Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-08-28
Biographical Sketth.
Rev. R. G. GRIER, D. ID.

that when Quintius Maximus and Publiu
Scipio looked upon the images of their an
cestors, that they felt their minds powerfully
melted to the pursuit of honor and virtue
This was natural. Consequently, we may give
the report our hearty credence. What per
son can look upon the picture of father
illustrious for virtue in his day, and not fee
his soul stirred /? None but he in whose
breast every noble impulse has died, ano
whose life has been consecrated to deeds o.
shame. Who can tell the number Of poor
boys who have been melted to mount the lad
der that leads up to usefulness and fame, by
reading brief biographical sketches of such
men as Benjamin Franklin and George
Washing gton? The first Napoleon slept with
copy of Csesar's Commentaries under his
pillow. When that illustrious Roman, amid
the exciting duties Of the camp, was pennlng
these admirable sketches of men and places
and battles, he was not only preparing text
book for school boys, but constructing a mod
ell for the greatest of modern conquerors
Caesars Commentaries we're largely instru'
mental in developing the latent talents Of the
"Little Corsican."
One of the many benefits Of history is,
that it prompts the living to shun the wrong
and follow the good of the dead. Who can
read the biographies of Abraham, Of Isaac,
or of Jacob, and not have his heart softened
and his virtue strengthened 4? The life OF
of David is full of thrilling incidents, and,
no doubt, many shepherd boy has read it
with bright tears rolling down his Weather:
beaten cheeks, and formed noble resolves
which he kept to his dying day.
1t has been said, "The memorials Of the
good constitute one of the most sacred posses.
sions of the Church of God" 1t is true. Who
would have the recollections of the good
dimmed, much less blotted out? None but he
whose heart is bent on nothing but evil.
There is no danger that the memorials of the
great and good will ever become too numerous
The name of the wicked ought to rot, and it is
the 6at of Jehovah that it shall rot but it is
no less Gods fixed purpose that "the memory
of the Just shall be blessed" He whose mem
ory we propose, in the following brief sketch,
to perpetuate, was, so far as mortals can judge,
great and good man.
Robert Grier, the grand father Of the Rev.
ROBERT CALVIN GR1ER, D. D., came to
North Carolina in the year 1775. His ma
tive place was Pennsylvania: At what ex'
act period his parents came to America, we
are unable to say with certainty. Since they
were Cameronians, or Covenanters, we may
safely say that it was about 1870, when the
Scotch Irish became almost the sole occupants
of the Cumberland valley. Shortly after COM
ing to North Carolina, Robert Grier married
Margaret Livingston, native Of Ireland
The same year (1775) the young couple re-
paired to the region of country, now embraced
by Greene county, Georgia. Here, in ITS,
their son Isaac was born. The country was
occupied by the Cherokee Indians, and the
Revolutionary war had already begun. Brit
ish emissaries were not slow in their efforts
to break the feeble bond of friendship which
existed between the Wings and the Indians
They were successful, and Robert and Mar
garet Grier were forced to flee for their lives
Guided by the same kind hand which led
Israel across the Red Sea and through the
wilderness, they came safely back to Cabar'
rus county, North Carolina. Here, not for
getful of their paternal duties, theydedicated
their son to God in baptism, the Rev. Will
liam Martin, a Covenanter preacher, admins
tering the sacrament.
One of the distinguishing characteristics o1
the Covenanters, or Reformed Presbyterians
is, that whatever they may give their children
they educate them first. This has been the
case from time immemorial, and it is the case
to day. The followers of Cameron and Cargill
have ever regarded it as religious duty tc
teach their children to read the Bible and
memorize the Shorter Catechism. In this re-
spect, Robert and Margaret Grier were faith
full. Their son Isaac was sent to school to the
Rev. Moses Waddell, and to the Revs. Gun
ningham and Cummins, and in 1898 he en-
tered the junior class in Dickinson College
He graduated in 1900, and soon after began
the study Of theology under the Rev. Alex
ander Porter, pastor of Cedar Spring and
Long Cane Associate Reformed congregations
in Abbeville county, South Carolina. On the
End of September, 1902, be was, by the Asso
ciate Reformed Presbytery Of the Carolinas
and Georgia, at Long Cane, licensed to preach
Here it may be mentioned, that the tradi
ton is, that Isaac Grier was the first Presby
terian preacher born in the State Of Georgia
In fact, it is more than tradition, for it is
inscribed, in living letters, on his mothers
tombstone, that such was the case.
In 1904, the Rev. Isaac Grier was, at Sar.
dis Church, ordained and installed pastor Of
the congregations of Sardis, Providence and
Waxhaw, in North Carolina. In the neigh,
borhood of Sardis, in Mecklenburg county
North Carolina, nine or ten miles south Of
Charlotte, he settled and spent long and
useful life, which was terminated by death on
the End of November, 1S43 In 1887, the
authorities of Jefferson College, Pennsylva
MIA, conferred the degree of Doctor of Divin.
ity upon him.
In 1906, about two years after he settled as
pastor, he married Isabella Harris, daugh.
ter of Hugh Harris, in his pastoral charge
There is fact in the history of this Harris
family, which is too thrillingy romantic to
be omitted. In 1854, the Rev. Thos. Clarke
Burgher minister from Scotland, who had