My Genealogy Hound

F. Greiner. Prominent among the early settlers of Moniteau County, and among those deserving special recognition for their long residence in the same, stands the name of the above mentioned gentleman, who was born in Obersteinach Sacks Meiningen, Germany, August 22, 1819, and is a son of John F. and A. Catherine Greiner, both natives of Sacks Meiningen. In 1833 the parents with their family immigrated to America, taking passage at Bremen, and landed at Baltimore after an ocean voyage of two months. They located at Frostburg, Md., a short time, and went thence to St. Louis, where they lived for two years. The father was a tradesman and boot and shoe maker, which business he carried on in Germany on quite an extensive scale. He worked at his trade in St. Louis for some time, and then in 1837, with his family, moved to Moniteau County, located two miles east of California, entered a tract of land, improved it, and remained there until his death, which occurred about 1858. He was one of the early settlers of Moniteau County, and experienced all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life on the frontier. After moving to this county he turned his attention entirely to farming. The mother died in about 1864. They were the parents of six children, five sons and a daughter, only two now living, Frederick, and Mariah H., who is the wife of John F. Burger, and resides in Lake County, Cal. Frederick Greiner was about thirteen years of age when he left Germany, and in that country he received the principal part of his education. After coming to St. Louis he entered the employ of different steamers on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and ran as cabin boy part of the time and as cook the rest. During one trip on the steamer “Shian” she struck a snag near Sheridan and sunk. They were compelled to row back to St. Louis in canoes, a distance of over 200 miles, and during this trip the subject of this sketch had his feet frozen. He followed this vocation for about two years, and then learned the cabinet and wagon maker’s trade and entered into partnership with his brother, John C. They carried on the wagon and carriage manufacturing business until 1849, when F. Greiner went to California, going overland with ox team, and was about one year in the gold regions of that State. He returned through Central America, having been quite successful in their enterprise, and reaching the town of California, Mo., he engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with James Anderson. Mr. Anderson died at the end of six months, Mr. Greiner bought his interest, and carried on the business alone for a short time, after which he took in James K. Weysman, and they continued under the firm name of Greiner & Weysman for about one year, having the largest store in town at that time. They then sold out, and Mr. Greiner bought the farm where he now lives, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he has followed ever since. He now owns about 300 acres of land, besides having sold off a good portion and divided a portion among his children. He is one of the substantial farmers of Moniteau County, and has witnessed the rapid growth and development of the country. He was married in 1853 to Miss Margaret E. Byler, the daughter of Alfred T. and Mahulda G. (Hand) Byler, and the fruits of this union were nine children, three sons and six daughters: Charles A., Alfred F., Oliver T., Mary C., wife of Franklin S. Norman; Hester, wife of John Ellis, in the State of California; Marie Antoinette, Lillian G., Minnie and Vivia. Mr. G. and wife are members of the Christian Church.