Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
AZZO B. GRIER. As a rule when we observe men changing from one line of work to another it indicates that he has not made a very marked success of his former calling, if indeed he has not failed outright. However, this is not always the case, as may be observed in the career of Azzo B. Grier, who has succeeded as farmer, educator and merchant, at present engaged in the drug and grocery business in Strafford, Greene county, where he is widely and favorably known and is regarded as a useful and public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Grier was born near the town in which he now resides, just across the line in Webster county, on May 11, 1870. He is a son of Samuel R. and Elizabeth (Morton) Grier, the father born in North Carolina on November 23, 1834, and the mother was born in Greene county, Missouri, on May 29, 1849. The former came to Missouri when a small boy and was reared on a farm in Webster county and there received a limited education. Fifty years ago he purchased the farm where he still lives, his farm now containing two hundred and fifty-four and one-half acres; He is one of the successful and progressive men of his locality. During the Civil War he served seventy days in the state militia. His wife was reared on a farm in this county and attended the common schools. She is still very active for one of her age. Only two children were born to this couple, Azzo of this sketch, and Lorenzo, who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Mr. Grier, of this review, grew up on the home farm. He received a good common school education. He worked on the farm until he began teaching in 1888, and he taught eight terms during a period of ten years with gratifying success. He has a record of teaching forty-nine months without losing a day on account of sickness. He came to Strafford in 1898 and engaged in the drug and grocery business with Dr. I. H. Mason, later selling out and teaching another term of school, then came back to Strafford and bought back his old mercantile business from his former partner, Dr. Mason, and he is still engaged in the drug and grocery business, enjoying a large trade with the surrounding country. He has been continuously engaged in business in Strafford longer than any other man.
Mr. Grier was married in December, 1898, to Hettie Langston, a native of Greene county, where she was reared and educated. She was a daughter of Jackson P. C. and Phronie (Comstock) Langston, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume. Mrs. Grier's death occurred on November 2, 1909, and our subject was subsequently married to Mary Lu Mullinax, who was born and reared on a farm near Strafford. She is a daughter of Martin and Mariah (West) Mullinax. She received a good education in the local schools and taught school six terms with much success. Two children were born to Mr. Grier and his first wife, Roberta, born on December 16, 1899, and Orville, born on November 26, 1902, both of whom live at home. One child was born of the second union, Mildred, born on June 17, 1911, who is at home.
Politically Mr. Grier is a Democrat, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen.
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