His father died when Grace was still a child, and he helped support his family by carrying milk deliveries from a cow that his mother kept.

He was hired by William Elliott, the U.S. representative for Grace's district, and worked in Washington, during which time he studied law at Georgetown University.

Although the outcome showed Hyde with a one-vote lead, after challenges, the Democratic Executive Committee declared Grace the winner.

His opponents began running a series of advertisements attacking Grace, taking advantage of pro-German sentiments he had expressed as the editor of a local paper, The Charleston American.

[2] His most lasting accomplishment was the construction of the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge, which spanned the Cooper River to connect Charleston and Mt.