Milford chronicle., 1937-08-20
CRIER FAMILY REUNION
HELD ON AUGUST IL


again in a small way on Haven LAX
From this small beginning an
through long hours and diligence. b
established what was known at ths
time as the leading farm implemer
manufacturer in lower Delaware.
With the building of the railroa
to Milford, new field was opened
him, and his shops handled the re
pair work for the Delaware an
Breakwater Division.
He was an inventor. and hell
many patents. one of which was th'
original patent for the Cable Rail
roads, which were used for a time il
the United States, the first being es
tablished in San Francisco and fol
many years known as the Grier Sys-
tenn. The City Of Baltimore then
adopted II, and aftervards-Phila-
delphia.
He was also an inventor of fruit
eyaporators for the drying of peach
es, apples. and various fruits. He
made for himself quite a reputation
for the building of evaporators for
this purpose, which were sold not
only in the United States. but also
in foreign countries.
In 1890 he purchased the first Ice
machine to come to lower Delaware;
this was the same machine that was
exhibited at the Centennial Exposi-
ton in Philadelphia in 1876. This led
him to later aid in establishing a
much needed ice plant in Crisfield.
Md, for the packing of sea food.
Since Crisfield had no source of
fresh water supply except cisterns.
II was necessary to drill an artesian
we'll 995 feet deep. The supply of
water from this we'll was of such
quantity that it supplied not only
the ice plant but the town as well.
He was one of the founders of the
First National Bank of Milford, and
a director of that institution for
many years. He was also closely as
sociately with the Methodist Episco-
pal Church of Milford. being presi-
dent of the board of trustees at the
time of the building of the present
church which was erected In 1871.
George Smith Grier was married
twice. first to Ann Smith in South
Shields, England, second to Marga-
ret Layton (Bramble).
BY the first marriage there were
eight children:
Mary Ann married John w. Rat
cliff.
william George married Elma
Collins.
James Younger married Rosa
Poole and Lida George.
Georgiana Haswell married James
P. Pierce
Robert David married Lydia Hall.
Fred Albert married Margaret
Fehrenbach.
Clara Rosella married William E.
Deputy.
Lizzie died in childhood.
BY the second marriage there we're
eight children:
Minnie who died in childhood.
Garrett Layton married Ella
Vaules.
Henry Louder married Elizabeth
Humes.
Frank Layton married Florence
Caulk.
Davis Ralston married Mable
Shattuck.
Walter Logan married Elizabeth
Richards.
George Smith. End. married Flor
ence Parkinson.
Lena Layton died in childhood.
The first two children were born
in South Shields, England. ,
Capt James Grier was born In
Dumfries. Scotland. April IS. 1900.
Being of an adventurous disposition ,
he ran away from home in 1915 and =
sailed before the mast to Philadel- :
phia. Before the boat docked he :
jumped overheard and swan ashore. !
schooner plying between Philadel :
phia and Frederick and adopted
South Murderkill Hundred as his :
home. He early engaged in shipping ,
and owned and operated a feet Of I
sailing vessels which engaged in Z
coast-wise trade. The two standing r
boats being the "Tabitha S" and the :
MARY Ann" named after his two r
wives. Due to industry and prudence {
ChdfdSleElStiC VI HIS race, He pTOS- Z
pered and became the owner of sew =
eral farms and a store located just =
north of Barratt's Chapel at place +
called Grier's Corner. 49,. I4t- q
Being devout Christian, he early .
affiliated himself with Barratt's- Cha y
pei (cradle of Methodism In Ameri- s
ca) was elected a trustee and served b
until the time of his death. '5. q
He was married three times. The y
frst wife. Tabitha Sipple: second v
wife. Mary Bowers, and the third, II
Mary Ann Dewese. There were nine ]
children, two of which died in in B
lancy. the others. Robert Kemp mar j
lied Lima Bradley; James William E
married Sara Knight; John Eugene b
married Ssllie Russell; Mary Jane v
lied In childhood; Williamiapa, mar n
led James H. Stanton; Isabella r
smith married Charles Baker. and s
Margaret Ann who married Alfred Z
). Dunn. Each of his sons and one @
laughter had but one son, sai four Il
4 whom we're physicians: DR.. Oliver g
might Grier Of Wilkes Barre, Pa; R