Edward D. Grimm

Ed Grimm, 76, Died Here Thursday-Life-long Resident, Well Known in Farm Circles

Edward Grimm 76-year-old early day farmer and feeder, passed away at the Blair Convalescent Home last Thursday, April 26th. He had been in failing health for many months and had been confined to the home since July, 1953.

He was born January 6, 1880 on a farm near Blair, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Grimm. He was the youngest of seven boys in the family and all but one have now passed away.

Years ago, the Grimm brothers were widely known for their far-flung farming and cattle feeding activities. They operated, what was then, huge areas of land and were the first to use big, power machinery to get over the ground quickly.

They bought and sold cattle by the trainload and feed by the carload and cut quite a swath in their chosen field.

Ed followed the farming and feeding business throughout his entire life. He never married.

He was popular with the men of the Blair Fire Department as well as other men’s organizations. In later years he made a number of gratuities to the Firemen, having furnished the money for the building of the stone-encased flower beds on the west side of the City Hall. He also bought and had planted the fine evergreens which grow in the City Hall parking.

At one time he presented the City Council with a rustic electric fixture for their meeting room. It bore a number of stuffed pheasants and other decorative pieces.

He was a member of the A.F. & A. M., the Shriners, Knight Templars and was a proud possessor of a 50-year Masonic pin.

He is survived by one brother, Dr. Arthur Grimm, of New York City, and by a sister, Mrs. Anna Petersen, of Blair. Six nephews (the rest of the newspaper clipping is missing)

Grimm, Ed

Published in Pilot Tribune on 3 May 1956

ED GRIMM DIES, AGE 76

LIFETIME BLAIRITE ONCE RAISED CATTLE; OWNED GAS COMPANY HERE

Ed Grimm, 76-year-old lifetime Blairite, died last Thursday night at the Blair Convalescent Home, where he had been confined during a lengthy illness.

The body was taken to the Bendorf Funeral Home, where funeral rites were held at 2 p.m. Sunday. Officiating was the Rev. Sam Elliston of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, and interment followed in Blair Cemetery.

Masons had charge of graveside rituals. Mr. Grimm, made a Master Mason in 1905, had received a 50-year membership jewel last year.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Grimm, Ed Grimm was born here Jan. 6, 1880, and attended the Blair schools. For years he was a prominent farmer and livestock man, residing on the family farm at the east edge of Blair, now the Ingvard Skobo farm.

He once owned the company which serviced Blair with manufactured gas before the advent of the present natural gas. When Blair first installed gas, it was the smallest city in the nation to be so served.

Mr. Grimm, never married, is survived by a brother, Dr. Arthur Grimm, a New York City dentist, and by a sister, Mrs. Karl A. Peterson (Anna) of Blair. There are a number of nephews and nieces.

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Society. Newspaper clipping on file at the Blair Public Library.