Jeremiah was born in Pettis, Adair Co., Missouri on January 12, 1844. He was the sixth child of William Grasty and Tabitha Haskins. By 1850, he was living with his parents and six siblings in Post Oak, Johnson Co., Missouri. His mother died in 1860 and according to the 1860 census, his father, Jeremiah and two other children were living in Leyar Creek, Lykins, Kansas Territory. He had attended school within that year.
Jeremiah mustered into service as a private in Co. F, 2nd Battalion Missouri State Militia Cavalry on April 1, 1862 at Harrisonville, Missouri. He used his own horse and equipment. In the Battle of Lone Jack, he was taken prisoner and lost his horse and equipment. He was then paroled. By order of General Hallack, Jeremiah was mustered out of service on October 9, 1862 at Lexington, Missouri. On January 16, 1864, Jeremiah enlisted in Co. I,16th Kansas Cavalry and he mustered out on November 28, 1865.
In 1865, Jeremiah was living in Sugar Creek Township, Miami Co., Kansas with his father, stepmother, a younger brother and two other people. He listed himself as a farmer.
On January 16, 1869, Jeremiah married Aletha Ann “Lettie” Holding Hedges and adopted her children from her previous marriage.
On the 1880 census, Jeremiah and Letha are living in Centerville Township, Linn Co., Kansas with six of their children and his father. He is listed as a farmer.
On November 17, 1890 Jeremiah filed for a pension. He listed the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry and the 16th Kansas Cavalry. According to the 1900 census, Jerry and Letha are still living in Linn Co., Kansas and four of their children are with them.
By the 1910 census Jerry and Letha are still in Linn Co., Kansas but they are living with one of their children. Jerry is a retired farmer.
Jeremiah died on March 12, 1920 in Blue Mound, Kansas, and he is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery near Centerville, Linn Co., Kansas.