By BARBARA LEROY
Grant Township was located between Mill Creek and Marble Falls township. It was first found in the 1900 census, when only ten families, consisting of 51 people, lived there.
In 1910, the number had increased to 57 people, but with one exception, none of the names enumerated were the same as they were ten years before. But by 1920, the population of Grant Township exploded.
There were now 293 people in the township.
In 1930, population had decreased to 205 people. In 1940, population was up to 291 people. And for the first time, there were occupations other than farming listed in the census.
Doyle and Robert Hickman, for example, were working on road construction for the government, and Bill Hickman was working as a stone mason for the government (possibly working on the stone facade of the courthouse). Ava Shaddox was teaching in the public schools. William Lee was a machinist in an auto factory.
William Montgomery was working in maintenance in an auto factory, presumably the same one where William Lee worked. Claudie Keeton worked as a delivery driver. Vurlin and Earl Brisco did timber work for a stove mill. Jesse Hickman operated a general store, and his wife, Maude, was postmaster. Hart Montgomery had a blacksmith shop.
The latest census to be released to the public was the 1950 census. Then only 104 people were living in Grant Township. But again there were a variety of jobs. Richard Holland worked for the Forest Service. Henry Woods worked for the State Highway Department as a welder. Floyd Walton was the postmaster. George Cressler was a mechanic. Henry Halfaker was an appliance dealer. Everyone else was farming.
Barbara LeRoy is the author of “Which Side Were They On?,” a 302 page book listing biographical sketches of the Newton Countians who were involved in the Civil War, available for sale either in the Bradley House Museum or by purchasing online at www.newtoncountyar.com. The book sells for $33.
