James Grace (1798-1869)
of Ballylinan (or Ballylynan), Queens County (Co. Laois), Ireland
His great-grandfather was born at the old family seat, "Gracefield" in Queen's County, and his grandfather had operated a successful cotton mill at Ballylinan, but by the time it passed to James it had been long out of action - Ireland had been unable to compete with the English trade. James lived in a single-story, stone house with a slate roof farming Ballylinan's 252-Irish acres which included a quarry and limekiln. His eldest son left Ireland for Peru and founded W.R. Grace & Co., New York.
