Frederick Miller Grimes I Family

Frederick Miller Grimes I, came to Texas from Tennessee with his parents, George and Eurydicy Grimes, in early 1826 as a colonist in Austin's second colony. F.M. is on the List of Colonists, just below his parents and the other members of their family. At this time, F.M. was 22 and claimed land for himself.

In 1833 he fought with Capt Simms against the Hueco Indians and was actively involved in the Texas Revolution - Battle of Quintana (Oct 26, 1835); Siege of Bexar (Dec 7 1835); and under Capt R. McNutt and Gipson Kuykendall in the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21).

The following year he marries Elmira Susan FARLEY who had come to Texas with her parents, Henry and Nancy FARLEY, in 1831. Her father died before claiming his land, so this portion (Coryell Co) came to Elmira and her sister, Mary, who had remained in Mississippi.

F.M. and Elmira began their family in Austin County and then moved to Coryell Co in 1852 being among the first settlers near Fort Gates. Their children married and moved to various parts of Texas.

Two of their sons, Thomas and Henry, were tragically killed as young men, in Waco, Tx. in Oct 1869. They had just completed a cattle drive, and were celebrating the coming marriage of Thomas. After leaving the saloon, they rode around the square shooting their pistols into the air. The Reconstruction period Sheriff and Union soldier stationed there during Reconstruction pursued them as they rode up Austin Avenue, and the two were killed.

In their later years, F.M. (1882) and Elmira moved to Blooming Grove, Navarro County, to live near their sons, Sam and F.M. II. They are buried in White Church Cemetery, Blooming Grove, (Navarro Co.) Texas.