William T. Grimmett, postmaster of Palmyra, Macoupin
County, and a highly respected citizen of the town, was born in 1856 in
Palmyra township, and belongs to one of the old and honorable families of
the county. His parents were John C. and Martha (Huson) Grimmett.
The grandfather of our subject spent his whole life in Eastern Tennessee,
where John C. Grimmett was born in 1825. There he married Martha Huson, and
in 1850 they came to Illinois, locating on his present farm in section 36,
North Palmyra township, where he lived until he entered the army in 1862. He
enlisted in Company E, 122d Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., and saw hard service,
participating in these battles: Parker Cross Roads; Town Creek, Alabama;
Tupelo, Mississippi; Nashville, Tennessee; Mobile, Alabama; and Paducah,
Kentucky. At the battle of Parker Cross Roads, he was wounded in the right
shoulder, but he never left his place in the ranks on this account, merely
transferring his gun to his left arm, until the wound healed. His next
wound, received at Paducah, Kentucky, was again in the right arm and was of
too serious a nature for him to endure with his former Spartan fortitude, as
it disabled him for two months. This brave soldier was finally mustered out
at Mobile, Alabama, in 1865 and received his honorable discharge at
Springfield, Illinois. He was twice married, his second wife being Elizabeth
Lair, who is also deceased. Six children were born to his first union (of
whom our subject is the youngest) and three to his second.
William
T. Grimmett obtained his education in the schools of North Palmyra township,
and worked on his father's farm until he was of age. In 1877 he married
Tabitha Doss, a daughter of Thomas and Kitty (Cherry) Doss. At death these
parents left a large estate and Mr. Grimmett bought the interests of the
heirs, and resided on the old Doss farm for 19 years. In 1891 Mrs. Grimmett
died, the mother of six children, viz: Ralph Thornton, who died in infancy;
Thomas Truman, who died aged 18 months; Mary, who died aged three years;
Homer Burnet, who died in his 19th year; Eva Catherine, living at home; and
Florence Irene, who assists her father in the post office. The death of
Homer Burnet Grimmett brought grief to a wide circle of friends. In August,
1898, he followed the example set him by his grandfather, and enlisted for
service during the Spanish-American War. The unaccustomed conditions of
living with which he had to contend, broke down his health while the troops
were encamped at Chattanooga, on their way to the coast, and he soon
succumbed. His father hastened to his succor, but found the youth too ill to
move, and when he returned to Palmyra, it was with his son's lifeless body,
which was laid to rest by the side of his mother. Thus was a bright,
promising career cut short.
Mr. Grimmett's second marriage was
contracted with Clara Deopheid, who is a daughter of Ernest and Rachel
Deopheid, the former of whom is a well known mechanic and an owner of real
estate in Palmyra. They have one son, Minton Randolph, who was born
September 12, 1901.
Mr. Grimmett has been a lifelong Republican and
has taken a lively interest in public matters and in political affairs. He
was appointed postmaster of Palmyra on June 1, 1898, a position he still
holds to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He is a member of the
Christian Church, a religious body with which he has been connected ever
since his 19th year.
Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 234-235.
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