GRIMES, Charles H. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Charles H. Grimes, believe to be Tippecanoe county’s only centenarian and one of the few men of one hundred years in the state of Indiana, died Saturday morning, October 16, at the home of his son, H. C. Grimes, Lafayette Rural Route C, his demise resulting from the infirmities of age. Mr. Grimes had been bedfast for the past six weeks and unconscious for several days, although previous to that time he enjoyed fairly good heatlh and was very keen mentally. Mr. Grimes enrolled his name among the list of registered voters last September, filling out the registration blank at his home and mailing it to the county auditor’s office, and it was his earnest wish that he would live until after election day, November 2, and cast his vote at his twentieth presidential election. Mr. Grimes was a lifelong democrat and his first ballot was cast for James K. Polk. 100 YEARS OLD LAST JUNE. Mr. Grimes was born in Lexington, N. C., June 19, 1820, and he came to Indiana with his parents fifteen years later, traveling in an old covered wagon and being on the road seven weeks and three days. The family first settled in Jackson township, Fountain county, near the little town of Wallace, where Mr. Grimes entered upon his active career. A short time after he became postmaster at Wallace, which position has been held by him and one of his descendents for fifty-three years, and at present is held by one of his grandsons. Mr. Grimes joined the Masons at Covington in 1850 and he was believed to be one of the oldest Masons in Indiana

The term “pioneer” can be no better bestowed than on this venerable gentleman, just deceased. He enjoyed relating remarkable events and conditions of early Indiana when there were no railroads and little land cleared, when the big cities of today were rambling villages and the country was the natural hunting ground of wild game, such as deer and wild turkeys. Indian villages were not infrequent in those days and Mr. Grimes could tell some interesting stories of redskin customs. CAME HERE IN 1836. Mr. Grimes came to Lafayette the first time in 1836, when it was a rambling village of but a few houses and he witnessed the building of the Erie canal and also served as one of the apprasers for the right of way of the Wabash railroad. In his long career Mr. Grimes met and associated with many prominent men and he was extremely fond of telling how Dan Vorhees and his father remained overnight with the Grimes family, while young Vorhees was on his way to college. Mr. Grimes also was intimately acquainted with Gen. Lew Wallace, Henry Lane, John Purdue, Moses Fowler, John Heath, John B. Ruger and many other prominient men of that time, now dead. He was very eager to recall a conversation he once had with one of General Morgan’s sharpshooters, in which the latter described how the Yankees whipped the British at Guilford court house. This old soldier, Mr. Grimes stated, had three bullets in his breast which he would not have removed, as he wanted substantial proof that he actually took part in this battle.

Mr. Grimes was twice married and he left ninety-two descendants, namely, five children, twenty-six grandchildren, fifty-one great grandchildren, and ten great great grandchildren. His first wife was Mary Bruner, of Tennessee, whom he married about three-quarters of a century ago. She died in 1867, four children surviving by this marriage. They are: Mrs. Esther A. Livengude, Hillsboro, Ind.; H. C. Grimes, Lafayette Rural Route C; Charles A. Grimes, Kingman, and Mrs. Mary E. Clawson, this city. In 1869, Mr. Grimes married Mary Ann Lairy, mother of Dr. M. M. Lairy, of this city, and one son by this marriage survives. He is Rev. J. E. Grimes, Limestone, Fla., district superintendent of the United Brethren church. The second Mrs. Grimes died in 1897. He also leaves one brother, George Grimes of Chicago, who is 94 years old. Mrs. Harry E. Hershey, of this city, is a granddaughter.

Mr. Grimes was fond of having the members of his family about him and his birthdays were made the occasions of joyous reunions. On June 19, 1919, such a reunion was held on the occasion of his ninety-ninth birthday, his aged brother from Chicago being a guest of honor. On last June, his one hundredth birthday, he first became to feel the effects of old age and a few days later was confined to his bed. A short time later he was taken critically ill and it was feared for a time that he would not survive. Mr. Grimes, of Chicago, again visited his brother last summer and the two old men had a great time reminiscing of their boyhood days.

It was announced by the family that the funeral would be held Sunday afternoon, October 17, at 2 o’clock, Rev. L. L. Shaffer, of the United Brethren church, of which the deceased was a lifelong member, officiating; burial in the Isley Cemetery.