DOD: Letters of testamentary/probate records for Cyrus S. Grimes
Death date from wife's obituary, with children listed. Cyrus's birth year was found in the 1850 census, Rockville Twp., Will Co., Illinois enumerated Nov 18, 1850. Cyrus was a farmer with real estate valued at 800 dollars, with his wife and two children./cof
***Farm labourer listed in the family in 1850, is Patrick Burke, 22 years old, born in Ireland. Only middle initial found, but assumed to be for Steel, as that is what he called his son.

Cyrus was born on July 4, 1818. This is the American Independance Day, a celebration which Cyrus's father, uncles and grandfather served in the American Revolution for. To have a son born on that day, must have made it a very special occasion in the Grimes family.
In 1842, Charles and Cyrus bought land in a mining town called Herman, for $140.00. Two years later in March of 1844, Cyrus sold his share of the land to his brother Charles for the seventy dollars that represented his share. Charles in turn, sold this fifty-six acre piece for $330.80, in August of 1844.
At this time, Cyrus and Harriet were on their way by wagon, to their new home in Illinois. Charles followed his brother to Kankakee County.
October 6, 1844, Cyrus purchased two parcels of land in McHenry Co. IL. He paid $1.25 for eighty acres, in two parcels. One parcel was in section 23, Twp. 46N/ Meridan 3/ Range 06E/ section part SENE. recorded in Vol. 684,pg. 128. and the second parcel was section 24, twp. 46N/meridian 3/section part SENW range 06E/ recorded in Archive Vol. 684 pg. 128. This information was found on the landsales of Illinois, on the internet. They didn't remain long on this land, as the Kankakee history states they went to Kankakee Co. in the early settlement days.

1880 Census, page 1, Rockville Township, Kankankee Co. Cyrus and Harriet were listed with three children, Charles, 22, Ella, 25, and Frank, 19, all these children having been born in Illinois. His parents birth place was listed as New York, as well. His occupation was listed as a farmer. Also listed was a young man, Charles Marr, thirteen years old, born in New York, (as were his parents). Charles was listed as a servant in the Grimes household. He was one of the adopted children mentioned in Harriet's obituary. Charles was provided for and inherited from Cyrus's estate. He had been living with the family, since May 16, 1879, when Cyrus, saw him at the train station, brought on an orphan train. He brought John Charles Marr home to live with the family.

*Folklore & History: Cyrus raised sheep in the early pioneer days. There were no fences and they roamed the prairie. When newcomers with cattle interest clashed the the sheep raisers, a bitter feud resulted. Cyrus apparently suffered from gangs, killing his sheep and his dogs.
One day his sheperd ran into the house, escaping through the back bedroom window into the woods on the creek. The old man was never seen again, but a few years later a shallow grave was discovered containing a skeleton. That ended the feud. they put in the hedge fences for dividing lines and the prairies north of Rock Creek woods were no longer free to be grazed at will.
Here was a man, who was a brave pioneer, a shepherd, and gathered and loved orphan children. He was referred to in the district as "Uncle Cyrus". What a wonderful legacy to leave....
Cyrus died on Sept. 12, 1889, at the age of seventy-one.

Death: In the Kankakee Gazette, Thurs. Sept. 19, 1889,pg. 8, col 5. we find the obituary of "Uncle" Cyrus S. Grimes. It states he was born on July 4, 1818 in Jefferson Co. NY, and came to Lake Co. IL in 1845. They remained there four years before coming to Rockville, where they lived for forty years. Internment in Bloom Cemetery. The obituary is written by C.B. Allen. Cyrus was 71, years,
2 months and 8 days old.

A copy of Cyrus's will was obtained from the Kankakee Historical Society

• Married: 27 Mar 1844 in Gouverneur, St. Lawrence, New York

1. Ruth Salina Grimes b: 30 Dec 1844 in Gouvenour, St. Lawrence, New York
2. George Cyrus Grimes b: 11 Dec 1849 in Rockville, Kankakee, Illinois
3. William Grimes b: 1851 in Rockville, Kankakee, Illinois
4. Althea Grimes b: 6 Dec 1853 in Rockville Twp., Rockville,Illinois
5. Ella Grimes b: 1855 in , , Illinois
6. Charles Erie Grimes b: 10 Nov 1857 in Manito, Mason, Illinois
7. Frank Grimes b: 21 Aug 1859 in Rockville, Kankakee, Illinois

1. Repository:
   Name: Family History Library
   Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 USA
   
   Title: 1880 United States Census
   Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
   Publication: Copyright (c) 2000, 2002 FamilySearch (TM) Internet Genealogy Service, July 23, 2005
   Page: FHL Film 1254219; National Archives Film T9-0219; Page 47A
2. Repository:
   Name: Family History Library
   Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 USA
   
   Title: 1880 United States Census
   Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
   Publication: Copyright (c) 2000, 2002 FamilySearch (TM) Internet Genealogy Service, July 23, 2005
   Page: FHL Film 1254219; National Archives Film T9-0219; Page 47A
   Text: Extract: 1880 United States Census
   Census Place: Rockville, Kankakee, Illinois
   Source: FHL Film 1254219; National Archives Film T9-0219; Page 47A
   Household:
   Rel Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
   Cyrus GRIMES
   Self Male M W 61 NY
   Occ: Farmer Fa: NY Mo: NY
   Harriet GRIMES
   Wife Female M W 54 NY
   Occ: Keeping House Fa: NY Mo: NY
   Charles GRIMES
   Son Male S W 22 IL
   Occ: Farmer Fa: NY Mo: NY
   Ella GRIMES
   Dau Female S W 25 IL
   Occ: Teaching School Fa: NY Mo: NY
   Frank GRIMES
   Son Male S W 19 IL
   Occ: Farmer Fa: NY Mo: NY
   Charles MARR
   Other Male S W 13 NY
   Occ: Servant Fa: NY Mo: NY