Peter Muckle Grimes

SOURCE: P. M. Grimes obituary, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 30 April 1896, page 1, column 7. (Transcribed by Candice Buchanan.)
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"P. M. Grimes, Esq., one of Greene county's well known and respected citizens, died at his home at White Cottage Sunday morning April 26, about seven o'clock. He was born Oct. 16, 1823, in Franklin township, this county, being a son of William and Margaret Muckle Grimes. He had resided in Jackson township for fifty years and for the past forty-one years had been a merchant and postmaster at White Cottage. At the time of his death he was filling the office of Justice of the Peace for the ninth term, at the expiration of which he would have been in the office during a period of 45 years. He was a man genial in disposition and of cool, deliberate judgment and his advice was frequently sought by neighbors and acquaintances. He was straightforward, plain and honest in all of his dealings and accumulated a large amount of wealth, being the owner of about 800 acres of land. In politics he was a firm Republican and he was influential in his party. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ridgeway [sic Maria] and their children were: William, Allison, George, David, James, A. L., Mrs. Margaret Milliken (deceased) and Mrs. Jane Scott, wife of Perry Scott. In his death the community loses a good citizen, who will be missed by all."

PETER MARTIN GRIMES (From the traditional family name of Graham) Born October 16, 1823 Died April 26, 1896

Biographical sketch written in 2006 by Judge H. Terry Grimes, great-great-grandson of Peter Martin Grimes.

Peter was born on the George Graham homestead northeast of Waynesburg on October 16, 1823, to William Graham and Margaret Muckle Graham. On November 25, 1841, at the age of 18, he married Maria Ridgway who was born October 3, 1820, near the Independent School House in Franklin Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, to David Ridgway and Lydia Callehan Ridgway. They began housekeeping and farming on his father and grandfather's farm until purchasing a farm in Center Township, Greene County. In 1851, he purchased their permanent farm in Jackson Township, Greene County, later known as White Cottage at the foot of "Grimes Hill". They developed the farm into the finest homestead in that part of the county, consisting of 500 acres of cleared, fenced, cultivated land with a two story log, clapboard sided mansion house, store, warehouse, scales, barns, and other outbuildings, all kept white and in perfect repair, earning the name of White Cottage.

He was a large man, six foot in height, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. In 1853, he was appointed postmaster on the mail route between Waynesburg and Middlebourne, West Virginia, integrating the post office into his general store. In 1855, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Jackson Township and held court in the store building, which for 30 years was the only general store for miles around. He continued as storekeeper, postmaster, and Justice of the Peace until his death more than 40 years later. His big storeroom was the political, municipal and social center of Jackson Township. In politics, he was raised a Democrat until corruption in Greene County politics, which included the Democratic Sheriff of the County, caused him to become an ardent Republican. Although Jackson Township was strongly Democratic, having about a three to one majority, he continued to be elected Justice of the Peace for 40 years. Although never a soldier, he always looked after the pension vouchers and applications of the veterans, and although not a church member, he stood for law and order and decency, therefore having the political support of the veterans and his church friends. Almost all cases that came before him were disposed of to the satisfaction of the parties. As a result, he returned very few informations to the county court, and appeals were seldom taken from his judgments. Due to his reputation for fairness, he often heard cases that originated in adjoining townships and even from West Virginia. Although these cases would have been out of his jurisdiction, all had implicit confidence in his integrity as well as his sound judgment. In addition to his courtroom duties, he also performed wedding ceremonies for many of his constituents, and in addition, was the community dentist who pulled teeth for all who could stand the ordeal. Additionally, he was counselor to his neighbors and constituency in agricultural matters, acted as their banker, invested their money, kept their valuables in his big safe, wrote their wills, deeds, and agreements, looked after families when the head of the household would die, and advised in the settlement of their estates.

He had three sons who lived nearby to whom he sold farms on strictly a business basis, and made frequent trips of inspection confining his attention to work that had been done on the farm or things that he thought should have been done. Although he did not learn to read and write until after his marriage, being taught by his beloved wife, Maria, he became an inveterate reader and student of public affairs. His outstanding memory never failed to serve him once he learned something. He frequently traveled to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston in his younger days to purchase the newest items available for his store and to visit the cultural centers while on these business trips. He embodied the virtues and defects, the characteristics and peculiarities, of the family. He was frank, honest and dependable. He had a bluff, almost rough manner, but behind it was concealed a tender sympathetic heart. He hated subterfuge and trickery and scorned those who preyed on the weaknesses of others. He had a very strong sense of justice and fair play and had the supreme qualities of good judgment and common sense. He was a dominating leader and wielded a tremendous influence on the lives of the people who came in contact with him. The industry and simplicity of his life, the good sense and honesty of his counsel, the vigor and thoroughness with which he attacked the wrong and fought for the right made him the first citizen of his extended community.

He and Maria were the parents of ten children: Elizabeth Anne, born September 26, 1842; Margaret Maria, born December 1, 1844; William Thomas, born July 13, 1847; Mary Jane, born September 10, 1849; John R., born August 25, 1852; David Porter, born March 5, 1855; Harvey Allison, born May 9, 1857; George Washington, born June 8, 1859; James Madison, born February 19, 1862; and Abraham Lincoln, born September 29, 1865. Peter died on Sunday, April 26, 1896, and is buried in the Valley Chapel Cemetery. Maria was a charter member of the Valley Chapel Methodist Church and was a devoted wife, loving mother, charitable neighbor, unselfish friend, and a faithful Christian. She died March 20, 1912, while visiting at the home of her son, Harvey Allison, in Waynesburg. Maria is buried beside her husband in the Valley Chapel Cemetery.