John James Grandi (1852 - 1913)

Born 1852 in Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Frances (Newland) Grandi — married 1876 in New Zealand

Descendants

Died Aug 1913 at about age 61 in Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand

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Biography

The following biography is from the Cyclopedia of New Zealand. ^[1]

MR. JOHN JAMES GRANDI, formerly Mayor of Timaru, was born in Middlesex, England, in 1852. He was educated in London, and came to Lyttelton with his parents by the ship “British Empire” in 1864. In December of that year, he was apprenticed to a firm of coach-builders — Messrs Henry Wagstaff and Co., of Christchurch—and claims the distinction of being the first bound apprentice in Canterbury. After completing his indentures, he was for about twelve months with Messrs. Cobb and Co., and subsequently with Messrs. Barrett, Hudson and Moore, in whose service he continued for seven years. Coming to Timaru in 1879 under engagement to Mr. John Barrett, coachbuilder, he remained till that gentleman's retirement in 1890, when Mr. Grandi purchased the business. He was for many years a member of the Borough Council, and was elected mayor in 1896. He was a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, High School Board, and Licensing Committee, and has been provincial master in the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. Mr. Grandi is married, and has ten children.

In 1876, he married Frances Newland. ^[2]

He passed away in 1913. ^[3]

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN JAMES GRANDI. An old and respected resident, Mr John James Grandi, coachbuilder, passed away on Saturday night. The late Mr Grandi was born in Middlesex, England, in 1852. He was educated in London and come to Lyttelton with his parents by the ship “British Empire” in 1864. In December of that year he was apprenticed to a firm of coach-builders — Messrs Henry Wagstaff and Co., of Christchurch —and claims the distinction of btsing the first bound apprentice in Canterbury. After completing his indentures he was for about twelve months with Messrs Cobb and Co., and subsequently with Messrs Barrett, Hudson and Moore, in whose service he continued for seven years. Coming to Timaru in 1879 under engagement to Mr John Barrett, coachbuilder, he remained till that gentleman's retirement in 1890, when Mr Grandi purchased the business which he carried on for many years. He was a member of the Borough Council for many years, was elected Mayor in 1896, and occupied that position during the visit of their Royal Highnesses the then Duke and Duchess of York. As Mayor Mr Grandi initiated the system of surface drainage by means of concrete channels, which served a very valuable purpose until the underground drainage system was adopted, and still has its value in rain storms. He was also associated with the initiation of other useful municipal works. He was a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, High School Board, and Licensing Committee. Mr Grandi was an enthusiastic Oddfellow, and was a leading member of the Loyal Timaru Lodge, M.U., of the Lyttelton district, and later a founder and P.P.G.M., of the South Canterbury District Lodge. He has also been treasurer of the District Lodge since its foundation. He was also a member and a Past Master of the Caledonian Masonic Lodge, and members of both these organisations will attend the funeral, as such. In all relations of life, public, social, and domestic, the deceased was highly respected as a straight-forward conscientious citizen, and his death will be heard of with regret, especially by a large number of the older inhabitants of Timaru. Mr Grandi's illness was of short duration, only a week elapsing between its inception and his death, which occurred on Saturday evening. He leaves a wife and grownup family. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, and will leave his residence in Wai-iti Road for the Timaru cemetery at 2 p.m.^[4]

He is buried in Timaru cemetery. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ 1903, p. 971
2. ↑ NZ BDM 1876/396 Frances Newland John James Grandi
3. ↑ NZ BDM 1913/7395 Grandi John James 61Y
4. ↑ Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 15111, 4 August 1913, Page 7
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166527953/john-james-grandi: accessed 04 June 2023), memorial page for John James Grandi (22 Feb 1852–2 Aug 1913), Find a Grave Memorial ID 166527953, citing Timaru Cemetery, Timaru, Timaru District, Canterbury, New Zealand; Maintained by Cyndi (contributor 47314338).