BIO: Reuben GRIMM, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ REUBEN GRIMM, a prosperous retired farm-er residing in Madisonburg, Centre county, is one of the leading citizens of that pleasant little town, and takes an active and helpful place in the life of the community, being especially interested in furthering the work of the Lutheran Church, of which he has been a leading member for many years. Mr. Grimm was born January 18, 1828, in West Beaver township, Union county, now a part of Snyder county. His father, Daniel Grimm, was born in 1795 in Berks county, Penn., and was the only son of a German settler there, who did not succeed well enough in this new land to give his sons a start in life. Accordingly, Daniel Grimm, seeing the necessity for making his own way, came as a young man to Union county, and began farming and lumbering, in which he made a notable success. He became the owner of two farms and a sawmill, the latter being his chief source of wealth. He married Miss Magdalena Smith, a native of Beaver township, Union county, born in 1795, and they had thirteen children, all of whom are now living: (1) Leah, widow of Edward Kinney, resides at Selinsgrove, Penn.; Levi, a resident of Marysville, Venango Co., Penn., enlisted from that locality during the Civil war, and lost a leg in the service; Daniel is a retired farmer at Orangeville, Stephenson Co., Ill.; Catherine married Joseph Shaffer, of Walker township, Centre county; Isaac, a bachelor, resides in Orangeville, Ill.; Susan, widow of John Walters, lives near Milesburg, Penn.; Reuben is mentioned more fully below; Mollie (Mrs. Weary) lives in Missouri; Mary, widow of Jacob Nestlerode, resides in Madison- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 355 burg; Christena married Lewis Pellman, of Hartleton, Penn.; Adam, a farmer of Cherokee county, Kans., was a soldier in Company A, 148th P. V. I., was taken prisoner and suffered much before released; Louisa married William B. Shaffer, of Walker township, Centre county; John, a farmer in Oklahoma Territory, was a soldier in Company A, 148th P. V. I. In 1840 our subject's father sold his property and removed to Brush Valley, where he purchased, from Jacob Reber, a farm of 150 acres adjoining Madisonburg. Seven wagons, each drawn by four horses, conveyed the family and household goods to their new home via Penn's Valley Narrow, and they arrived at Madisonburg, April 3, 1840. Daniel Grimm followed agriculture until 1856, when he rented the farm to our subject and retired to Madisonburg, building a home there for his declining years. He was a shrewd yet honest business man, no speculator, depending upon hard work and judicious management for his success. His education was entirely practical, but he acquired through observation a goodly fund of information on various subjects. Being opposed to slavery, he was among the first to join the Republican party, having previously been a Whig. At times he held office in the township, serving as school director and supervisor, and although not a politician he never missed a chance to vote. He was very fond of company, and made an annual visit to Snyder county, preferring to go always on foot. In the Lutheran Church, of which he and his wife were both members, his counsel was held in high esteem, and he was chosen to various offices, including those of deacon and elder. His wife died June 2, 1865, he passing away July 23, 1882, and the remains of both now rest at Madisonburg. Reuben Grimm, the subject proper of these lines, was twelve years old at the time of the removal to Centre county, and his education, which had been begun in the schools at the old home, was continued in Madisonburg, his first teacher there being William Yearick, who later became a clergyman. His opportunities did not compare with those which a more liberal and judicious policy has placed within the reach of the youth of to-day, and as a farmer's son much of his time was spent in work at home. At eighteen he began to learn the blacksmith's trade at Madisonburg under Edward Houtz, his wages for the first year being $2.00 per month, and for the second and third years, $3.00 per month. For a time after completing his trade he followed it in Zion, but in the spring of 1850 he went to Stephenson county, Ill., and worked at his trade and at farming for seven months. News came to him of the burning of his father's barn, and he returned home to help in rebuilding it. He spent three years and three months at his trade in Zion, working for a brother-in-law, Joseph Shaffer, and then assisted his father for a year at the old farm. On February 22, 1855, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Shaffer, who was born in Miles township, Centre county, July 3, 1835, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Bright) Shaffer. Mr. Grimm's savings at the time amounted to less than $400, but, renting the old homestead from his father, he began farming on his own behalf, and continued successfully for thirty-two years. In 1875 he purchased the farm, and still owns 124 acres of farm land in Brush Valley, with twenty-five acres of timber land in Sugar Valley. In 1888 he removed to Madisonburg, where he owns two lots, on one of which he built a new home, one of the best in the place. Since removing to town Mr. Grimm has for four years carried the mail between Madisonburg and Millheim, but has not undertaken any other business. Of his two sons, Lewis S. is a jeweler at Lebanon, Kans., and Charles L. is at home. Mr. Grimm's first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Winfield Scott; on the dissolution of the Whig party he became a Republican, and has since remained steadfast in that political faith. While never an office seeker, he has at times shown his keen interest in educational progress by serving as school director in his township. In the Lutheran Church he has held various positions, having been deacon for many years, and he is now an elder. He has always given liberally to the work of the society, and was one of the building committee when the new church at Madisonburg was built.