BIO: GREIFE, John, Campbell Co., KY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributed for use in US GenWeb Archives by the Kentucky Biography Project Date: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 Subject: BIO: GREIFE, John, Campbell Co., KY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ******************************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. ******************************************************************************* HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III, pp. 1214-15. [Campbell County] JOHN GREIFE--Standing at the head of that substantial and prosperous concern, the John Greife Coal Company of Newport, is one of the city's sound and public-spirited citizens, the gentleman whose name appears in this title. He is a native son of the city which is the present scene of his activities, his birth having occurred on April 12, 1858. His parents were natives of that country which has given to America one of her most superior sources of immigration, they--Frederick W. and Clara (Pieper) Greife--having been born in Germany, in which land they were reared and married, coming soon after the latter event, in 1845, to America. They sailed via New Orleans and landed at Cincinnati, after having been nearly three months on the way. They did not remain in the Queen City, but crossed the Ohio to Newport, Kentucky, and they continued to live here for the remainder of their lives. They were intelligent and excellent citizens and naturally soon became favorably known in the community. The father helped to organize and was a charter member of the First German Baptist church of Newport, the edifice in which the congregation worshipped being a small and humble one erected on the southeast corner of Sixth and Columbia streets. He likewise helped to organize the German Baptist church of Cincinnati, the fiftieth anniversary of which was celebrated in 1908. He was the first pastor of the Newport congregation and was active in church work for many years, his influence as a man of strict integrity and lofty principle being wide and beneficent. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living and he whose name initiates this sketch being the sixth in order of birth. John Greife was reared in Newport and received his education in the excellent public schools of the city. After his graduation from the high school he took a commercial course in the Queen City Commercial College, situated on Fifth and Walnut streets, Cincinnati, his natural tastes and inclinations fitting him for a career in business. After finishing at this institution he filled several clerical positions in Cincinnati, bringing an unusual amount of faithfulness and efficiency to all of them. In 1881 he entered the field in which his greatest success has lain, forming a partnership with George E. Crowhurst in the coal business in Newport, the firm being known under the name of John Greife and Company. This satisfactory arrangement continued for a number of years and with the greatest success and was only terminated by the retirement of Mr. Crowhurst. In 1905 the John Greife Coal Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of $10,000, and has ever since continued in this manner. Mr. Greife has since the beginning held the office of president and had been very active in its management, being a man of splendid executive ability and initiative. In politics he casts his support with the Republican party and he and his family are members of the First Baptist church of Dayton, to whose support they contribute not only in a material manner but with the sympathy they bestow upon all the good measures promulgated by it. Mr. Greife was married in 1882, the lady to become his wife being Mary Elizabeth Wilson, a daughter of John Wilson, who was engaged with the firm of P. Smith & Company, dealers in photographic supplies in Cincinnati for many years. Mrs. Greife, however, was reared in Dayton. To this union have been born two children, Harry W. and John Raymond. The residence of the subject of the biography in Dayton dates from the year 1877. *******************************************************************************