Family Reunions: The Grim Family

Family Reunions: The Grim Family

Source: Morton Montgomery, p. 316

Surnames: GRIM, GRIMM, STOVER

Grim. The Grim family of eastern Pennsylvania was founded by three
brothers, natives of Wurtemberg, Germany.
Gideon Grim, also known and named written as Gitti and Egidius Grimm,
was the first to emigrate, landing in
Pennsylvania in 1728. His brothers Henry and Jacob followed in 1730.

Gideon Grim located in Macungie township, Lehigh county, at a point
where Macungie and Weisenburg townships,
in Lehigh county, meet Maxatawny township in Berks county. Here he
owned 1,000 acres of land, which was
situated in the three townships mentioned. It is supposed that he sold
part of this land to his brothers, who reared
large families. Gideon Grim crossed the ocean on the same vessel in
which the noted pioneer minister of the
Lutheran Church, Rev. John Casper Stover, came to this country.

The Grim family is of patrician origin and long seated in Normandy. One
branch established itself in Alsace,
whence “Egidus Grimm” came because of religious persecution and as the
result of reading an English book
containing fabulous accounts of the New World. An interesting
circumstance attaches to this family from the fact
that an ancient pedigree, tracing the family back to a Norman baron who
lived in the days of William the Conqueror,
was brought by the emigrant to America.

The first Grim family reunion was held at Hancock, this county, in 1897,
at which time the connection numbered
over one thousand souls. The regular annual reunions in 1907 and in
1908 were held at Kutztown Park, both well
patronized. Prof. Geo. A. Grim, superintendent of schools in
Northampton county, Pa., delivered an historical
address at the last gathering. The organization has succeeded in
discovering a considerable number of records.
Miss Anna M. Grim, of Allentown, Pa., as secretary, deserves
commendation for her efforts in establishing a family
tree.

Most of the Grims in Berks county live in Maxatawny and Greenwich
townships and in Kutztown. Grimville, a
village in Greenwich township, perpetuates the family name. It contains
a store, hotel, tannery, church and school.
The village was founded by “Col.” Daniel Grim, locally known as “Der
Hellwedder Grim.” He was colonel of the
militia of his district.

The officers of the Grim reunion are:

President, J. Peter Grim, Allentown, Pa.

First Vice-President, A. S. Grim, Allentown, Pa.

Second Vice-President, A. B. Grim, Allentown, Pa.

Secretary, Anna M. Grim, Allentown, Pa.

Treasurer, C. R. Grim, Monterey, Pa.

Executive Committee, Stanley Grim, Oscar S. Grim, Dr. Charles E. Grim, William H. Grim, Charles A. Grim, Jacob L. Grim, Harry E. Grim, Walter J. Grim, William A. Grim