My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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.

* * * *

Major James M. Grimes, farmer and miller, is the son of William and Elizabeth (Harris) Grimes. The father was a native Virginian, was of Welsh descent, and was a soldier in the Creek War. Grandfather Grimes was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and Grandmother Grimes lived to be one hundred and ten years of age. At the age of one hundred she could walk a mile as quickly as when a girl. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born In North Carolina, was of English descent and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Grimes immigrated to Tennessee, settling in Rutherford County, and there passed the remainder of their days. Of the six children born to their union, two sons and four daughters, Maj. James M. Grimes was the youngest but one. He was born May 1, 1826, in Rutherford County, Tenn., was reared on a farm and there educated to a limited extent. After reaching manhood he began for himself, and for five years was overseer on a plantation, after which he married and began farming on his own account. Miss Balsora Patterson became his wife in 1852, and to them were born twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, of whom eight are now living. In the days of militia Mr. Grimes held the office of major, and in November, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Forty-fifth Tennessee Infantry Volunteers, Confederate States Army. He went out with the rank of orderly sergeant, and a year later was elected second lieutenant, which position he held until the close of the war, serving four years. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Jonesboro, and at the first-named battle had one of the bones in the left forearm broken by a ball. After the war Maj. Grimes followed farming in Rutherford County until 1868, when he moved to Washington County, Ark., and located In Prairie Township. In 1879 be lost his wife, and the following year he married Miss Brunetta J. Rieff, a native of Wilson County, Tenn., who bore him one child, a daughter. He and Mrs. Grimes are members of the Christian Church, as was also his first wife. He is a Democrat in politics, casting his first presidential vote for Lewis Cass, of Michigan. Maj. Grimes is the owner of 280 acres of land, 160 of which are under cultivation and well improved. In 1886 he built a saw-mill on White River, and is now adding a flour mill. All his property is the result of his own industry and good management. He is a liberal supporter of schools, churches and all other worthy enterprises. In September, 1888, he was chosen justice of the peace of Prairie Township.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.