As the nation commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the pivotal role Tennessee played as the "Perfect 36," residents may not realize how soon after this landmark vote that a Lewis County woman was given the opportunity to hold public office. Vonie Grimes was more than the first female County Register of Deeds. She was a woman who broke through boundaries, survived life's obstacles, and found success despite a few stolen ballot boxes.

Lavonia "Vonie" McClain Grimes was born July 5, 1875 to Martin McClain and Nancy Jane Beckum McClain. Vonie grew up in a family actively involved in education, religion, and politics. Her great-grandfather had served as a trustee of the McLeans Bend school in Nashville, and later was ordained as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church's first minister when the denomination formed in Dickson. Both Vonie's father and great-grandfather were signers on the petition to establish Maury County. Her grandfather and uncles were active in Maury County Government. Later, her brothers were involved with Lewis County Government, serving as magistrates, constables, and even sheriff. Her father and other family members also had served during the Civil War-her father having been a private in Company D (Clack's 3rd Regiment) Tennessee Infantry.

Although the historical record sheds very little light on her personality, they do contain a few interesting tidbits about her. She had a sixth grade education. She took in boarders to help make ends meet. She did not own a car. She was also progressive for her time as she was an unwed mother. At age 25, she gave birth to her first and only child, William G. "Wegie" McClain.

By 1910, Vonie (now 34) and her son Wegie lived in the Issac N. Black household in Perry County, where she was employed as a servant. Two years later, she married Lewis County Judge Robert Wilson Grimes on December 22, 1912. Judge Grimes was 25 years her senior and a widower with children for Vonie to help raise. In 1920, she worked as a clerk at a dry goods store in Hohenwald. Her life could have continued in this ordinary fashion.

And then, a unique opportunity presented itself. Had H. T. Poore, Registrar of Deeds, not tendered his resignation to the Lewis County Quarterly Court (now called the County Commission) in 1921, Vonie may have never become involved in local politics. On October 3, 1921, the Quarterly Court met and considered six names submitted as candidates to fill the unexpired term, including two women-Vonie Grimes and Annie Warf. It took multiple rounds of ballots to narrow the candidate pool. On the fourth ballot there was a tie between Vonie Grimes and W. D. Warren. On the fifth ballot, Vonie was appointed Register of Deeds, winning out over Warren with 10 votes to 7. This made Vonie the second woman to hold public office, as Esther Poore was appointed Superintendent of Lewis County Schools in 1914; and the first woman to hold the position of Register of Deeds. It is unknown how much influence Judge Grimes had in securing this appointment.

As this term neared its expiration, Vonie announced her candidacy in a bid to remain Register of Deeds. The November 24, 1921 issue of the Lewis County Herald noted that "...even though she has been in office a very short time... her work in the office has been done in a creditable manner." One would think that this race would have garnered much local publicity, however it did not. In fact, the August 10, 1922 issue of the local newspaper ran election results listing votes cast in each precinct for county and totals for state officials but made no mention of registrar race. The Election Commission did submit certification to the County Court that "W. D. Warren received a majority of the legal votes cast for Register... and was elected to said office." Unfortunately, the Lewis County Election Commission does not retain election results this far back, so the margin of defeat is presumed unknown.

Shortly after Vonie turned 50, Judge Grimes succumbed to bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia on August 23, 1925. After laying her husband to rest beside his first wife in Swiss Cemetery, Vonie again sets her sights on the Register of Deeds office.

In 1926, Vonie became the first Lewis County woman to win an election, by defeating incumbent W. D. Warren for Register of Deeds. This election was not without some controversy, as three ballot boxes came up missing. The Nashville Tennessean reported that the missing boxes would probably "not affect the final results although most of the races were exceptionally close.... In the register's race, Mrs. R. W. Grimes is 33 votes ahead of W. D. Warren." The Lewis County Election Commission reported to the Quarterly Court that "Mrs. R. W. Grimes was duly and legally elected to the office of Registrar."

Vonie held this office for four years. In 1930, she lost her bid for re-election to Mary Carroll. The Nashville Tennessean reported that "Despite...the requirement of a poll tax receipt, one of the heaviest votes ever cast in a [Lewis] county primary was poled, the total being over 1,100." At this time, registered voters in Lewis County were required to pay a $2.00 in poll tax and bring the receipt to their polling precinct in order to cast their vote. By Tennessee State Law, a dollar of this tax went to the State and a dollar went to the local school system.

Vonie remained politically active and ended up facing a political intrigue greater than missing ballot boxes. In 1946, she and Mrs. B. E. Grinder had their names intentionally omitted from the ballot for Democratic committeewomen. The Nashville Tennessean carried the story, reporting that "A political volcano began oozing lava Friday afternoon... and by last night its molten heat was spreading fast to all corners of the district...." Despite being qualified, their candidacy competed with the Primary Board Chair's wife.

The Chair wrote letters to each of the 13 counties in the district, requesting that their names not be included on the ballot due to disqualification. Vonie and her compatriot were never notified of any disqualifications, nor were they actually disqualified. Five counties did not acknowledge this request, and voters from those counties were allowed to vote for Grimes and Grinder. A subsequent Letter to the Editor penned by Grimes and Grinder stated "The reason [their names were omitted] is because we have a 'little Crump machine' in Lewis County." In thanking the voters who did cast votes for them, they said "our 'little Crump machine' will have to oil its little cogs by the time another election day rolls around..."

Around 1948, Vonie was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). After a five-year battle with the disease, Vonie died at age 77 on May 16, 1953, at her home on 105 South Court Street. She is buried alongside her family in the McClain Cemetery in the Mt. Joy community. Her obituary in the Lewis County Herald stated that "Mrs. Grimes served for several years as Register of this county and made a very efficient official." Vonie was so competent in her duties that later female Registrar Willie Plummer Poore employed her as an assistant in her office.

Part of how we can see Vonie's positive character traits is through the impact she had on her son, Wegie. McClain family history states that Wegie was a "very determined young man." No doubt he learned determination from his mother who also may have nurtured his drive for success. Upon Wegie's death in 1971, The News Journal (Mansfield, OH) wrote that he "was a pioneer in the development of the cold roll process of steel and had served with Empire Steel until 1960." He also followed in the civic-minded footsteps of his McClain relatives, having served his community through participation as a member of the Mansfield Elks Lodge 56 and the Patapso Lodge 183 F.&A.M. Vonie had achieved the ambition of every parent-to raise a successful child.

Note: the author of this article wishes to thank Michael King for his assistance in locating a photograph of Vonie Grimes. Historical information for this article came from a variety of resources available at Lewis County Public Library and Archives.