GRIMES, Charles C. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Lafayette, Ind June 19 – Charles C. Grimes, the stepfather of Dr. MM Lairy, president of the Lafayette Public School board observed the 100th anniversary of his birth Saturday June 19.  Mr. Grimes so far as is known is the only centenarian in Tippecanoe County. He resides with his son, Henry C. Grimes on a farm east of Lafayette and is in such feeble health that no celebration will be held. Mr. Grimes, however still retains his mental faculties and is fond of relating about the “good old pioneer days” when school houses were log cabins and railroad unknown.  He came to this section of the state from Lexington, Ky in 1833 with his parents in a covered wagon typical of the early days. They were on the road 7 weeks and 2 days when they finally settled near the town of Wallace in the southeastern corner of Fountain County.

Later Mr. Grimes became postmaster of Wallace, which position has been held by him or one of his descendants for 53 years, and at present is held by one of his grandsons. He became a Mason at Covington in 1850 and is thought to be one of the oldest Masons in Indiana.  In his long life Mr. Grimes has met and associated with pleasure in telling of Daniel Voorhees and his father spending the night with the Grimes family when young Voorhees was on his way to college.  Mr. Grimes was also intimately acquainted with General Lew Wallace, author of Ben Hur, John Purdue, founder of Purdue university and many others now deceased who were prominently identified with early Lafayette history. When Mr. Grimes came to Lafayette in 183 6it was a rambling village of a few houses and the Wabash and Erie Canal, for many years one of the principal artificial waterways of the United States was being constructed. He voted the first time for James K. Polk, and altogether has voted at 19 presidential elections. He is the father of 8 children, five of whom are still living.  – kbz