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 HOMAS W. GRIMES, a prosperous farmer and stock-grower, is a resident of Pleasant Grove Township, and represents one of the self-made men of Illinois, who have aided in making this State famous in the annals of history for the patriotism and the courage of its citizens in war, and for their enterprise and prosperity in peace. He is the son of Hezekiah and Frances (Wood) Grimes, and was born Nov. 24, 1839, in Elkhart County, Ind. His family is of Irish extraction. His grandfather, a native of Ireland, came to the United States when a boy and settled in Ohio. Hezekiah Grimes was born near Chillicothe, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1816. He passed his boyhood and youth at home, and after his marriage to Miss Frances Wood, who was likewise a native of Ohio, he removed to Elkhart County, Ind. He remained there several years, and in 1849 came to Illinois, making his home in Cumberland County, near Coles. The year following their removal to Illinois, Mrs. Grimes died, leaving her husband with six motherless children, one child having died in infancy—John S., Mary, Thomas W., Sarah, Nancy E. and E. M. Mary is the wife of Jackson Gill; Sarah married Jonathan Brewer; Nancy was the wife of Seneca Rariden, and is now deceased. Mr. Grimes subsequently married Miss Nancy Wells, of Terre Haute, Ind., and of this marriage there were born the following children: Martha Ellen, deceased; William Theodore and Levi. He is still living, and resides in Marshall County, Kan. Thomas Grimes passed his boyhood on his father’s farm until he was fourteen years of age. He was then apprenticed to the saddler’s trade in Charleston, but that occupation proved so distasteful to him that he only served about four months, and then returned to the farm. At the age of sixteen he started out to begin the world for himself, with only $2.50 in his pocket, having agreed to pay his father $60 for the privilege of leaving home while a minor. He was first employed as a wage worker on the farm of Col. Adams at Farmington, receiving $15 a month for his services during the summer, and in the winter attended school and worked for his board. He was faithful and industrious and remained with Col. Adams three years, and at the expiration of that time was employed by Rev. John McDonald for two years, at $16 per month. Thus, working hard and attending school he grew to manhood, and on Feb. 21, 1861, was married to Miss Mary J. Allison, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Ann (Cathy) Allison, and born June 18, 1841, in Coles County. After his marriage Mr. Grimes engaged in farming until the following j’ear, and then left his business and home to serve in the Civil War. He enlisted and was mustered into service with Co. I, 123d Ill. Vol. Inf. He proved himself a brave and faithful soldier, taking part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged except that of Perryville. He was in the field hospital one month at Louisville, Ky.,and at the battle near Milton, Tenn., received a gunshot wound over the right ear, which confined him in the hospital three months. After his return from the war he resumed farming, and in 1870 settled on his present estate, which contains 220 acres of valuable land. In conducting his farm Mr. Grimes gives special attention to stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes had a family of eight children born to them, and experienced a deep sense of loss in the death of two. William H., their first born, died at the dawn of manhood, and the next child, a daughter, died in childhood. Those now living are—Loren K., John A., Andrew R., George F., Charles J., and an infant daughter. Mr. Grimes is upright and honorable in all of his business dealings. He has never tasted a drop of intoxicating liquor in his life, and his energy and industry have met with the success which usually attends the exercise of such qualities, when accompanied with temperate habits, and integrity of character. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1860 and is a Ruling Elder in the same. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has served six years as Justice of the Peace. |
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