George M. Grimes.—The farm and stock interests of Clark county have a prominent representative in Mr. Grimes, one of the most practical and experienced cattlemen of that section of Kansas, whose success is remarkable, from the fact that he started without capital and all that he has acquired is the result of his industry and ability. In 1882, when a young man, he went from his Missouri home to Oregon and returned the same year, on horseback, driving cattle to Leavenworth, Kan., as a cowboy for Lang & Ryan, stockmen. He was one of twelve who made that trip with 2,300 cattle, covering a distance of 1,100 miles In 153 days. In 1883 he went to Texas and, with his party, drove 3,000 cattle north to Clark county, Kansas. Of this number, 100 were young cattle he had bought on his own account. He continued to work on the range as a cow-boy and herd-driver until 1886, when he went into the mercantile business at Cash City, Kan. He was appointed postmaster of Cash City, in 1887, to succeed Lafayette Merritt, the writer of this sketch, who published a newspaper at that point at a time when the town consisted of two houses. In the meantime Mr. Grimes was giving attention to the cattle business. He also bought land from time to time until he had acquired about 4,000 acres for his cattle ranch, and now is one of the most extensive and successful stockmen of Clark county.

Mr. Grimes was born Feb. 3, 1854, on a farm in Madison county, Kentucky, a son of Joel E. and Sarah A. (Ballew) Grimes. The father was born in the same county and state in 1830. He was a farmer. The nether also was a native of Kentucky, where she was born in 1828. They were married in 1850 and removed to Platt county, Missouri, in 1856; thence to Clay county, Missouri, in 1858. There they lived on a farm until the father's death, in 1879. He was a member of the Christian church. The mother died March 5, 1910, at Coffeyville, Kan. To these parents were born eight children—four sons and four daughters—Lewis W., born Aug. 31, 1851, resides at Holden, Mo.; George M. Grimes is the second in order of birth; Elizabeth V., born May 2, 1856, is the wife of A. F. Smith, a college professor at Kansas City, Mo.; Nannie K., born April 4, 1858, is the wife of B. F. Cole, a fruit grower in Texas; James O., born Aug. 8, 1860, resides at Coffeyville, Kan.; Carrie, born May 8, 1862, was a music teacher and died in October, 1882; Joel E., Jr., born in 1864, is a merchant at St. Louis, Mo.; and Sarah, born in 1866, married Clarence Rush in 1885 and died at Coffeyville, Kan., in September, 1909, survived by her husband and three children.

George M. Grimes was reared to manhood in Clay county, Missouri, and received his education in the public schools of that county. He assisted his father with the duties of the home farm until 1882, the year of his coming to Kansas. He was married to Miss Effie L. Cummins, Feb. 28, 1889, in a sod-house in Clark county. Mrs. Grimes, born Dec. 6, 1868, is a daughter of William and Margaret (Stubbs) Cummins, natives of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have five children Sidney E., born Dec. 14, 1889, at Cash City, was educated in the Ashland high school and at a business college at Salina, Kan, and is now assistant cashier of the Citizens' State Bank of Ashland; Lena, born July 24, 1892, died May 14, 1899; William Bryan, born Dec. 14, 1898,; James Lewis, born July 25, 1901; and Margaret L., born Nov. 30, 1906.

Mr. Grimes is a Democrat in politics. While he has never sought office, his upright citizenship caused him to be selected sheriff of Clark county, in which capacity he served six years. He served as a member of the board of county commissioners in 1890, and withal he is recognized as one of the most progressive and substantial citizens of Clark county.