My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT GRIEVE. The subject of this sketch was born July 27, 1829, within two miles of his present home. He is one of the prominent farmers of Xenia Township, and owns an excellent place some two miles from the Court House in Xenia. He is wide-awake and progressive, and has made a good name for himself in the township, his ancestors for many generations have been farmers, and have the reputation of being successful ones, too. His father, Archibald Grieve, was a tiller of the soil in County Selk, Scotland, where he was born in 1775. He emigrated to America in 1812, landing in New York, where he remained until 1814, when he traveled via boat to Warren County, Ohio, thus becoming one of the pioneers of the State. The mother of Robert Grieve was Agnes (Stephenson) Grieve, who was born in Roxboroughshire, Scotland, and was the daughter of John and Isabella Stephenson. The parents of our subject were married April 11, 1811, and one year later took passage for the New World.

When Archibald Grieve arrived with his family in what is now Greene County, he bought one hundred acres of land, and immediately proceeded to clear sufficient land to enable him to build his little log cabin, which served for shelter from not only the elements, but also from the droves of wolves that abounded everywhere. It was necessary to bar the door to keep out the hungry creatures, who would intrude wherever they could force an entrance. Numbers of deer also roamed through the forest, and the settlers need never be without the most toothsome venison, did they but use their weapons aright. Mr. Grieve proceeded as rapidly as possible in the clearing and cultivating of his land, and in a few years had a comfortable home. They were religiously united with the “Seceeders,” what is now known as the United Presbyterian Church. For a number of years their nearest place of meeting was eight miles distant. Distance and danger, however, did not prevent them from attending the services. Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Grieve were the parents of nine children. Four sisters, besides him of whom we write, are all that survive.

The subject of this notice is the only member of his father’s family residing in this country. His eldest brother died in 1847. During the youth of Robert Grieve he attended the country schools in winter, and worked on the farm of his father through the rest of the year. He continued this practice until he was twenty years of age, when he left school and devoted himself to business life. He bought the farm upon which he resides at present in 1887. It consists of sixty acres improved and cultivated. He owns another farm of one hundred acres on the boundary line of Xenia and New Jasper Townships which is in charge of his son. He deals largely in stock, raising graded Short-horn cattle, Poland-China hogs and an improved breed of horses.