GRIMM, Aaron N.

GRIMM, LAUDERMELCH, RAYMER, BARTNESS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/4/2014 at 11:48:35

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 730-32. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ AARON N. GRIMM

Among those who enjoy a wide acquaintance in Cerro Gordo county and play a prominent part in the industrial and social life of the community is Aaron N. Grimm, county supervisor and stock buyer. Mr. Grimm was elected to the supervisorship in November, 1908, and is filling the office with great credit to himself and the county. He was born at Hinckley, Dekalb county, Illinois, August 27, 1863, his parents, being Henry and Addie (Laudermelch) Grimm, both of them natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1832 and died at Hinckley. February 19, 1900. The mother survived until November 1, 1909, her age at the time of her demise being seventy-six years. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the following six are alive: Charles M., of Mason township, who for two years held the world's championship for shot gun shooting of live birds; George W., a citizen of Clear Lake; Aaron N.; Alice, wife of G. A. Raymer, of Paw Paw, Illinois; Elmer S., of Big Rock, Illinois; and Eugene of Clear Lake, Iowa. The father grew to manhood in his native state, married, and in 1856 moved to Illinois, locating in Dekalb county and for a while farmed on a modest scale on eighty acres of land which was in a wild state when he acquired it. He was thrifty and industrious and found success, owning a very large tract of land at the time of his death.

Mr. Grimm was reared on a farm in Illinois and enjoyed the advantage of a graded school education. At the age of twenty years he started out in life for himself and farmed in Dekalb county on rented land. He early showed ability in buying and selling stock and eventually found himself in the position to buy land of his own. In 1891 Mr. Grimm sold out in Illinois and the same year came to Cerro Gordo county, where he purchased first eighty and then one hundred and sixty acres more in section 25, Clear Lake township. He improved this land and lived upon it until December, 1893, when he rented it and removed to Clear Lake to engage in the meat business. In 1898 he sold his meat market and two years later bought it back, again disposing of it in 1905. While actively engaged in agriculture he was an extensive stock feeder and from boyhood to the present day he has dealt in stock, now handling on an average of two hundred and fifty cars a year. In November, 1908, he assumed his present office of county supervisor.

Mr. Grimm finds much pleasure and profit in his affiliations, these including membership in the Knights of Pythias, the Masonic order, the Woodmen, the Modern Brotherhood of America, all of Clear Lake, and the Elks at Mason City, Iowa. He approves of the present policies and principles of Republicanism, but was a supporter of Grover Cleveland.

On December 3, 1884, Mr. Grimm took as his bride Miss Isola Bartness, born May 27, 1864, at Maple Park, Kane county, Illinois. They have a beautiful home in Clear Lake, this having been remodeled with all the modern improvements. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Grimm, these being Goldbern L., born January 19, 1886, and Myrtle, born February 24, 1890. The latter married Lester J. Watts.

NOTE: Aaron N. Grimm died in 1934. Isola E. (Bartness) Grimm died in 1929. They were interred at Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake IA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014