Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/467

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES iKcattic superintendent of the North & West Branch T ct^ ra p h Company* afterw ards w r t of the Western Union lines, l i t died Dec. 1^79- He w as one of the most honored and influential laymen in the Synod and Gen­ eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Clmrch, and was greatly esteemed for his philanthropic nature and public spirit. He married Isabella, daughter o f Alexander Montgomcr>% and they have had seven children* five o f whom grew to m aturity: W. A. M., o f Brooklyn, N. Y .; Kev. Dr. jo h n U.. a Presbyterian minister; H. J .. w ife o f John C. Youngman* a Kansas banker; M ary G., w ife o f Edwin C. Ely* of I ’eoria. 111.; and Isaac X ., o f Danville* Penn­ sylvania. Isaac X. G ricr, the second son, recci%*cd his early education at the Danville Academy* which w as a flourishing private school up to about 1856. and afterw ards gradtiated from Lafayette College. Easton, f^a., in 1858. Be­ fore entering college he had learned teleg­ raphy with the North & West Branch T ele­ graph Company* and after graduation he again entered their employ, opening a numl>er o f offices and instructing the operators at various places. I^ te r he served as treas­ urer of the company until it w as merged into the Western Union system. During this time M r. (>ricr w as also reading law in the office o f Edw ard H. Batdy, Esq., and in 1861 he was admitted to practice in the courts of Montonr and adjoining counties, and in the United States courts. He continued in the iractice o f taw until 1885. when, owing to ill lealth* he was forced to retire from the ac­ tive work of his profession. He w as a notary m blk from 1862 until i88o. In addition to lis legal work he had large business interests* lacing a member of the firm o f Markle, Grier it Co.. who from 1870 to 1872 conducted a railroad iron rolling mill at Danville; later he served as director of the North Branch Steel Company. Danville Bridge Company, and Mahoning Rolling M ill Company. He gave up much o f his work in (he eighties, thereafter devoting himself principally to his personal interests and the care of a ' limited mimber o f clients. M r. Grier has been promi­ nently connected with the First Nationa Bank o f Danville since its organization: he liecame a director in 1880 and has been president of the institution since 1904. M r. G rier has alw ays used his influence for the be.st interests o f Danville in the pro­ motion o f b rg e public enterprises* and it was due to his efforts 111 great measure that the State Hospital for the Insane was located

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near (hat city. H e was made one of the trustees some years ago, and is still hold­ ing that position. In 1865 M r. G ricr married Km nu Por­ ter, youngest daughter o f Hon. Jam es M . Por­ ter, o f k.aston, ra ., a lawyer o f State-wide reputation and secretary o f war during Presi* dent T yler's administration, and for a time resident judge of the Northampton-I/ehigli udicial district. M r. and M rs. G rier have had two children: J . M . Porter, who gradu­ ated from Lafayette College in 1888* and was about to lie admitted to the liar when he d ied : and Isabelb Montgomery* widow o f R u fu s King Polk* a native o f Tennessee, a descend­ ant of the fam ily which gave two generals and one president to the county- in different jicriods. M r. Polk was a resident o f Dan­ ville. engaged in the management and part owner o several o f its Iron industries, dying in (902* while a memtwr o f ('engross from this district. k cv. Jolm lk>yd Grier* D. D.* o f Danville* Pa., a retired minister of the PresMrierian Church, was lx)ni in tlu t town .Aug. 26* 1843, and is a brother o f Isaac X . (kter* above mentioned. H e was given an c.xccllcnt education, and considerable o f his own life work has l>ccn o f un educational character. In his early manhood he was princiiial o f Wellsboro (P a .) Academy for one year, and for the same length o f time of the academy at Chestnut l.evel, Lancaster county. Me prepared for the ministry at the W'cstern Theological Sem i­ nar)** Allegheny. Pa.* .attending from 18(14 to 1866. and from 1867 to 1869. F o r four years succeeding he w as at I.afaycttc College. E a s ­ ton, Pa., as professor o f modern languages. .Advised by that eminent philolc^isi, Francis A. March, D r. (iricr jirepared a volume, puln lished 1 I.ippincott & Co.. cntitletl "Studies ^ in the English o f Bunyan.” Dr. (jrier has had unusual advantages of travel, having Sjient in all four years abroad. In 1874 he took charge o f Ihc church at L a w ­ rence ville* Pa., where he w as stationed un­ til 1879. A fte r that he was located at Ja c k ­ sonville. Hla., for one year. In 1881 he was caiicil to the (irove Presbyterian Church ,at Danville, remaining for four years, until the close o f 18S4. H e then became ]>astor at Ivcwisburg. Pa.* beginning his duties there in 1885 and filling that pulpit until i88«>. tn the latter year he delivered the commencement oration at I..afaycttc College* and was honored with the degree o f D. D. by that institution.

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