The Fred Grete Sr. Family

There are two burial plots for the Grete families in this section. Two Grete brothers immigrated from Germany and married two of the Kornmann sisters, ending up in Silver City where they raised their families and lived until all four passed away. 

In 1849, 17-year old John Grete left his home in Hanover Germany to sail to New York, followed in 1853  by younger brother Johann Frederick. John and Fredrick had three other brothers and a sister, but since they weren’t the oldest, their chances of inheriting land or anything of value was slim so many younger siblings often left the country at that time to seek their fortune elsewhere. 

John met Mary Kornmann and her sisters including Wilhelmina, the daughters of a German-born tailor and dressmaker in New York. John and Mary married in 1856 and five years later John went on a prospecting tour into Oregon, becoming one of the original discoverers of the famous placer diggings at Canyon City. In 1863 he came to Owyhee County bringing his family with him. 

In 1865, John’s brother Frederick and Mary’s sister Wilhelmina, affectionately known as ‘Mina, moved to Silver City, having been married and living for a few years in the mining camp of Shasta County CA where Fred learned the dentistry trade. Whilhelmina was born in 1843 in New York City and had traveled with John and Mary to California. 

Frederick and Wilhelmina lived in Silver City from 1865 until their passing, Fred at age 72 in 1906 and Whilhelmina, at age 87 in 1930. Wilhelmina resided in Silver City for 65 years, though she spent time in Caldwell and traveled in her later years. When Frederick arrived in Silver, he was the only dentist in this area and it was reported that people came from as far away as Boise to secure care a trained dentist. He Built the Owyhee Brewery in 1868 and owned it until 1901.  

Frederick and Wilhelmina lost their five month old daughter in Shasta California and two children who are buried in their plot with them. 18 month John Albert died of putrid sore throat or strep throat, a condition now curable with antibiotics, and Helene Emilia just a week short of her fourth birthday. Helena drank some lye water the family had put in an old peach jar. Lye water was used for cleaning in those days and it severely burned her throat, leaving her to suffer for several weeks before she passed

The couple had three other children, Charles, Edwin, and Ida, who lived long and prosperous lives.