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Below is a family biography included in The History of Wayne County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Harold A. Grimes, of the firm of Hughes & Grimes, is a Wayne County Tennessean, born October 16, 1853, son of Elihu S. and Nancy Malissa (Keaton) Grimes, who were born in this county. Wilson Grimes, our subject’s grandfather, was one of the very earliest settlers of the county. Harold A. was reared on a farm in this county. His father dying in 1855, he was obliged to begin earning his own living early in life. In 1870 he began mercantile life as a salesman, but soon relinquished this occupation to complete his education. He attended and taught school until 1873, and the following year went to Texas and clerked in a mercantile establishment in Dennison three years, and the same year returned home and married Emma L. McDougal, of Savannah, Tenn., who died four months after their marriage. In 1879 Mr. Grimes removed to Clifton and followed clerking until 1882, when he accepted a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale dry goods house in Nashville, remaining such about six months. He then accepted a similar position with a boot and shoe firm of that city, at which he continued until January, 1885, when he engaged in his present business, as above stated, and has contributed largely to the success of this well known firm. March 20, 1884, he married his present wife, Annie O. Chappell, They have one child, Bettie Elsie. Mr. Grimes is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the K. & L. of H. He is president of the Clifton Temperance Alliance, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 76 biographies included in The History of Wayne County, Tennessee published in 1886.  The History of Lawrence County was included within The History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman & Lewis Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman and Lewis Counties of Tennessee

View additional Wayne County, Tennessee family biographies here: Wayne County, Tennessee

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