Grimes, J. Bryan (John Bryan), 1868-1923

John Bryan Grimes, the second of nine children born to Major General Bryan Grimes and Charlotte Emily Bryan, grew up on the family plantation, Grimesland, in Pitt County. He began his education at several North Carolina private schools, including Trinity School at Chocowinity. Grimes studied at the University of North Carolina (1882-1885) before completing his education at Bryant and Stratton Business College in Baltimore. An active farmer, he served as president of the North Carolina Tobacco Growers Association and in 1899 was appointed to the North Carolina Board of Agriculture. He held the position of North Carolina Secretary of State from 1901 until his death in 1923. During this time, Grimes expressed an active interest in North Carolina history as a member of the North Carolina Historical Commission and in other ways. He served on the board of trustees of The University of North Carolina and on the board's executive committee. Other memberships included the executive committee of the North Carolina Council of Defense, Scottish Society of America (president, 1918–19), Masons, Knights of Pythias, and Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He was a Democrat and an Episcopalian.

In 1894 Grimes married Mary Octavia Laughinghouse, daughter of Joseph John and Eliza O'Hagan Laughinghouse, who lived on an adjoining plantation, Oakland. Mary Octavia (May) Grimes died on December 2, 1899, leaving her husband with one daughter, Helen Elise. Grimes married Elizabeth Laughinghouse, May's sister, on February 3, 1904. For additional information, see sketch of J. Bryan Grimes in Ashe's Biographical History of North Carolina, VI, [262]-266 and in Powell's Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, II, 376.