The third to fill the office of Governor of Iowa, and whose name deserves a foremost rank among the men whose personal history is interwoven inseparably with that of the State, was James Wilson Grimes. He was born in the town of Deering, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, October 20, 1816. His parents — John Grimes, born August 11, 1772, and Elizabeth Wilson, born March 19, 1773 — were natives of the same town. Of a family of eight children born to them, James was the youngest. In early childhood he evinced a taste for learning, attending the district school and also studying Latin and Greek under the instruction of the village pastor. He completed his preparation for college at Hampton Academy, and entered Dartmouth College in August, 1832, in the sixteenth year of his age. Upon leaving college in February, 1835, he commenced reading law with James Walker, Esq., in Petersburgh, New Hampshire.

     Being young and adventurous, and wishing to carve a fortune for himself, he left his native home in 1836 for the far West, landing in Burlington, then a new town in what was known as the “Black Hawk Purchase.” Here he opened an office and soon established a reputation as a rising lawyer. In April, 1837, he was appointed city solicitor; and entering upon the duties of that office he assisted in drawing up the first police laws of that town. In 1838 he was appointed justice of the peace, and became a law partner of William W. Chapman, United States District Attorney for Wisconsin Territory. In the early part of the year 1841 he formed a partnership with Henry W. Starr, Esq., which continued twelve years. This firm stood at the head of the legal profession in Iowa. Mr. Grimes was widely known as a counselor of superior knowledge of the law, and with a clear sense of truth and justice. He was chosen one of the representatives of Des Moines County in the first Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa, which convened at Burlington, November 12, 1838; in the sixth, at Iowa City, December 4, 1843; and in the fourth General Assembly of the State, at Iowa City, December 6, 1852. He early took front rank among the public men of Iowa. He was chairman of the judiciary committee in the House of Representatives of the first Legislative Assembly of the Territory, and all laws for the new Territory passed through his hands.

     He was married at Burlington, November 9, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Sarah Neally.

     In February, 1854, Mr. Grimes was nominated by a convention of the Whig party for Governor of the State. It was the largest convention of that party ever held in Iowa, and the last. Soon after his election it was proposed that he should be sent to the United States Senate, but he made it understood that he should fill the term of office for which he had been chosen, and he served his full term to the entire satisfaction and acceptance of all parties. He was a faithful leader in the political regeneration of the State. He introduced liberal measures to develop the resources of the State, and to promote the interests of all educational and humane establishments. Up to the time of his election as Governor, Democracy reigned supreme in the Territory. The representatives in Congress were allies of the slave power. He, after being elected gave his whole soul to the work, and it may truly be said that Governor Grimes made Iowa Republican and allied it with the loyal States.

     January 14, 1858, he laid down his office, only to be placed in another and greater one; for on the 25th he was nominated by the Republican caucus for United States Senator. He took his seat in the Senate March 4, 1859, and was placed upon the committee on naval affairs January 24, 1861, on which he remained during the remainder of his senatorial career, serving as chairman from December, 1864.

     Mr. Grimes voted for the Pacific Railroad bill on June 20, 1862, and for establishing the gauge of the road from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, at four feet eight and a half inches, February 18, 1863.

     January 16, 1864, Mr. Grimes was again chosen United States Senator from Iowa for six years from March 4, 1865, receiving the votes of all but six of the members of the General Assembly in joint convention; 128 out of 134. His council was often sought in matters of great moment, and in cases of peculiar difficulty. Always ready to promote the welfare of the State, he gave, unsolicited, land worth $6,000 to the Congregational college at Grinnell. It constitutes the “Grimes foundation,” and “is to be applied to the establishment and maintenance in Iowa College, forever, of four scholarships, to be awarded by the trustees, on the recommendation of the faculty, to the best scholars, and the most promising, in any department, who may need and seek such aid, and without any regard to the religious tenets or opinions entertained by any person seeking either of said scholarships.” These terms were imposed by Mr. Grimes and assumed July 20, 1865, by the trustees. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1865 from Dartmouth College, and also from Iowa College. He also aided in founding a public library in Burlington, donating $5,000, which was expended in the purchase of costly books, and subsequently sent from Europe 256 volumes in the German language, and also contributed 600 volumes of public documents.

     In January, 1869, he made a donation of $5,000 to Dartmouth College, and $1,000 to the “Social Friend,” a literary society of which he was a member when in college.

     His health failing, Mr. Grimes sailed for Europe April 14, 1869, remaining abroad two years, reaching home September 22, 1871, apparently in improved health and spirits. In November he celebrated his silver wedding, and spent the closing months of his life with his family. He voted at the city election February 5, 1872, was suddenly attacked with severe pains in the region of the heart, and died after a few short hours of intense suffering.

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