Armstrong Grim was born Mar. 10, 1810 and died October 21, 1881 [tombstone inscription] in Greene County, PA. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery in Wind Ridge, across from the Presbyterian Church. Armstrong was married to Mary Ann Scott, daughter of John Scott and Susannah Nyswanger, and after Mary's death in 1857, to Matilda S. Lincoln, in 1870. Armstrong was a farmer. In 1845 he, along with John Scott, were administrators of Adam Grim's estate.
The big question about Armstrong is: who were Armstrong's parents? There have been two thoughts on this point. One said that Armstrong was the son of Adam Grim and Hannah Syphers. The other said that he was the son of Charles Grim and Alcinda Armstrong. Armstrong's obituary in the Waynesburg Republican, Nov. 2, 1881 does not mention his parents. Neither does his will, which isn't surprising.
In the past, this page has presented arguments for both side. I tended to side with the Adam Grim theory. Now, after careful analysis of census records, I feel that we can say that Armstrong was indeed the son of Adam Grim.
1810 Census, Greene Co., PA, p. 41, line 2
Grim, Adam
3 males under 10 (these would be Christian, Armstrong, and another, unknown son)
1 male 16-26 (Adam)
1 female under 10 (unknown daughter)
1 female 16-26 (Hannah)
1820 Census, Greene Co., PA, p. 328
Grim, Adam
2 males under 10 (Levi, another unknown son)
2 males 10-15 (Christian, Armstrong)
1 male 26 to 45 (Adam)
1 female under 10 (Malissa)
1 female 16-25 (Hannah)
1 person engaged in agriculture
1830 Census, Aleppo Twp., Greene Co., PA, p. 391
Grim, Adam
1 male 5-10 (Harvey or Thomas)
1 male 10-15 (Levi or Harvey)
1 male 20-30 (Armstrong)
1 male 40-50 (Adam)
1 female under 5 (unknown)
1 female 40-50 (Hannah)
1810 Census, Franklin Twp., Greene Co., PA, p. 20
Grim, Charles
3 males under 10 (Joseph, 6, 2 unknown)
1 male 26-44 (Charles, 33)
1 female under 10 (Mary Magdalene)
1 female 26-44 (Alcinda, 34)
1820 Census, Aleppo Twp., Greene Co., PA, p. 328
Grim, Charles
2 males under 10 (Thomas, 7, possibly Charles)
2 males 10-16 (?)
1 male 16-18 (?)
1 male 16-26 (Joseph, 16)
1 male 26-45 (Charles, 43)
2 females under 10 (Mary Magdalene , 10/11, ?)
1 female 16-26 (?)
1 female 26-45 (Alcinda, 44)
1 person in agriculture
By 1834 Armstrong was married, and his first child was born. While he theoretically could have been one of the 2 males 10-16 living with Charles in the 1820 census, in reality it could not have been him.
In all of the discussion about wills, census records and parentage, the birthdates of Charles' children was overlooked. His daughter, Mary Magdalene, was born Aug. 26, 1809. Armstrong was born Mar. 10, 1810, only six and a half months later. Obviously that would make it very unlikely that Armstrong was the son of Charles.