MUSCOGEE COUNTY, GA - BIOS Robert S. Grier

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Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. II, Atlanta, Georgia, Pages
614-615 Published by the Atlanta Historical Association
in 1895

MUSCOGEE COUNTY

Robert S. Grier, general manager of the Chattahoochee
Brewing company of Columbus, Ga., was born in
Burlington, Vt., in 1850.  His father was Thomas J.
Grier, a native of Dublin, Ireland.  He was a brevet-
lieutenant of the City Light Artillery of Eufaula,
Ala., was injured at Cumberland mountain, and after his
recover was employed by the government in getting out
grindstones at Columbus, Ga.  He was also at the siege
of Atlanta.  After the close of hostilities he was
chief of police of Columbus, Ga., and held that
position when the city was taken by Wilson’s raiders.
He died in 1884, leaving a son and four daughters, viz:
Robert S., whose name heads this article; Mary E., wife
of R.A. Davis of Columbus, Ga.; Elizabeth E., wife of
P.H. Kelly of Macon; Catharine C., wife of John J.
Conners of Montgomery, Ala.; Matilda, wife of W.S.
McKnight of Columbus, Ga.  Robert S. Grier came to
Raleigh, N.C., in 1855, in company with his sister,
whose health had failed, and he resided in that city
for four years.  In 1859 he removed to Eufaula, Ala.,
coming to Columbus, Ga. three years later, and has
since resided there continuously.  He was drug clerk in
Eufaula, Ala., for a time and in 1866 he entered a dry
goods establishment as a clerk, remaining in that
position five years.  In 1871 he was engaged as clerk
in the wholesale grocery concern of J. & J. Kaufman and
remained with that firm eight years, going thence to
Atlanta, Ga., where he entered the employ of Maddox &
Rucker, wholesale tobacconists, and was with that firm
until they disposed of their business to Russell & Co.,
three years later.  His services were retained by the
new firm for four years, when he returned to Columbus,
Ga., and devoted his attention to a general merchandise
business he had established there two years before.  In
1886 he removed to Brunswick, Ga., and engaged in the
beer and ice business.  Disposing of that business
three years later he returned to Columbus, thence
traveled to Europe for pleasure; returning in the early
autumn of 1893 he accepted his present position in
November of that year.  Just one mile west of Columbus
is situated the plant of the Chattahoochee Brewing
company, one of the most important and successful
enterprises centered about that city.  The long columns
of black smoke which seem to rise unendingly above that
plant are emblematic in a way of the quiet work that
goes unceasingly on, both of the men and of the
chemical actions of the ingredients of the beer, within
the plant.  The amount invested in their plant by the
Chattahoochee Brewing company is $200,000.  The plant
contains the most modern and improved machinery, and
nothing has been spared to arrange for making the beer
wholly pure and first class.  Much of the success which
the company is attaining, and the excellent and
widespread reputation which its beers are acquiring, is
due in a large manner to the intelligent and
industrious work of General Manager Grier.  He is
thoroughly conversant with all the details of beer-
making and is well equipped to direct the interior
operations of the company’s plants, as well as the
office work and the company’s business with is hundreds
of customers.  Although he has never sought political
preferment, Mr. Grier was at one time elected alderman
of Columbus, but being a citizen of Brunswick, Ga., he
was ineligible.  He was very active in the
reorganization of the Columbus Light guards after the
war, and was made a lieutenant, serving as such twelve
years thereafter.  He is a member of the Roman Catholic
church, and served as secretary and treasurer of the
Young Men’s Catholic union of Columbus, Ga., for
several years.