The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-06-01
The Late Gov. Greiner.

veteran editors of Ohio, who died
in that city May 18th, of paralysis.
John Greiner was born in Phila-
delphia in 1910. He came early to
Ohio and settled at Marietta. He
was then a painter and dealer in
painting materials. He married,
while a resident of Marietta, Miss
Laura Bennett, Of Athens. Some
years later he moved to Columbus.
He was for eight years State Librar-
ian, was for soAes time one of the
Editors Of the Ohio State Journal,
and was afterwards Editor of the
Columbus Gazette.
He took an active part in the ear
ly Wbig campaigns in Ohio-was
in fact, as the author of the famous
Log Cabin Songs and Others Of SIM
liar character, one of the leading
spirits in the State. His songs,
"Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" "Old
Zip Coon" f" tom Corwin, the Wag-
goner Boy" &c. &C., were perhaps
the most popular political songs ever
written in this country. He always
expressed his thoughts in a chant
ing, musical way,-wrote the song
and made the musie-and the peO
pie took hold of his songs with an
enthusiasm that was wonderful and
with a spirit that has never been
equaled.
He sang, again and again, many
of these songs, to crowds of thirty
and forty thousand people. They
rang in grand chorus at monster
meetings, rolled out in roaring cur
rents in the streets, and were on
every Whig tongue throughout the
country, North and South. The
songs were afterward collected and
published in a volume and come
down to us as one of the valued
mementoes of what our fathers tell
US was the greatest campaign in our
political history.
In 1874, and in the different State
campaigns, John Greiner was always
leading, and cheering, with his jolly,
impromptu songs. It is hardly
possible for our younger men to un-
derstand the enthusiasm Of those
campaigns, or to understand the
power of this great Song Singer of
that time. Ask some old grey
Wing about the times and
the man give him a hint, even, of
a verse like the following, and see
how stoutly he will roll out the
chorus, and how wildly he will fling
his arms
See the Loco's standard tott'ring, tott-
ring, tott'ring;
Down, down, it will fall
And in it's stead we'll rear the flag,
Of Tippecanoe and Tyler too,
Of Tippecanoe and Tyler too,
And with them we'll beat little Van,
Van,
Vans a used up man
And with them We'll beat little Van.
These lines do not look we'll in
print. They do not convey any idea
of their power. They do not show
their music. But ask some "Old
Liner" to sing them and you will be
touched, in some degree, as were
the thousands touched by Governor
Greiner in the great Wing cam
paigns.
Governor Greiner was appointed
Indian Agent by President Taylor,
we believe, and was afterward ap
pointed Governor ofNew Mexico
by President Fillmore. He was
absent about nine years and when
he returned, new political combina-
tions had completely changed the
status of men he had praised or had
lampooued and ridiculed. New
principles and new issues presented
themselves and he became ident-
fled with the Republican party.
1t should be stated here that he
was a prime mover in the great
Washiugtonian or Temperance
movement, so well remembered
He entered into this, song full, and
heart full, and did much good.
While in New Mexico his wife
died and he came to the States agair
a quiet, grey haired man, with ap
parently little of the bubbling jollity
of the old time about him.
He located at GAINESVILLE in 1856
or 1865 as editor of the City Times
In 1866 he was married to Mis-.
Maria Willy, of GAINESVILLE, wo
man well suited by kindness of hear
and good wOmanly strength, to b.
the companion of the warm hearted
light hearted, genial old man.
in January, 1870, he removed t
Columbus as the editor Of the Col
umbus Gazette. Soon afterward
! Re became associated with Mr. Bal
ley, of Evansville, in business. Nj
Bailey had learned the tracle
painting with the Governor and th
two came together years afterwarC
to establish a model store im tn
line of their old business. He W.
partner in this at the date of b
death.
/ a young Irish peasant girl was callC
to testify concerning the charactel of
party, of no good repute, and mere
said, MAY it plaze yer Honor, lie nev
made his nlother SMILE"
L !