All Sorts of Pittsburgers, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania, 1892
James Grier Biography
James A. GRIER, the efficient Controller of Allegheny county, was born in the Fourth ward, Allegheny, February 16, 1849. He received his education at the public schools, which he attended for eight years. In 1863, at the age of 14, he entered William Semple's store in Allegheny as errand boy, and in the following year he went to C. Yeager's establishment as a salesman. After an experience of four years in that capacity, he went to Joseph Horne & Co.'s wholesale house as salesman, and remained there during the years 1868-9. In 1870 he began business for himself in the retail furnishing line on Penn Avenue, and he was thus occupied for 10 years.
In 1882, after a brief venture in the coal business, Mr. Grier became assistant chief clerk in the County Controller's office. In the fall of 1890 he was elected to the Controllership, and on assuming office speedily signalized himself by undertaking to give the people a clean, economical, business-like administration. With this end in view he repeatedly went into court for authority to dispense with superfluous employees and sources of expenditure, and his opposition to the county salary grab is still fresh in the public memory.
Controller Grier's reform methods have lost him the favor of professional politicians, but he has gained the good-will and cordial endorsement of the people, and his blameless official career is a sure passport to popular favor in the event of his again seeking recognition at the polls.
Source: All Sorts of Pittsburgers Sketched in Prose and Verse; Burgoyne, Arthur; Pittsburg, PA; The Leader; 1892.
Note: The correct spelling of Pittsburgh in 1892 was Pittsburg. The spelling Pittsburgh was officially restored in 1911.
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