WESLEY M. GRIMWOOD, merchant of Frederick, Illinois, was born at Akron, Ohio, February 7, 1855. He is the only surviving member of a family of four children. The father was a mechanic by profession and a native of England, where he was born February 18, 1816. His father was also born in England and married Maria Clapper, daughter of Daniel Clapper. He started for America with his family in 1830, but was wrecked off the coast of Prince Edward's Island, and he and his family resided there for two years and then removed to Providence, Rhode Island. In 1858 he moved to Akron, Ohio, where he died in 1864. His wife died at Akron, Ohio, in 1876. The father of our subject was born, reared and educated in England and came to America with his parents in 1833. He was aboard the steamship Royal William on her first trip across the Atlantic, thus demonstrating the feasibility of steam navigation. In the fall of 1837 he removed from Rhode Island to Pekin, Illinois, where he married Miss Anna Eliza Brewingam. In 1859 he removed to Schuyler county, where his wife died, in 1868. He was a stanch Abolitionist and later a Republican. During a political riot at Alton, Illinois, he was struck on the head with a club, and almost killed by a member of the mob, who afterward killed that honored patriot Elisha P. Lovejoy. He served his county as Supervisor, Justice of the Peace and various other offices of responsibility. He was an honored and respected citizen. He married Miss Alice A. Bartholow, of Astoria. She was a daughter of Jasper and Olive Bartholow, natives of Ohio. Both are now dead. They were pioneers of Fulton county. They had four children.

Mr. Grimwood was educated in the common schools of Schuyler county, and at Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Indiana. He learned the wagonmaker's trade with his father, and followed it for about twenty years, when he engaged at merchandising at Frederick, here he carries on a general store. Mrs. Grimwood is a member of the Christian Church, and Mr. Grimwood is a member of Browning Lodge, No. 389, I.O.O.F., and of the M.W. of A., a beneficial order. Mr. and Mrs. Grimwood have three living children: Charles L., Ferol Fern and Don Wesley. Mr. Grimwood is a stanch Republican, and has been Clerk of Frederick township for the last twelve years. He is the candidate of his party from the Thirty-fourth District, for Senator. He did not seek this honor, but when notified of his selection, consented to allow his name to appear on the ticket. This is a genuine case of the office seeking the man. He stands very high in the estimation of the people.