Second Friday Lecture Series: The Soldier Boy from Lena

Friday, May 10  |  12:00pm – 1:00pm  |  Speaker: William Grigg

The Soldier Boy from Lena is based on the book of the same name featuring original content on the life of Henry Eugene Way.  Way served in the Union Army from 1862-1864 in the 72nd Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers, also known as the First Chicago Board of Trade Regiment. He was 16 years of age when he ran away from his home in Lena, Illinois and enlisted at Camp Douglas in Chicago using an alias.

Mr. Grigg’s presentation of Way’s story as a member of the 72nd Illinois includes images of maps, photographs and drawings from that era, postal history with images of war time stationery, the history of Civil War locations where his letters were written, and images of his letters completely transcribed with their mailing envelopes shown.

William E. Grigg is an accountant by profession with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master’s degree in finance. He worked in public accounting for over 50 years managing his own firm specializing in corporation executive relocation tax complications, as well as auditing, accounting, and financial consulting for 32 public libraries in Illinois.  He taught at Triton College in River Grove, Illinois, the Chicago Public school system, and at Illinois Institute of Technology, the latter his alma mater.

His writing and publishing experience includes tax quick reference guides prepared and printed annually for tax preparers published for over 27 years. Other writing includes serving as a reporter and managing editor of the college newspaper at Illinois Institute of Technology.