My Genealogy Hound

Charles C. Griep, living on section 27, Grant township, was born in Prussia, August 29, 1857, and was reared in that country to the age of thirteen years, when he came to the new world in 1870, making the journey alone. His brother, John Griep, had preceded him and had reported favorably concerning business conditions in the new world, so that Charles Griep, on starting out in life on his own account, determined to try his fortune in America. Landing in New York, he came at once to Iowa, joining his brother in Cedar county, where he afterward secured work as a farm hand and was thus employed for a considerable period. He was well educated in both German and English and after coming to the new world readily mastered the customs of this country and acquainted himself with the language spoken. He continued to engage in farm labor until twenty-seven years of age and then started upon an independent business venture.

Mr Griep won a companion and helpmate for life’s journey in his marriage to Miss Nina Jacobs, the wedding being celebrated in Grant township, February 8, 1884. The lady was born in Ogle county, Illinois, and was a daughter of A. T. Jacobs, who in 1869 removed to Iowa, settling in Platte township, Union county, not far from Creston. There he opened up a farm, converting the wild prairie land into cultivable fields, and upon that place he reared his family. Following his marriage Mr. Griep located on a rented farm, where he lived for three years, during which time his industry and careful expenditure brought him capital that enabled him to purchase eighty acres of land. With the renewed impetus that came with having a farm of his own, he at once began its development and year by year gathered rich crops as a reward for the care and labor which he bestowed upon the fields. Later he bought more land and is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres constituting an excellent and well kept farm. He built a good house and barn, put in a windpump, water works and a large cistern, also built a feed mill and has secured the latest improved machinery to carry on the work of the fields. During the last sixteen years he has also fed and fattened stock, which he ships to the city markets. Year by year he has worked earnestly and persistently, knowing that there is no excellence without labor, and gradually working his way upward in a country where effort is not hampered by caste, class, precedent or custom.

Mr. and Mrs Griep have eight children: Daisy, now the wife of John Wiser who owns and cultivates a good farm in Grant township; Hattie, the wife of Fred Wolf, who was formerly a teacher but is now a farmer of Grant township; Mamie, who has been liberally educated and is teaching in this county; Jessie, who is a graduate of the high school of Shannon City, and is also teaching; John; Lena, attending school at Shannon City. Thomas and Edna, all yet at home. They also lost one child in infancy.

The parents are members of the Christian church at Shannon City. Politically Mr. Griep is a republican where state and national questions are involved but frequently casts an independent local ballot. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, yet has served as constable and has been officially identified with the schools for sixteen years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, has filled all of the chairs in the local lodge and is now a past chancellor. He also belongs to the Woodmen camp and both he and his wife are members of the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Griep is rightfully classed with the active and progressive farmers and livestock dealers of Grant township, possessing good business ability, keen discernment and unfaltering energy. He deserves all the more credit from the fact that he not only started out in life empty-handed but was a poor boy in a strange land, having no knowledge of the customs of the people. He eagerly took up the work that fell to his hand, however, and throughout his entire life he has always followed the maxim that, whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.