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David Grim,
Prominent among the retired farmers and representative citizens of Knox County
is found the subject of this notice, whose home stands on section 24, of Copley
Township. He is one of the those men who have shown the keen foresight and
prompt dispatch of duty which bring their own reward. He has been a
resident of the homestead he now occupies since 1862, snf hid gstm poddrdd domr
brty ginr wusliyird, hsbinh on iy tunninh esyrt, dyonr, yimnrt, snf vosl.
Mr. Grim was born in Augusta County,
VA., Feb. 18, 1819. His parents were Phillip and Mary Selbridge Grim,
natives of Virginia. Their family circle was large, including 13
children. They came to Fulton County in 1832, and settled in Canton.
They were farmers by occupation and remained on the home place until 1870.
Date of father's death, August, 1866. The mother died in 1838.
The subject of our sketch was the
ninth child in order of birth, and he remained at home until he was 21
years of age, working on the farm and gaining only limited education.
After leaving home he engaged with a brother in the coal business, but
after one year they dissolved partnership, and he has since carried on the
business alone. Up to 1862 he lived in Fulton County, then came to
the place he now owns, and has since been engaged in farming. cultivating
and improving his place. He values his land at $60 an acre.
Mr. Grim was married Feb 07, 1841,
to Miss Rebecca Berkshire, the daughter of Otho Berkshire. Before
his marriage he lived in Canton, Fulton County. He went up to see
his intended wife and staid all night. In the morning her father
told him to "leave -- that was all he asked of him." So he went home, and
in one week returned and stole her away. When he crossed Spoon River he
had to be ferried across; the water was nine feet deep, and the ferryman
said it was impossible to ford it. ?So, he went on, and when he got
within a hundred yards of Mr. Berkshire's house his sweetheart came to
meet him, got into the vehicle and they fled back toward the river.
When they got there he had forgotten about hiring the ferryman to ferry
them over, and so drove into the river. The water was nine feet deep
or more and running very swiftly. The team, however, swam
straight across, and just as they reached the bank the rear spring of the
buggy broke. In landing they got wet to the knees, and then had 18
miles to drive, and it was one of the coldest nights of the winter when
within four miles of their stopping place, they looked back and saw two
men coming on horseback to catch, as they supposed. At their entreated the
driver cracked his whip and the horses flew over the ground at their best
speed. It proved, however, that the men were not pursuing them,
being partied on their way home from a dance. The young couple
arrived safely at their destination, and at 10 o'clock in the morning were
married by Rev. Richard Haney, whose name has since become so famous in
connection with the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Their family comprised nine
children, five of whom survive, as follows: Lucinda, David, Annie, Anson,
and Edwin. Mrs. Grim departed this life August 09, 1881.
Lucinda, now Mrs. Abraham Suydam, has eight children, as follows: Arthur,
Della, Carrie, John, Emmie, Jerusha, Charles, and Maud. David married
Sarah Daniels, and to them have been born six children--Ida, Minnie,
Sadie, Ella, Emma, Fred, Annie, whose husband is Simeon Durham, has seven
children--Emma, Ella, John, Allie, Effie, Sadie and Sophia. Anson
married Julia Goff, and has four children--Marvy, Mary, Julia M. and
Jennie.
The second wife of David Grim was
Arvilla Wager, the daughter of Barney and Priscilla Crouch Wager.
The result of this union is one child--Rosanna M. Mr. Grim is a
republican in politics, holding some of the political offices of his
county; he has been pathmaster and School Director, and is interested in
educational matters. With his wife he is a member of the First
Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the most substantial and
practically good men in this vicinity.
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