BIO: William S. GRIM, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 237-238. _________________________________________________________________ DR. WILLIAM S. GRIM, a leading practitioner of Beaver Falls, Pa., is a pleasant, companionable gentleman, with a liking for company, and a genial manner that wins him large numbers of friends. Dr. Grim has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine ever since his graduation from the medical department of the Western University of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburg, in 1888, when he located immediately in Beaver Falls. He makes a specialty of diseases of the nose, throat, ear, and chest. He was first assistant surgeon of the 10th Reg. of Pennsylvania Militia for a period of six years. He is a member of the Beaver County Medical Society and also of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. He acted as delegate from the latter to the State Medical Society of New Jersey in 1889. He is also a member of the Pittsburg Obstetrical Society. Politically, the Doctor is an ardent Democrat, but has never sought nor held office, being too busily occupied with his professional duties. The subject of this article is a son of Dr. William and Lucinda (Spangler) Grim, and was born August 26, 1864, in Rockville, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He received an excellent scholastic training in the common schools of Beaver Falls, which was supplemented by a course at Piersoll's Academy at Bridgewater, and a finishing course at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. He received the degree of B. S. in 1885, and the degree of M. S. in 1889. For his future life work he elected to become a physician, like his honored father. With him, he began the study of medicine in 1885; after studying diligently for some time he attended the Western University of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburg, graduating in 1888, as previously mentioned. His energy, determination, and skill have won for him a high reputation as a physician, and have secured for him an extensive field of practice, besides having fairly given him a place among the leading practitioners of his profession. Dr. Grim is a past master of Beaver Falls Lodge, No. 478, F. & A. M., and is also a member of Harmony Chapter; a member of Valley Echo Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Lone Rock Lodge, K. of P.; and Schuyler Grove, No. 8, United Ancient Order of Druids. Louis Philip Grim, the great-grandfather of the subject hereof, was a native of Germany, and, on coming to the United States, settled in York county, Pa., at an early date. His son, Michael Grim, was the grandfather of William S. and was born in York county, 238 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES Pa., - settling in Beaver county, about the beginning of the present century. He located near Unionville, where he followed agricultural pursuits, and spent the remainder of his life. He rendered valuable services to our country during the War of 1812, being under the command of Captain Henry, in the battle of Lake Erie, under Commodore Perry. William H. Grim, father of William S., was born in Beaver county, Pa., about 1833. He was a pupil in the common schools, and at Beaver Academy. He then read medicine with Dr. W. W. Simpson, of Rochester, Pa., after which he entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he graduated. After practicing a few years in Lawrence county, and at Rockwell, Dauphin county, he took a special course at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, graduating therefrom in 1869. He then went to Beaver Falls, where he practiced until his death, April 29, 1897. He was a member of the Beaver County Medical Society, and the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. He made a specialty of surgery, and when in active practice, was considered by many to be the leading surgeon in Beaver county. He was a Democrat in his party affiliations, took an active part in politics, and was vice-president of the State Democratic league. He took a deep interest in the educational institutions of his county, and served as a school director for (perhaps) twenty years. He was appointed postmaster under the administration of Benjamin Harrison, and served faithfully in that official capacity. In the Episcopalian church, he was recognized as one of the prominent members, and had a record for piety of the most earnest character. He was twice married. His first wife was Lucinda Spangler, mother of the subject of this biography. She was a native of Lebanon county, and was a daughter of Levi Spangler. Some time after the death of his first wife, Dr. William H. Grim remarried, his union in this instance being with Amelia Ann Robinson, a daughter of Hon. Archie Robinson, who was state senator of the Beaver-Lawrence district in the early days. Dr. William H. Grim was a very prominent man in the Masonic fraternity. He was past master of the Beaver Valley Lodge, No. 478; a member of Harmony Chapter; Pittsburg Commandery; and of Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Levi Spangler, maternal grandfather of the subject hereof, was an extensive coal operator at Tremont, Pennsylvania. His grandfather settled in Philadelphia in 1737, in what is now known as the First Ward, but later in life went to what is now Myerstown, in Lebanon county. There he built a stone house which was called "Stone Fort." In this the people of that vicinity took refuge at times to protect themselves against the Indians. Levi Spangler and his brother Christian, were engaged many years in coal operating at Tremont, Pennsylvania. Christian Spangler was a prominent man of his day. He was one of the thirteen original directors of the Pennsylvania R. R. Company, and continued to be an officer of that road up to the time of his death, being the last of the thirteen to die.