Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-16
GRlER FAMILY REUNION.
Four Generations Have a Gals Time ut
tIie Old Homestead at Milford.s II

spech Correspondence Of Gazette ana jourfAi.
Milford. Aug. BIN honor Of ths.
s0th birthday anniversary OF George
s. Grier, a reunion of his children.
grandchi dren, ard great grandchildren
was held on Saturday Mt his residence, |
Haven Lake. neai Milford. The guests
spent the greater part Of the DAY and
evening Mt the old homestead and had
most enjoyable time. elaborate arrange
niepts having hem made for the event.
Notwithstanding Mi. Grier's advanced
age, he is ns hearty and active Us many
men much younger. he was IN excel
lent spirits and thoroughly snioyed the
festivities and the many greetings eS.i
tended, lie md Mrs, Grier osreed that
II was tho happiest day OF theitl4lives:
with each other IN adding 10 the
pleasures Of the day and entertaining
the old folks. Tine descendants reneedt
10 age from six .months to % years and
it was most interesting scene to seer
OLD and young folks having n pleasant
time on the lawn about the house,
which was decorated with national
oolors for the occasion. Dinner was
served to all at tables under the tfees'
during the afternoon and in the evening
Frederick A. Grier Of Salisbury, Nd,
gave magnificent display OF fireworks
At sunset Photographer Dougherty took
u picture OF the entire gathering, the
four generations being grouped for the
purpose.
All Mr.. Grier's descendants were
present except one son, James Younger
Grier, and his family, who nre in
Texas. u daughter in-law, and gland
son, who is In ST. Louis, Mo. The
assemblags was as follows, all residing
| Ia Milford unless otherwise stated.
Mr.. and Mrs. George S. Grier, Mr..
and Mrs. John ". RLtcliff; William
G. Grier of Wilmington; MI. and Mrs.
James p. Pierce; MI aud Mrs. Robert
u. Grier and Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick
A. Grier. Salisbury. Md. /; Mr.. and
Mrs. William II. Deputy, DIR. and Mrs
G. Layton Grier, Mr.. and Mrs. Harry
l.. Grier DIR. and Mrs. Frank l.. Grier,
Camden davis II. Grier, philadelphis
DIR. Walter L. Grier, George S. Grier,
Jr., Miss Anna j. RRtcliir; G. Grier
Ratclitf, Salisbury; Miss Bessie 5.
Ratciff, Mr.. and Mrs. George II.
Bayunm; Mr.. and Mrs. A. o. n, GIier
ard Miss Maud s, Grier, Wilmington
Ralph II. Grier, Miss Florence Grier,
Alexander 4. Grier, Robert ID. Grier,
j., Lydia II. Grier, Frederick A.
!. Grier, Jr.. Oscar II. Grier, Calvin J.
Grier and Marguerite f. Grier, Sails
|, bury Harry J. Pierce, James 7. Pierce
, Jr.. Miss Clara @. Pierce, M. Haswol
Pierce, Helen Edison Pierce, Elizabeth
/ II. Deputy, Ann g. Deputy, jane
/ II. Deputy, W. Vaues Grier, W. Hume
|, Grier, Harold @. Grier, George NJ
Grier and Warion Grier, Wilmington
! q. Ratclitf Baynunl, Miss Ida Bramble
Newmarket, Md. DIR. and Mrs. jane
q. stanton, Jr., Mrs. James G, Stan
0 ton, Camden, N. j.; Mrs. Isabel
a Baker, Frederick, and the Rev. Dr.
4 and Mrs, Lewis Il. Barrett.
The reunion was planned aud carrie
' out by the children and was in tn
. nature of reception to Mr.. and Mrs
Grier.
a George S. Grier Is one OF the oldef
' business meu 10 Delaware, He VT
: born in North Shields, on the Rive
Lyme. County Northumberland, Eng.
Il August 18th, 1920. His father, WillIai
r Grier, was Sootohman and b
ii other. Isabella lSmithl Grier, WI
i English. Mr., Grier, the SOB, startt
81 from England for America on his 2:
a. birthday anniversary ana went
i Frederick to visit his brother, Cap
\. james Grier. After q soiourn Of oi
: year as the guest OF his brother, he ".
so pleased with the country that
decided to remain here. He hi
Q. learned tho trade of patternmnker 81
vi macbinist in England and in Is
gs accepted the position of foreman Of Il
w Philadelphia Il Reading Railroad Go.
70 pattern shop at Port Richmond, Phil
or delphia. A year later, having desi
to see more Of the country, he went
n Boston, Mass. and after working at
trade there for o short time went
ng Cuba, being attracted to the island
b. the great amount of work then nec'
sary as u result Of a cyclone, which b
or wrought devastation, wrecking ma
90 buildings. He established himself
er, business there as general contract
10 and rebuilt q number OF stiuctur
en- Subsequently he became supervisor
70, bridges and buildings for the Hava
ha d Guines railroad and did much VIC
iey along its line. He came to the Sta
81 for short time. but returned TO Cu
Gu for briet period, rdsuming his positI
on the railroad,
re. In ls49 he came to Milford and
st, been in business here ever since. 5,
after his arrival in this town he as
| claleu nlinSell WIN isibhuiihou
Twigg, millwrights, and short II
Sol aftsrward bought them out and est
LILO lished the first iron foundry and /
chine shop in this part OF the count
a 70 He brought the first steam engine
r'' Milford He has numerous inventic
SEQ IL OF which he had patent ted, the pate
.. SIS including reapers. moving machir
5.04 farming implements and cable
3.6 devicn His chbla CAL which was
2,S9 of the fist in existence, was exhihi
Loo at the Franklin Institute, in Phila!
!. IS phia, and he was there given the ers
- Of being the first in the field, bu
I2.S9 was afterward learned that Hollida
Hovey of New Orleans, La, were
,s,0s pioneers.
Sp.2s Mr.. Grier's first plant, which wa
il.Is the town Of Milford, was burned uu
9s'9l 1882. The plant was then moves
~ Haven Lake, about half a mile mort
blS Milford, where il was rebuilt. Elt
10 years aiterward the new establishn
49, so was also burned, but was immedia
49, rebuilt and ia still standing. Nei
Sion plant that was burned was insured.
SI''2 Mr.. Grier is now the owner
a. 40 operator of tho North Milford Can
- and the Milford ice factory, and IL
Fave ma othey oonoerns. and Is also
and own., ~ real estnte in Milford
ison, sare,nl iayms in Delaware and NJ
treet 1unS liz Mas ia sons and three da
tors. 80 grandchildren and three g
re- grandchildren,
10" The Douglas shoe.
VI The hest advertised and consequ'