The McGranns of "Grand View"

This text has been copied and lightly revised from the book Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania – 1903

BERNARD J. McGRANN, of Grand View, is the only surviving son of the late Richard McGrann, who was for years one of Lancaster's most prominent citizens, and who was born in Ireland in 1794, and in 1819 began his career in this country.

In 1835 Richard McGrann founded the homestead at Grand View, in Manheim township, near this city, on the New Holland turnpike. In the course of years, and with the many improvements and additions made to it by the present owner (Bernard J. McGrann), it has become one of the most magnificent farms and attractive suburban homes of Lancaster county, and comprises six hundred acres. Richard McGrann, who was a contractor, constructed many splendid public works in his day, notably the Chestnut street bridge across the Schuylkill, in Philadelphia, the Lehigh and Susquehanna railroad bridge at Easton, and many other works on nearly every great line of canal and railroad built in the State in his time. The perfection of their construction attested to his skill and high enterprise, and carried the fame of Lancaster contractors far and wide, Mr. McGrann being conspicuous for bold undertakings in engineering and for the successful completion of his enterprises. In 1835 he purchased the farm on which his descendants have since resided. The house at that time stood back, near a fine spring which now supplies the fountains on Fountain avenue. In 1838 he built the present residence and laid out the grounds, which by subsequent enlargement and improvement, have become the magnificent estate of his only living son. Eight children were born to him, of whom the youngest son alone survives, Bernard J., who was born at Grand View, of which he is the Owner. His wife died there in 1844, and he himself passed away in 1867.

Bernard J. McGrann was born where he now lives, June 24, 1837. He was a student of Lancaster’s public schools and of the famous Catholic collegiate institutions of Emmitsburg, Md. He early had a fondness for agriculture, and his father encouraged his taste, and destined him to became an exponent of the most advanced and successful agriculture. He completed his studies in the schools when only seventeen or eighteen, and gave himself up largely to the management of his father’s landed estates. He was no mere fancy farmer or theorist ; every phase of practical farm life found his hand ready to it; he studied the elements of the soil and the results of fertilizers, the meteorological conditions and the rotation of crops, breeds of stock and the uses of farm buildings, ‘the mechanical wants of the farm and every mode agricultural machinery; in short, he made a thorough, exhaustive study of every branch of practical agriculture, and observed the best results of experience and science. He not only made a study of it in all its ramifications, but he applied his knowledge and built up a farm that is today a model, perfect in every part.

Mr. McGrann is, however, not only a successful agriculturist. The banking house of Reed, McGrann & Co., which had an existence for over a generation and is now merged into the Conestoga National Bank, lost its senior member, Richard McGrann, by death in 1867, and the son succeeded to his interest in it. From that day until the firm was dissolved, Bernard J. McGrann’s name and capital were associated with that financial establishment and contributed in no small measure to its reputation for integrity, stability and security. Mr. McGrann gave the banking business, as well as all other interests, his personal attention, and the benefit of that clear judgement and conservative counsel which have distinguished his business career.

In 1870 Mr. McGrann first entered the field of contracting, in which his father had won such success, and in which he soon took a leading part. He came by inheritance to a ready comprehension and quick execution of gigantic schemes. In 1870 he built the Catawissa extension railroad to Williamsport, and later, graded a part of the Bound Brook railroad from Jenkintown, including the bridge that spans Delaware river at Yardleyville. In 1878 he undertook the work that was to be the crowning triumph of his successful achievements as a contractor. For many years Pittsburg had suffered grievously from the monopoly of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; exorbitant charges and excessive freight discrimination had brought about a state of oppression to the business community which threatened to paralyze many of the operations of trade. Under these circumstances, some time in the 60's, a certain number of influential gentlemen of Pittsburg conceived the notion of building a railroad some seventy-miles in length, from Pittsburg to Youngstown, Ohio, in order to connect with the Vanderbilt lines there, and make a new outlet for the hemmed-in and suffering business interests of Western Pennsylvania's great metropolis—“the great workshop of America,” as it is known. They wanted a prompt and responsible execution of their order. They were not railroad men nor speculators, nor were they building a road on paper, and on margins. They had the money to pay for it, and they wanted good work, quickly executed. They cast about for a man who would undertake the entire enterprise and relieve them of responsibilities for details. 

Mr. McGrann made the novel proposition to undertake the construction of the whole road, engineering, grading, bridges, ballast, ties and track in one year. It was a vast undertaking, running up into the millions, and such as no single individual in this country had every grappled with. The man for the hour was chosen in Bernard McGrann. He closed the contract, and backed it not only with sound judgment and hardy spirit, but with substantial security for the successful completion of the work. While old railroad men were dubious and western contractors predicted losses for the stranger who dared a feat they would not attempt, the young contractor set out to organize his forces, subdivide and sub-let his work and to make extensive contracts for supplies of all sorts. Engineers of talent and railroad men of the highest efficiency were summoned to service all along the Ohio, from Pittsburg to Phillipsburg, up the Beaver and all along the line; and there was activity that wakened the towns along the route and attracted the attention of engineers, railroad builders and contractors the country over. ‘The great feature of this particular work was the bridge across the Ohio, between Beaver and Phillipsburg. The river had to be spanned at a height of ninety-five feet above the water to admit of proper navigation facilities, and had a channel span of 446 feet, with long approaches of iron frame work. The entire enterprise was completed in one year and handed over to its owners in first class condition, its entire length ready for trains.

When the Lancaster County Fair Association failed, some years ago, Mr. McGrann bought its entire grounds and pressed them to their original uses ; to his liberal grants, the public owes the renewal and succession of successful county fairs held there to this day, as well as clean trials of speed. The feeling that Mr. McGrann was connected with the races inspired the public with confidence in their fairness.

Mr. McGrann is a pillar of St. Mary's Catholic Church. No subscription list for church purposes is ever found without his name and a good round sum opposite it. He is also full of love for his countrymen, and contributed $500 to the Irish National League fund, and his interest in the cause of Ireland and downtrodden people is ever maintained. As a citizen he is always enterprising and liberal. He had large real-estate interests in this city and though a resident of Manheim township, is one of Lancaster's heaviest tax payers. In all the length and breadth of the county, no finer or better cultivated farm with more costly or enduring improvements can be found. Every movement for the betterment of farm methods has his quick appreciation and patronage.

On Jan, 3, 1872, Mr. McGrann was marred to Mrs. Mary Kelly, widow of the late William T. Kelly and daughter of Philip Dougherty, of Harrisburg. Two sons, Richard Philip and Francis, have blessed this union. Men of high distinction in church and State, in business and professional life, from. Every part of the country, are again and again welcome guests in the McGrann home. A Democrat by instinct and training, by inheritance and conviction, Mr. McGrann has been sent as delegate to State and National Conventions. He has been frequently on the local ticket, has served on the county committee and was nominated for State Treasurer it 1887. He has always, been a generous contributor to, and stanch supporter of his party. ' He is the President of the Board of Managers of the Huntingdon Reformatory, and gives it that earnest, intelligent attention which he devotes to all things with which he is connected. 

With his broad humanity and sympathetic nature, no man could have been more fittingly selected to assist in the management of a reformatory institution, and we make no apology for relating an incident that came to our notice quite recently, as illustrative of Mr. McGrann’s interest in and kindly regard for the young. “There,” said a successful young professional man as he displayed an inscribed silver dollar, ‘is the thing that inspired me to study a profession.” The inscription told that this silver dollar had been presented by Mr. McGrann and the date of the presentation was also given. “I was a lad of tender years and was standing in the Pennsylvania Railroad station in this city, on my way to the House of Refuge, having been sent there on the application of an uncle, in whose custody I had been placed after the death of my mother, and who wanted to get rid of me. As I stood there Mr. McGrann came along, spoke kindly to me, asked me where I was going, and telling me to cheer up, gave me a dollar. That act inspired me. I was detained only a short time in the Refuge, then returned to Lancaster, became an inmate of the Home of the Friendless Children, and there remained until I was old enough to do something for myself; but Mr. McGrann’s silver dollar has been my talisman all these years and will be till I die.” 

Such is the testimony of a professional ‘of Lancaster— testimony that could be multiplied many times if all the beneficiaries of his generosity could be permitted to tell the story of their gratitude.