Phillip Grimes 1828-1888

GRIMES

Posted By: Melissa Mayhew Grandt (email)
Date: 2/28/2013 at 10:01:54

[Transcriber's note: This article was transcribed exactly as it appeared in the original, including any misspellings or grammatical errors. Transcriber is not related to any persons mentioned and article is transcribed purely for genealogical research purposes.]

Williamsburgh Journal, Williamsburgh (Iowa Co.), Iowa, 20 Apr 1888, p2.

In Memoriam.
DIED, at his residence three miles south-east of Parnell, Iowa, April 7th, 1888, PHILLIP GRIMES, in his 60th year.

His remains were interred in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery April 8th 1888; and a solemn requiem mass, at which the largest congregation assembled this year participated, was sung. The funeral sermon delivered by Father Davis, was termed, by many, a masterpiece of eloquence and pathos. He eloquently depicted the esteem in which the deceased was held by his neighbors, and his devotion to his church. Father Davis gave utterance to one sentence that we should all wish may be truthfully said of us: "He set an example by his life that his children may never need to be ashamed to follow." Chisel this sentence in marble if you wish; decorate it, when placed upon some triumphal arch, with flowers; but ever let its inspiration sink deep into your heart, that, when you are dying, you may ask: "Can I have such said of me?"

Mr. Grimes was born in the County of Armagh, Ireland, in 1828; and came to America when but 18 years of age. He learned the trade of a brick-layer, and attained to much proffency in the same. He came to Davenport, Iowa, in 1855, and on Jan. 12, 1856, was united in marriage with Catherine Carville, of that city. This happy union was blessed with ten children, four boys and six girls - three of whom are now dead. Mr. Grimes came to Iowa county, Iowa, and settled upon a farm in Fillmore township, where he resided until his death. In 1880, the partner of his joys and sorrows was removed by the hand of death.

For more than eight monts Mr. Grimes has battled against an insidious disease and consulted the best medical and surgical talent of the state, but finally succumbed to the inevitable.

I don't believe in "bosh" obituaries; I don't believe in ascribing to one, who has just passed away, virtues he never possessed; but I can say of Mr. Grimes that although he was noted as a shrewd financier, and never suffered anyone, by fine talk, "to pull the wool over his eyes," that he, nevertheless, had a heart - a heart overflowing with human kindness. This was illustrated to me when one day last summer, he came into my office with tears in his eyes, and said: "I'm going to take the train south to-day, and I'm going to bring Mary home, [referring to his daughter] because sinkness and death have made her so lonely. I think that the associations of home will cause her to forget the death of her child, and build up her weakened constitution." And he did bring her home.

Mr. Grimes was an honest, industrious, progressive citizen - honest to the cent, and requiring the same in return; industrious, never a minute idle when in health; progressive, a leader in all educational and church affairs. His character might be aptly termed an admixture of the Yankee and the Irishman - he had the business sagacity of the Yankee and the heart of the Irishman.

But he is dead, and we'll say no more. His name, in this vicinity, shall live through successive generations as an industrious, progressive citizen, a kind and obliging neighbor, a fond and indulgent husband and father, and a true friend.

A granite obelisk will soon be erected to his memory, I would have engraved upon it, as a fitting and truthful eulogium of the one who sleeps beneath, these words in successive order: Honesty, Virtue, Prudence, Temperance, Love and Faith. T.J.S.