John Greife
History of
Kentucky and Kentuckians, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes,
Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III,
pp. 1214-15. (Campbell County)
John GREIFE--Standing at the head of that substantial and prosperous concern,
the John Greife Coal Company of Newport, is one of the city's sound and
public-spirited citizens, the gentleman whose name appears in this title.
He is a native son of the city which is the present scene of his activities, his birth having occurred on April 12, 1858. His parents were natives of that country which has given to America one of her most superior sources of immigration, they--Frederick W. and Clara (Pieper) Greife, having been born in Germany, in which land they were reared and married, coming soon after the latter event, in 1845, to America. They sailed via New Orleans and landed at Cincinnati, after having been nearly three months on the way.
They did not remain in the Queen City, but crossed the Ohio to Newport, Kentucky, and they continued to live here for the remainder of their lives. They were intelligent and excellent citizens and naturally soon became favorably known in the community. The father helped to organize and was a charter member of the First German Baptist church of Newport, the edifice in which the congregation worshipped being a small and humble one erected on the southeast corner of Sixth and Columbia streets.
He likewise helped to
organize the German Baptist church of Cincinnati, the fiftieth anniversary of
which was celebrated in 1908. He was the first pastor of the Newport
congregation and was active in church work for many years, his influence as a
man of strict integrity and lofty principle being wide and beneficent. He
and his wife were the parents of
seven children, six of whom are living and he whose name initiates this sketch
being the sixth in order of birth.
John Greife was reared in Newport and received his
education in the excellent public schools of the city. After his
graduation from the high school he took a commercial course in the Queen City
Commercial College, situated on Fifth and Walnut streets, Cincinnati, his
natural tastes and inclinations fitting him for a career in business.
After finishing at this
institution he filled several clerical positions in Cincinnati, bringing an
unusual amount of faithfulness and efficiency to all of them.
In 1881 he entered
the field in which his greatest success has lain, forming a partnership with
George E. Crowhurst in the coal business in Newport, the firm being known under
the name of John Greife and Company. This satisfactory arrangement
continued for a number of years and with the greatest success and was only
terminated by the retirement of Mr.
Crowhurst.
In 1905 the John
Greife Coal Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of $10,000, and has
ever since continued in this manner. Mr. Greife has since the beginning
held the office of president and had been very active in its management, being a
man of splendid executive ability and initiative. In politics he casts his
support with the Republican party and he and his family are members of the First
Baptist church of Dayton, to whose support they contribute not only in a
material manner but with the sympathy they bestow upon all the good measures
promulgated by it.
John Greife was married in 1882, the lady to become his
wife being Mary Elizabeth Wilson, a daughter of John Wilson, who was engaged
with the firm of P. Smith & Company, dealers in photographic supplies in
Cincinnati for many years. Mary, however, was reared in Dayton. To
this union have been born two children, Harry W. and John Raymond. The
residence of
the subject of the biography in Dayton dates from the year 1877.
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Index