Henry Grimes

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Henry Grimes

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

At no time or place do we find a large enterprise, carefully managed, running smoothly year after year, furnishing employment to numbers of men and proving a benefit alike to employer and employee, without finding behind it a man of great executive ability. Such a one is the subject of this sketch, Henry GRIMES, of Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey.

His great-grandfather, Jonathan Casper GRIMES, was born in Halseytown, Morris county, New Jersey, 1773, died 1845, having spent his entire life near Parsippany, where he was a farmer and blacksmith. He married Hulda LEONARD, of Pine Brook, and had children:

John, who became a physician;
Jerusha, married Samuel MARSHALL;
Henry;
James B.;
Mary A., married Frederick STONE;
Stephen.

Henry GRIMES, grandfather of the Henry GRIMES of this review, was born in Hanover township, Morris county, New Jersey, March 4, 1807, died 1884. He was a farmer and undertaker, served his township as a justice of the peace, and was a strong Republican. He married Anna E., daughter of Michael RIGHTER, and had children:

Eliza A., married S. H. MACKEY, of New York City;
Josiah Q., died while in active service during the Civil War;
Jonathan C., died in 1892;
William H., of further mention;
Jesse, died in childhood.

William H. GRIMES was born in Morris county, New Jersey, September 20, 1849. Ha attended the public schools of Parsippany and the high school of Boonton. He learned the carpenter’s trade under Charles F. OGDEN, of Troy Hills, and very shortly after the completion of his apprenticeship established himself in business as a contractor, and later became associated with Mr. HOPLER, the firm doing business under the stlye of Hopler & Grimes. In 1911 there was another change in the firm, his son Henry having become associated with Mr. GRIMES, and from that time up to the present all business has been transacted under the firm name of GRIMES & Son. Acting in the interests of the Republican party, Mr. GRIMES has taken an active part in public affairs. He was elected to the office of freeholder for a number of years, and served on important committees during the various terms of his office. Mr. GRIMES married, May 30, 1877, Margaret, daughter of James and Mary Ann (PIERSON) VAN NESS, and they have children:

Henry, whose name heads this sketch;
Allen K.;
Norman V.

Henry GRIMES was born on the GRIMES homestead in Hanover township, Morris county, New Jersey, 1883. The public schools of his native township furnished him with the advantages of an excellent education, and upon the completion of this he served his apprenticeship to the carpenter’s trade. This he learned under the personal supervision of his father, and made an exhaustive study of every detail. For a time he then worked in the business of Hopler & Grimes, and about 1911 became a member of the firm as above mentioned. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and a staunch supporter of the principals of the Republican party. He has served as a delegate to the county convention. He is a citizen of public spirit, a man of sterling purpose and indefatigable energy in business and an advocate of the best intellectual progress. In the general contracting and building work executed by the firm of which he is a member, much has been done to develop and improve the town. In every walk of life Mr. GRIMES has shown himself worthy of the confidence placed in him by his fellow citizens. Mr. GRIMES married Gertrude DENNIS. They have no children.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).