The John and Mary Grete Family

Longtime Silver City pioneers John and Mary Grete are laid to rest here. 

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 met Mary Kornmann and her sisters including Wilhelmina, the daughters of a German-born tailor in New York City. 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 diggings at Canyon City. In 1863 he came to Owyhee County bringing his family with him. 

In 1864 John Sr. opened a bakery in Silver City. He also ran a boarding house, mined, and engaged in other businesses, until 1878 when he purchased the War Eagle Hotel, and ran that for a number of years. He was among the oldest members of the masonic lodge in Silver City. He died in 1902. 

Mary Grete died in her home, the white house with green shutters not too far from the cemetery, in 1913. Her sister, who married Mary's husband’s brother, lived in the house next door. They both may have opened their home to boarders after their husbands died to help support them. Mary Kornmann Grete was born in New York City on Feb. 14, 1841 and was 73 at the time of her passing. She served as hostess at the War Eagle Hotel and her obituary says of the 50 years she lived in Silver that her life was simple, sweet, and placid. Mary and John had six children – Louise, August, Emma, Fred Jr., Mina, and John Jr. –  all of whom grew up in this area and were well known. 

“The sisters and Grete brothers of the party that came to Silver so many years ago, have long since passed on, and the quartet is again complete in the little cemetery on the mountain side in Silver City."