Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/473

 Colonel Grimsley's Proposed Expedition 441 He has filled all of the stations, from an orderly to divi- sion inspector; in 1832 he raised a volunteer company and tendered their services to the Governor of Illinois during the Black Hawk war, and in 1836 received from General Jackson a captain's commission in the dragoons of the United States army. He declined this honor as it was in time of peace, and wisely stuck to his business pursuits. He has now been engaged thirty-seven years in his only pursuit, and does now a business of three hun- dred thousand dollars per annum. In 1846, in less than twenty days he enrolled a regi- ment of eight hundred men for the Mexican war, but being politically opposed to the Governor of Missouri, he was refused a commission and another appointed in his stead. Colonel Grimsley has been the father of ten children, four of whom are now living and happily and prosper- ously settled in life. He has now amassed a competent fortune, and in the autumn of life is enjoying the fruits with which industry ever rewards the managing and per- severing. — (Edward's Great West, p. 106.) Thornton Grimsley, pioneer merchant and manufac- turer, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, August 20, 1798, and died in St. Louis, December 22, 1861. When he was ten years old he was apprenticed to the saddler's trade, and in 1816, at the end of a long term of service, he was sent to St. Louis in charge of a stock of saddlery goods. In 1822 he opened a store of his own in this city and afterwards became famous in the saddlery trade. He invented and patented the military or dragoon saddle, which was universally approved by the officers of the United States army, and did more work for the govern- ment at his manufactory than was done at that time at any other factory in the country. Although he had only limited educational advantages in his youth, he became a