My Genealogy Hound

Luther A. Grimes, one of the leading general merchants of Benton, and a prominent citizen of Saline County, was born in Maury County, Tenn., in 1839, and is a son of James M. and Cynthia (Lusk) Grimes, natives of the same county and State, where the father resided all his life, and died in 1876. The mother is still living. The elder Grimes was a very successful farmer during his life, and an influential citizen of Maury County. His father was Alex. Grimes, of North Carolina, who moved to Maury County, Tenn., at an early period and resided there until his death. His father’s name was Hank Grimes, who was one of the pioneers of North Carolina. The Grimes family are of Scotch-Irish origin, as were also the family on the mother’s side. The maternal grandfather was a native of North Carolina, but one of the early settlers of Maury County, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-five years, and was at that time a survivor of one of the early wars. Luther A. was the third child of four sons and seven daughters born to his parents, and received a good English education at Hampshire Academy near his birthplace. On the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company A, First Tennessee Mounted Infantry, with the rank of sergeant, and took part in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Spring Hill, Chickamauga, Atlanta, and a number of sharp skirmishes. He was at one time severely wounded, but happily recovered, and again engaged in some hard fighting before the close of the war. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Sarah Moore, who died in Texas in 1878. Two children were born to this marriage, of whom one is still living. His second marriage occurred, in 1881, to Miss Margaret Lett, by whom he has had three children, all of them having been educated in the best schools in Central Arkansas. Mr. Grimes’ occupation was farming up to 1886, when he came to Benton and, in partnership with a Mr. Lett, established the firm of Lett & Grimes. The firm remained under this heading until Mr. Lett’s death in 1888, and since then Mr. Grimes has carried it on alone. He deals in general merchandise and keeps a stock of goods valued at $1,200, and has built up a fine patronage by his legitimate methods of doing business. In politics he is a Democrat, and a stanch supporter of that party, and in religious belief he and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and take a deep interest in aiding all religious and educational enterprises. Mr. Grimes’ present prosperity has been achieved by his own individual effort and untiring energy. In business circles his word is his bond, and he is one of the most popular citizens in Saline County.