Photo and above article from Richmond Palliadium June 17, 1960. Discovered by Rich Emery.
https://ohiogenealogyexpress.com/darke/darkeco_bios_1914/darkeco_bios_1914
O. PRICE McGRIFF. The peculiar and particular talents which combine for success in the insurance business make this one of the most difficult fields of endeavor in which a man may engage. His standing in the community must he of the highest order, for public confidence must be his; he must possess energy, push, determination and perseverance, for competition is strong; he must be able to talk persuasively and to prove the advantages of the insurance he has to sell, and he must at all times maintain a friendliness and co-operation with his companies and his patrons. These abilities are found exemplified in the person of O. Price McGrift, directing head of the general fire insurance firm of O. P. McGriff & Company, with offices in the Anderson building, corner of Fourth and Broadway, Greenville. Mr. McGriff was born on a farm in Butler township, Darke county, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1873, and is a son of Jesse A. and Martha J. (Holsapple) McGriff. His father’s sketch appears in this work.
O. Price McGriff was but two years of age at the time of his mother’s death, and he was then taken to rear by his maternal grandfather, with whom he resided until reaching his fifth year. His father was then married a second time, and he returned to the paternal roof, his boyhood and youth being spent on the home farm. He secured his education in the country schools and also spent one year in the public school at West Manchester, and thus equipped at the age of twenty years began teaching in Butler township. He thus continued for a period of twelve years, during which time he taught in the winter terms and carried on farming in the summer months on a tract of ten acres.
Photo from donation to AWTHS by Andrew Holsapple, family. If you have info on which school in Butler Twp. please contact AWTHS.
On Oct. 5, 1895, Mr. McGriff was married in Butler township, to Miss Minnie P. Fowble, who was born and reared in Butler township and for some years was a teacher of instrumental music. There were two children born to this union: J. Rollin, born Aug. 27, 1902, now in the sixth grade in the public school, who, in 1913, at the age of eleven years, began clerical and collecting work for his father; and Grace Leone, born Mar. 3, 1911, in Greenville. About 1902 Mr. McGriff began to write life insurance and this he followed one and one-half years, finding it so profitable that in the meantime he sold his place and forty acres in Butler township and moved to New Madison, where he purchased property. He remained there only a few months, however, when he sold out and moved to Greenville, here becoming connected with the general insurance firm of Hough & Riegel. Mr. McGriff remained in the employ of this concern for four years, and on Apr. 1, 1910, became a member of the firm by buying Mr. Riegel‘s interest. With Mr. Hough he continued the business until Nov. 9, 1913, when the senior partner died, and since that time Mr. McGriff has bought his interest from the heirs and has continued the business alone under the firm style of O. P. McGriff & Company. This is now the largest enterprise of its kind in the city, and does as much business as all the other agencies combined. Mr. McGriff started out in life practically empty-handed and has steadily worked his way upward to success, overcoming the difficulties and obstacles in his path by resolute purpose and unflagging energy. His life has been one of great industry, and he continues to work in the management of his business with the same zeal and enthusiasm that characterized his activities when he was a youth with his way to make in the world. His career has been well spent, and the honesty of his dealings and the continuity of his labors furnish an example that is well worthy of emulation by those who would gain a competence and winthe respect of their fellowmen. Reared in the faith of democracy, Mr. McGriff supports that party stanchly, having cast his first presidential vote forWilliam Jennings Bryan in 1896. He has not, however, sought public preferment in public life. In the latter eighties, he became a member of the Knights of Pythias, at Castine, in Butler township, and still maintains membership therein, as he does also in the Benevolent and Protective Orders of Elks, of which he is a trustee, and Greenville Lodge No. 43, Free and Accepted Masons. His pleasant residence is located at No. 623 Washington avenue, where he tenders hospitality to a wide circle of warm friends.Source: History of Darke County, Ohio – From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time – Vol. II – Milford, Ohio – The Hobart Publ. Co. – 1914 – pg. 531
We have more newspaper clippings about his insurance business in our AWTHS archives, available during Open Hours or by appointment.
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