WILLIAM T. GRIMES
As
mayor of the town and the proprietor of a thriving implement
business, William T. Grimes is a worthy representative of the
commercial and official circles of Allerton, toward the
progress and development of which he has contributed no less
by his able and efficient public service than by the capable
and competent manner in which he has assisted to promote some
of its leading business enterprises. A native of Indiana, he was born on the
15th of August, 1859, and is the third in order of
birth in a family of seven.
His parents, Jackson and Ellen (Tippin) Grimes, were
likewise natives of Indiana, whence they removed to Iowa in
1867, coming direct to Wayne county. Here the father purchased two hundred
acres of prairie land, which through his diligent and capably
directed efforts was converted into one of the fertile and
valuable farming properties of the county. He is still
residing on his farm at the advanced age of eighty years, but
the mother passed away in 1907, and was laid to rest in the
Allerton cemetery. She
was seventy-four at the time of her death.
William T. Grimes, who was a lad of about eight years when he came to Iowa with his parents, was reared at home and educated in the public schools. The son of a farmer, his energies were early directed along agricultural lines, and long before he had reached man’s estate he was thoroughly familiar with the practical methods of tilling the fields and caring for the crops. When he was twenty-four years of age his father deeded eighty acres of land to him and leaving home he began farming for himself. As he was industrious and exercised intelligence in directing the cultivation of his fields he met with a good measure of success and was soon able to increase his holdings by the addition of another eighty acres. He subsequently sold the tract presented to him by his father and invested the proceeds in other land, continuing to purchase adjoining fields as the opportunity presented until his farm comprised four hundred acres. Not only did he prove to be a skilled agriculturist but a capable business man, and early began to direct his energies along other lines. In 1892, he temporarily withdrew from the work of the farm and went to Clio, where he assisted in the organization of the Bank of Clio, of which institution he was cashier for four years. At the expiration of that time he returned to his farm, which he operated until 1903. In the year last named he came to Allerton to enter upon the duties of cashier of the Farmers & Feeders Bank, now the Farmers National Bank, which he had assisted in organizing the year previous. He was the first president of this concern and served as cashier for five years, following which he resumed the management of his farm and also bought and sold stock. His entire attention was given to these two undertakings until the spring of 1912, when he engaged in the implement business. A wide knowledge of farming machinery, united with a practical and intimate understanding of the needs of the agriculturist well adapt Mr. Grimes for this business, and as he is widely known throughout he county without doubt he will succeed in building up a large patronage.
On
the 28th of February, 1884, Mr. Grimes was married
to Miss Eva A. Allen, a daughter of Oscar G. and Anna (Miller)
Allen. The
parents, who were natives of Indiana, came to Iowa about 1860,
being among the first settlers in Wayne county. Here they passed
the remainder of their days, the mother’s death occurring in
1892, and that of the father in July, 1912, at the age of
seventy-eight years. Mrs.
Grimes, who is the fifth in order of birth in a family of
eleven, was born on the 13th of August, 1865. To Mr. and Mrs.
Grimes there have been born two daughters and a son, William
L., who died at the age of three years. The eldest
daughter, Wilma D., was born on January 14, 1885. She married Ernest
R. Blakeley, a civil engineer of Illinois, and has become the
mother of two children.
Cora D., whose birth occurred on Christmas day, 1890,
is now pursuing a special course of study in the University at
Madison, Wisconsin. She
previously attended Highland Park University at Des Moines for
a year, while she was a student at the Northwestern University
at Evanston, Illinois, for two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Grimes are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a member of the board of trustees. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order, Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias, in which order he has passed through all of the chairs. Mrs. Grimes is a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Wednesday Club. Mr. Grimes gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is now serving as mayor of the town, while for nine years he was a member of the school board. He has prospered in his various business enterprises and has acquired extensive and valuable property interests. He owns his residence in Allerton, four hundred and eighty acres of land in Stafford county, Kansas, and eighty acres in Carlton county, Minnesota. His farm here constitutes one of the finest properties in Wayne county and brings him a good annual rental. It is fenced with barbed wire, has natural drainage and the entire acreage is under cultivation. The improvements are substantial and in good condition, while the entire place is amply supplied with water of a superior quality from bored wells. Mr. Grimes is widely known and esteemed in the county, because as a business man, public official and private citizen he has always manifested those qualities which entitle him to the respect and regard of his fellow townsmen. His success is the well merited reward of earnest effort, close application and capable management, and has been achieved in a manner which leaves no doubt as to his integrity or question as to the reliability of his business methods.