Tyler County Register of Births, Book 1, 1853-1884, p. 19, line 27 (1857)
May 21, Alva C. Grim, Tyler Co.
Father: Jesse Grim, farmer
Mother: Mary Grim
Reported by Levi Grim, grandfather

1900 Census, Washington Dist., Pleasants Co., WV, p. 175
87/88 Grimm, Alva S., head, b. Aug. 1857, 42, m. 14 yrs., b. WV, parents b. PA, physician
Melcena J., wife, b. Jan. 1860, 40, m. 14 yrs., 6 children/4 survive, b. WV, parents b. WV
Claude E., son, b. Dec. 1886, 13, b. WV, at school
Bruce F., son, b. June 1888, 11, b. WV, at school
Homer W., son, b. Nov. 1891, 8, b. WV, at school
Nellie M., dau., b. Sep. 1893, 6, b. WV, at school

1920 Census, St. Marys, Washington Dist., Pleasants Co., WV, p. 68
29/29 Grimm, A. S., head, 62, b. WV, parents b. PA, doctor
Melcena J., wife, 59, b. WV, parents b. WV
Nellie, M., dau., 26, single, b. WV

1930 Census, St. Marys, Pleasants Co., WV, p. 20 B [at Grimm’s Hospital; also with son Claude]
502/504 Grimm, Alva S., head, 72, widowed, b. VA, parents b. PA, doctor, general practice
Nellie M., dau., 36, single, b. WV, teacher, high school
504 Grimm’s Hospital — no patients — hospital closed

“Alva Silas Grimm was born of that marriage in 1835 [sic: born of Jesse Grimm & Mary Fordice; year must be wrong). He left the farm to graduate from Fairmont State Normal and Jefferson Medical College. He married Melcina Jane McGinnis of Mole Hill, the daughter of Reverend Dave McGinnis. They moved from Ritchie County to St. Marys in 1860 [sic; again, must be incorrect date] where Dr. A. S. Grimm established his medical practice and residence in a red brick building on Main Street.

The birth of four children and a growing medical practice resulted in the construction of Grimm Hospital on Washington street between the County Court House and the St. Marys Grade School. The frame building served as the family residence and as Pleasants County’s only hospital. Mrs. Grimm was very active in the Methodist Church and devoted much of her time to social service, especially in the W.C.T.U.

Their children were Bruce Fulton, Homer Wilbur, Claude Emerson and Nellie. Bruce married Mabelle Stanley of St. Marys and they moved to Pittsburgh where he practiced electrical engineering. Homer and Claude followed their father’s profession after graduating from Jefferson Medical College. Homer married Elsie Jenkins of Pittsburgh where he practiced radiology. Claude joined his father in practice in St. Marys and married Audrey L. Thorn, daughter of James and Nancy Thorn of Friendly. For a short time, they lived on Main Street in the residence attached to the medical office. Their son, Claude E. Junior, was born at that time. Dr. Claude constructed his home next to the Grimm Hospital and added an annex to the hospital where surgery was performed. Both Melcina and Audrey assisted in the nursing care of the patients.

Nellie Grimm was a teacher at St. Marys High School until her marriage to Charles Conway, at which time she moved to Webster Springs.

The Grimm Hospital discontinued operation with the death of Dr. Claude in 1930. Dr. A. S. Grimm resided alone in the building until his death in 1942. Thereafter, the building was used for several commercial purposes until it was demolished for construction of a Catholic Church in the late 1970s.

Audrey Grimm had resided in her home for many years and was joined by her widowed mother, Nancy Thorn. Following the death of her mother, Audrey sold the residence to the Catholic Church which continues to use it as a rectory. Audrey moved to San Francisco, California to reside with her son, Claude E. Grimm, Junior, and his family. Audrey died in 1967.

Claude, Junior, married Mary W. Walters of San Francisco and they lived in St. Marys for a year after World War II. Their first son, Jeffrey Walter, was born during that time. They moved to San Francisco in 1948 and now have three children and three grandchildren.” submitted by Claude Grimm, Jr.140

Death Certificate
Name: Dr. Alva Silas Grimm
Date/Place of death: Dec. 17, 1942, St. Marys, Pleasants Co., WV
male, white, widower
Spouse: Melcena Jane McGinnis
Date/Place of birth: Aug. 19, 1857 [incorrect], Bearsville, WV
Age: 85y, 3m, 28d
Occupation: Doctor of medicine
Father: Jesse Grimm, b. VA
Mother: Mary Fordice, b. VA
Informant: Homer Grimm, MD, New York, NY
Cause of death: hypostatic pneumonia
Date/Place of burial: Dec. 20, 1942, IOOF Cemetery, St. Marys, WV

Obituary, “Chummy Chats,” a journal by Clyde Cornell, December 17, 1942:

Dr. Alva Silas Grimm, a prominent physician of this city, was taken by death suddenly Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, at the age of 85. Dr. Grimm had been in failing health for several years, but was stricken suddenly today. He had been retired ten years from active practicing, having engaged in his profession fifty years. He graduated from Fairmont Normal School with an A.B. degree in 1881 and received his M.D. degree in 1885 from the college of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore. He also attended New York Polyclinic Hospital for post graduate work and later studied abroad in London and Berlin. In 1885 he married Miss Melcena Jane McGinnis, who died in 1927. He was also preceded in death by a son, Dr. Claud E. Grimm. He is survived by two sons, Bruce S. Grimm of Washington, D.C. and Dr. Homer W. Grimm of New Rochelle, N.Y. One daughter, Mrs. Nellie Conway of Webster Springs and three grandchildren. Dr. Grimm was a member of the Parkersburg Academy of Medicine, the American Medical Association and the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges. He was affiliated with the Trinity Methodist Church in St. Marys.