GRIMMER & SPENCE, dealers in drugs, medicines, perfumery, toilet articles,
wall-paper, books and fancy goods, Mauston. Business established in
1859. Present firm organized in March, 1876. Stock, $6,000.
Frederick E. GRIMMER, senior partner of the above firm,
was born in Saxony, Germany, July 15, 1829. In 1842, he came to America
with his parents, and directly to Milwaukee, Wis., where he learned the
harness-maker's trade, spending five years in that line. He then went
to Lake Superior, and spent eight years in the mining regions. In 1853,
he moved to Juneau Co., Wis., and engaged in farming in the town of Lemonweir.
Continued on the farm until 1859, when he moved to Newport, Sauk Co.
Went in the drug and grocery trade, remaining there two years, and
then removed to Mauston, and continued in the same business. Leaving
this business in the care of an agent, he enlisted, October, 1861, as principal
musician in the regimental band of the 12th Wis. V. Served one year
with the regiment, and was mustered out in the Fall of 1862. On returning
to Mauston, he resumed the care of his business. In 1863, he formed
a partnership with Martin GRAY, under the firm name of Gray & Grimmer.
Mr. Gray only lived a few months after the business was started. Mr.
Grimmer continued the business alone about three years. He then formed
a partnership with Mr. William CASE, as Case & Co., and after two
years he sold it to Case & Remington. In 1869, he bought in with
Mr. SHARP in the drug business, the firm name being Sharp & Co. During
the next few years, until March, 1876, the firm underwent several changes
of partners, when Mr. William G. SPENCE bough a half interest in the business,
and the present firm of Grimmer & Spence was organized. Mr. Grimmer
was married at Newport, Sauk Co., Dec. 2, 1856, to Miss Casandra M. TEMPLE,
daughter of William Temple and Maria PRATT. They have two daughters
and two sons - Emma R., Frederick E., William A. and Jessie M.
William G. SPENCE , of Grimmer & Spence, was born in the town of Somers, Kenosha Co., Wis., June 21, 1848, son of John SPENCE. Spent his boyhood on the farm; was a student at the Kenosha High School. Taught several terms of district school in the county; from the Fall of 1873 to June, 1874, he was assistant teacher in the Kenosha High School. On closing the engagement, he came to Mauston to accept the position of principal of the Mauston schools. This arrangement proving mutually satisfactory, he was retained in that position four years. While filling his engagement of teacher, he had, in March, 1876, formed the business connection with Mr. Grimmers, as given above. In 1877, he entered the store to assist in its management. November, 1879, he was elected Superintendent of Schools for Juneau County, and entered upon the duties of the office January, 1880. Mr. Spence was married, April 6, 1875, at Somers, Kenosha Co., to Miss Ellen M. STRONG, daughter of Alvin and Melissa (TROWBRIDGE) STRONG. Mrs. Spence was born in the town of Somers, Kenosha Co.
Source: Biographical history of LaCrosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin, The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago - 1892, p. 375