Andrew A. Grier

Grier was born at Mount Jordan Pottery in East Nottingham, Chester County to Benjamin Franklin Grier and Adaline O’Daniel Grier in 1851. His father was a well-known potter and farmer in that region. According to the 1870 Census, A.A. Grier worked on his father’s farm as a young man.^[1] It is not known how he was able to transition to his career in photography, there certainly were photographers in the Oxford area or Wilmington, Delaware, who could have taught him the art. Alexander McCormick and John Barry come to mind in Oxford.

On November 29, 1872 the Daily Local News of West Chester, Pennsylvania made the following announcement, “New Photograph Firm- Mr. J. S. Beecher opposite Turks Head Hotel has sold Half of the interest in his gallery to Mr. A. A. Grier, of Oxford, so don’t forget Beecher & Grier, and give your friends a nice photograph for a Christmas Gift.”^[2] Grier had gone into business with photographer Jacob S. Beecher.

The Chester County History Center has a number of examples of carte-de-visite with the imprint of this partnership. One of George Morris Philips inscribed April 1873^[3] reads as follows: “Beecher & Grier’s New Photograph Rooms opposite the Turk’s Head Hotel, West Chester, PA. Good Pictures and perfect satisfaction guaranteed. A call from you is respectfully solicited. The Negative of this Picture will be preserved.” It is not clear how long the partnership lasted beyond 1873.

One undated carte-de-visite of Edith Rohrer^[4] in the collection of the Chester County History Center reveals that Grier had his own studio in the borough of West Chester for a time. It is unclear if it preceded or followed his partnership with Beecher.

However, by 1882 Grier had moved to Philadelphia where he has a studio at 737 Samson Street. In 1883 he married Elmira Johnson in Philadelphia. From 1885-1894 his studio is at 906 Arch Street according to city directories.^[5]

According to the 1900 Census, Grier is recorded as a “Painter” living in Philadelphia with his wife Elmira (1850-1931) and his daughter Adeline (1885-1944).^[6] The family made their home at 2347 Cleveland Avenue. He died on March 21, 1908, during an operation that proved fatal for the 56-year-old man.^[7] Grier had been suffering with Bright’s Disease for about five years.^[8] His obituary in the Oxford Press noted that the Oxford native was a photographer and operated a studio in Philadelphia for many years.^[9] He was buried at Lawn View Cemetery at Rockledge, Montgomery County, PA.^[10]

© Pamela C. Powell, 2022.