The overland narrative of John Grindell: Platteville, Wis., to California 1850 : typed carbon copy

John Grindell was born in Ireland in 1828 to Thomas and Jane Grindell, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1830. Grindell learned the cabinet maker's trade in Toronto, then migrated to Platteville, Wisconsin, in 1849.

Grindell traveled overland from Platteville, to California during the California Gold Rush. He left in March of 1850 and arrived in August. He began as a member of a company of pioneers but finished the trip alone and on foot. He began mining on August 1 and spent two years searching for gold. Grindell did not find his trip as profitable as he had hoped and of the four men in his original party, he was the only one to survive and return to Wisconsin.

On his return to Platteville in 1852, Grindell opened a furniture store with his brother William, which they operated together for forty years. In 1852, Grindell married Susan Cook, of Beetown, Wisconsin. Together, they had six children. During the American Civil War, Grindell raised a company of volunteers in Platteville for the Army of the Tennessee, and served as a First Lieutenant.

Grindell was an active Republican, was elected treasurer of Platteville in 1866, and president of the village board in 1880. He was also a life-long Methodist and Mason. He lived in Platteville until at least 1900.

Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1901.Additional biographical information derived from the collection.