , JDW (37) was a bank clerk living in the 8th Ward of Brooklyn, with his wife Elizabeth (34), daughters Mary E. (7), and “Annie” or Amy Theresa the baby was 5.5 months. Also living there was his widowed mother, Mary Jane Rachel (60).

Page 4 of the 8 May 1875 Brooklyn Eagle had an intesting story about J.D.W.:

In 1880 JDW lived with wife and 3 daughters at 67 Schenectady Ave, Brooklyn Dist 242 (1880 census) Ward 24, Election District 3.

NYC Directory, 1890 lists Grady, John D W, Cashier, 184 Broadway, h. 436 Monroe, Brooklyn.

 At 59, JDW died of Phthisis Pulmonalis or Tuberculosis, like his daughter, Dr.Mary Elizabeth Grady, who worked in defiance of her own well-being in the slums with the ill and dying. If there ever was a saint, Dr. Mary Elizabeth was one!

27 Jul 1892 Brooklyn Eagle, page 11 GRADY–At Patchogue, L.I., July 26, 1892, John D. W. Grady, aged 60 years.  Funeral services at his late residence, 436 Monroe st. Brooklyn, on Thursday July 28, at 8 P.M.  Internment at convenience of the family.

28 Jul 1892 Brooklyn Eagle, page 5: The death is announced of John D. W. Grady, a man active in religious and political circles in Brooklyn, at his country residence in Patchogue, L.I.  His sudden disease was in part due to his inability to withstand the hot weather.  Mr. Grady was born in 1833 and was identified with the Seventh national bank for thirty years, being its second vice president at his death.  The Greenwood Baptist church loses in him its treasurer and trustee, and he was prominent in the organization of the Young Men’s Christian Association in this city.  Mr. Grady was always a Republican.  The funeral takes place this evening at 8 o’clock at his late residence, 436 Monroe street.

NOTE–Greenwood Baptist Church was on the corner of  Fourth Ave and Fifteenth St.

29 Jul 1892 New York Times, p.5 Memorial Resolutions

“THE SEVENTH NATIONAL BANK OF NEW YORK (OLD SEVENTH WARD BANK.)  New York, July 28, 1892.  GRADY.–At a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Seventh National Bank held July 28, to take appropriate action in regard to the death of Vice President JOHN D. W. GRADY, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:  Whereas, We have heard with deep regret of the sudden death of our late associate, Mr. JOHN D. W. GRADY, Vice President of this Bank; and, whereas, during his connection of thirty-six (36) years with this bank, and filling the various positions of teller, cashier, and Vice President, his unimpeachable integrity and faithful discharge of every trust won for him the admiration of every one connected with this institution, and his record stands as a grand example of official rectitude; Resolved, That we attend the funeral services of our late associate, and that a copy of this preamble and resolution be sent to the family of the deceased, with expressions of our respectful sympathy.  JOHN MCANERNEY, President, GEO. W. ADAMS, Cashier.