William C. Grimes

Infobox Governor
name= William C. Grimes


imagesize= 200px
caption=
order= Acting
office= Governor of Oklahoma Territory
term_start= November 30, 1901
term_end= December 9, 1901
nominator=
predecessor= William Miller Jenkins
successor= Thompson Benton Ferguson
birth_date= November 6, 1857
birth_place= New Lexington, Ohio
death_date= death date and age |1931|04|08|1857|11|06
death_place= Santa Monica, California
spouse=
alma_mater=
profession= Businessman, Politician
party= Republican
religion=

William C. Grimes (November 6, 1857ndash April 8, 1931) was an American politician and businessman who had a major influence on Oklahoma politics. He most notably served as Acting Governor of Oklahoma Territory from November 30, 1901, to December 9, 1901. [cite web |url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~okbits/governors.html |title=Governors Of Oklahoma |accessdate=2008-08-01 |publisher=Rootsweb] For many years, he served as chair of the Territorial Republican Committee. He also served as territorial delegate to the Republican National Committee.cite web |url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/G/GR032.html |title=GRIMES, WILLIAM C. (1857-1931) |accessdate=2008-08-01 |publisher=Oklahoma State University]

Early life

Grimes was born near New Lexington, Ohio on November 6, 1857.cite web |url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/grimes.html |title=Index to Politicians: Grimes |accessdate=2008-08-01 |publisher=The Political Graveyard] At the age of twenty, he moved to Nebraska where he became a newspaperman and later sheriff of Johnson County. He traveled south to participate in the Land Run of 1889 into the Unassigned Lands. He claimed land near Kingfisher, Oklahoma and established a farm. He went into real estate, enlarged his farm, built business blocks and residential areas in town, and helped to establish Kingfisher College (active from 1895-1922). He also became active in Republican politics.

Political career

Grimes was appointed U.S. marshal for Oklahoma Territory in 1890. During his career as marshal, which lasted until 1893, he established a sound mechanism for the enforcement of federal law.

Grimes was turned out of office by the administration of U.S. President Grover Cleveland. He continued to work in business and farming in Kingfisher. After the Republicans returned to national office, he was reinstalled in federal service. On May 12, 1901, he became territorial secretary under Governor of Oklahoma Territory William Miller Jenkins.

In 1901, William M. Jenkins was not reappointed Governor of Oklahoma Territory due to a major scandal over a state contract. Grimes became Acting Governor of Oklahoma Territory from November 30, 1901, to December 9, 1901. Although Grimes was accused of involvement in the suspect transaction, he continued to serve in the administration of Thompson Benton Ferguson until January 1906.

Later years

After serving in the Ferguson's administration, Grimes moved to Oregon and later to California. He died in Santa Monica, California on April 8, 1931.

References