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Knox County, Ohio
History & Genealogy |
Biographies
Source:
The
Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio
To Which is Added an Elaborate Compendium of National Biography
Illustrated
Publ. Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
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SAMUEL O. GANTT Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 198 |
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WILLIAM GILMOR Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 77 |
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JOHN GILMORE Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 285 |
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JOHN C. GILMORE Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 279 |
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E. S. GRAHAM Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 326 |
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WILLIAM E. GRANT Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 220 |
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HUGH L. GREEN Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 178 |
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HUGH L. GREEN Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 178 |
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WILLIAM E. GREEN Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 220 |
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WILLIAM H. GREEN Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 378 |
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ALEXANDER W. GREER.
Throughout his entire life, covering a
period of seventy-one years, Alexander W.
Greer has resided in Knox county, and
has been actively identified with its
mercantile and farming interests. His
birth occurred in Jefferson township Feb. 7,
1830. The family is of Irish lineage,
and teh grandfather of our subject never
left the Emerald Isle. His son,
Robert Greer, the father of Alexander,
remained in Ireland until eighteen years of
age, when he came to America, accompanied by
his two brothers, Richard and
James, four sisters, Martha, Mary,
Jane and Margaret; and his
mother, who died in Jefferson township, Knox
county, Ohio, when seventy years of age.
The family made their home for nearly one
year in Maryland, and in 1826 all came to
Knox county, where they cast in their lot
with the early settlers. Richard
Greer was a farmer in this neighborhood,
and his death occurred when he had reached
the age of sixty-seven years. James
Greer owned a farm near Danville and
he died at about seventy years of age.
Martha married James Greer,
a son of Colonel John Greer.
Mary married Jonathan
Totten, and afterward returned to
Maryland. Jane married
Arthur Greer, a son of Colonel
John Greer. Margaret
died at the age of thirteen years.
Robert Greer, expecting that the
Ohio canal would be extended up the Mohegan
valley, secured twelve acres of the Isaac
Enlow farm, and about 1840
laid out a village, which was named in his
honor. There for several years he was
the only merchant and his trade was very
extensive, reaching several miles in each
direction.
Robert Greer, the father of our subject, was
born in County Antrim, Ireland, Mar. 12,
1806. He became a very active and
influential citizen of the community, and
served as the first clerk of Jefferson
township. He was also a justice of the
peace for many years. After his
marriage he located on what is known as the
Levi Butler farm, and
there lived until Alexander was about
three years of age, when he removed with his
family to the farm upon which our subject
now resides. There he spent his
remaining days, following agricultural
pursuits until his life's labors were ended
in death, Mar. 13, 1865, when he was about
fifty-nine years of age. He had a wide
acquaintance and his upright life made him
worthy of the highest regard. For many
years a member of the Wesleyan Methodist
church, he took an active part in its work,
doing all he could for the promotion of its
welfare and influence. He was married
Apr. 16, 1829, to Miss Sarah
Severn, who was born Apr. 14, 1803,
in Monongalia county, Virginia. When a
child of ten years she accompanied her
parents, Joseph Severn and
wife, on their removal to Coshocton county,
Ohio, a location being made near Newcastle.
Mrs. Greer survived her
husband, and died Nov. 11, 1869, at the age
of sixty-six years.
Alexander W. Greer was their only child. e
was reared on his present farm, and in a log
school house pursued his education in youth,
while later he continued his studies in
academies at Martinsburg and at Oberlin,
where he was a student in 1851. He
made his home upon his father's farm until
his marriage, which was celebrated May 18,
1856, Miss Caroline Baker
becoming his wife. She was born in
Jefferson township, this county, Dec. 26,
1835, her parents being Philip and Sarah
(Butler) Baker, who were early settlers
of Knox county, coming to Ohio from
Pennsylvania. The marriage of Mr.
and Mrs. Greer was blessed with eight
children: Emma, who is the wife
of J. F. Beatty and who resides near
the old home; Ella A., deceased;
Elmer C., who married Nona Shrimplin
and lives at Greers Scott;
Greersville; Elsworth B., deceased;
Edith J., the wife of Aquilla
Barnes, of Brinkhaven; Edwin R.,
of Greersville, who wedded Ora Eldon P.,
who spent about three years as a telegraph
operator but is now assisting his father;
and a daughter who died in in fancy.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Greer engaged
in merchandising at Greersville, and
continued in this line of enterprise about
twenty years, meeting with gratifying
success. Disposing of his stock, he
then devoted himself to his farm, which he
had conducted during the meantime. He
owns four hundred and thirty-seven acres of
land, completely surrounding Greersville, so
that one can not visit or leave that place
without traveling roads passing through his
farm. His life has been characterized
by industry, and now he is enjoying a well
earned rest, the income from his farm
supplying him with all the necessities and
many of the luxuries of life. Mr.
Greer formerly supported the
Republican party for many years but at later
presidential elections voted for the
Prohibition candidates. He has long
been a stanch temperance man. giving his aid
and influence to the advanvement
advancement of the cause. He has
served as treasurer, trustee and school
director in his township and has been a
trustee and class leader in the Wesleyan
Methodist church, in the work of which he
has long been actively interested.
Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 319 |
H. H. Greer |
HENRY H. GREER.
Ohio has always been distinguished for the
high rank of her bench and bar. Many
of her jurists and attorneys have been men
of national fame, and among those whose
lives have been passed on a quieter plane
there is scarcely a town or city in the
state but can boast of one or more lawyers
capable of crossing swords in forensic
combat with any of the distinguished legal
lights of the United States. In Mr.
Greer we find united many of the rare
qualities which to to make up the successful
lawyer. He possesses, perhaps, few of
those brilliant, dazzling meteoric qualities
which have sometimes flashed along the legal
horizon, riveting the gaze and blinding the
vision for the moment, then disappearing,
leaving little or no trace behind, but
rather has those solid and more substantial
qualities which shine with a constant
luster, shedding light in the dark places
with steadiness and continuity. Mr.
Greer has in an eminent degree that rare
ability of saying in a convincing way the
right thing at the right time. His
mind is analytical, logical and inductive.
With a thorough and comprehensive knowledge
of the fundamental principles of law, he
combines a familiarity with statutory law
and a sober clear judgment which makes him a
formidable legal adversary.
Mr. Greer is one of the native residents
of Knox county, his birth having here
occurred on the 22d of July, 1837. He
is a descendant of Revolutionary ancestry,
two of his great uncles holding office in
the Colonial Army in the war for
independence, one being a colonel.
Both were in the battle of Bunker Hill and
at the siege of Valley Forge. The
family has ever been celebrated for its
patriotism, loyalty, endurance and
determination. Major
Alexander Greer, the
great-grandfather of our subject, was a
native of County Antrim, Ireland, and
crossed the Atlantic to the new world in
1785. He was a most successful man of
affairs, his enterprise enabling him to
conduct a prosperous business.
Colonel John Greer, the
grandfather of our subject, was born near
Belfast, Ireland, and came to America in the
year 1800. He was a man of unusual
strength of mind, a thoughtful and scholarly
gentleman, well educated and was of a
patriotic spirit, earnestly attached to the
institutions and forms of government of his
adopted country, which he served as a
soldier in the war of 1812. A.
Banning Norton, in his History of Knox
county, says of him "The Greers are
mainly descended from that noble old
patriarch, John Greer, who was
a native of the Emerald Isle, and was what
is called 'an Irish patriot.' " Being
possessed of a powerful constitution and
strong, vigorous intellect, he took a
prominent position among the pioneers, and
being particularly efficient in military
matters he did much to promote the formation
of companies in the eastern townships.
From 1812 to 1817 he served as collector of
taxes and in 1830 was elected to represent
his district in the state legislature.
Major Alexander Greer, the father of H. H.
Greer, was born in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, in 1805, and when five years
of age accompanied his parents to Ohio, the
family locating amid the first settlers of
the eastern district of Knox county.
He was a man of high character and sterling
integrity, and was held in high esteem.
He filled a number of positions of trust,
early engaged in promoting the cause of
education and used his influence to further
all that was best for his fellow men.
He was one of the most successful farmers in
the county, industrious and capable and
possessing the highest integrity. He
was largely instrumental in laying broad and
deep the foundation for the present
prosperity and progress of the county and
was honored and respected by all who knew
him. He married Margaret
Robinson, a daughter of William
Robinson, one of the pioneers in the
eastern part of Knox county, coming from
Maryland in 1809. He represented Knox
county in the legislature in the years
1826-7. Mrs. Greer was a
lady of great worth, of strong mentality and
gentle influence.
From the foregoing ancestral history it will be seen
that Henry Harrison Greer sprang from
sturdy pioneer stock and inherited patriotic
spirit. His early years were spent in
a manner not unlike that of most farm boys
of the period. He attended the common
school and worked on the farm, but later
better educational facilities were afforded
his in the schools of Millwood and Haysville
and in Dennison University.
Professional life attracted him and desiring
to become a member of the bar he began
reading law in the office of Delano, Sapp
& Smith. Upon the dissolution of
the firm he continued his studies under the
direction of Walter H. Smith, and in
May, 1860, he was admitted to the bar.
He did not, however, immediately enter upon
practice for he accepted the position of
leading deputy in the office of his father,
who was county treasurer of Knox county.
The following year Mr. Greer was
elected to succeed his father in the
position, which he filled until 1864, when,
declining a re-election, he entered into a
law partnership with Hon. W. R. Sapp,
a relation that was maintained from 1865
until April, 1869. At that time he
succeeded to the practice and law office
Hon. W. H. Smith, upon the latter's
acceptance of the solicitorship of the
bureau of internal revenue in the treasury
department, to which he was appointed by
President Grant and from which he was
promoted to the position of assistant
attorney general.
It is the theory of the law that the counsel who
practice are to aid the court in the
administration of justice and such has been
the aim of the professional career of Mr.
Greer. He has been most careful to
conform his practice to a high standard of
professional ethics. He has never
sought to lead the court astray in a matter
of fact or law. Calm, dignified, free
from passion or prejudice and overflowing
with kindness, he gives to his clients the
service of great talent, unwearied industry
and rare learning, but he never forgets that
there are certain things due to the court,
to his own self-respect and above all to
justice and a righteous administration of
the law, which neither the zeal of an
advocate nor the pleasure of success will
permit him to disregard.
Mr. Greer continued to practice alone until
1889, when he admitted his son, Robert M.
Greer, to a partnership. The son
was graduated in Kenyon at the age of
twenty, read law with his father, was
admitted to the bar in June, 1889, and
immediately thereafter became a member of
the law firm of H. H. and R. M. Greer,
a style then adopted and still preserved.
The junior member possesses a good
intellectual equipment, a fine collegiate
education, is well grounded in the general
principles of law, is apt in discrimination
of decisions of courts and is already well
established in practice. As a
counselor Henry H. Greer stands
pre-eminent in the estimation of the local
bar, in the disposition and management of
really large and important affairs.
Well informed in the law, he is further
fortified by quick and clear perceptions of
the points involved in a controversy, a
mental grasp that comprehends all details
and a capacity for reasoning that enables
him to arrive at correct conclusions.
In the presentation of the law to the court
he is strong, clear, exhaustive and
forceful. In the argument of facts to
the jury he also has great power and he
occupies a foremost place at the bar.
It is his aim to be just, fair and
considerate of the proof to such an extent
that juries have great confidence in his
statements. For more than a quarter of
a century he has been connected with the
most important litigation of the county.
In matters appertaining to the administration and
settlements of large estates, the
adjustments of conflicting interests
requiring tact and diplomacy as well as
legal knowledge, Mr. Greer is
employed very frequently. For many
years he has been intimately connected with
affairs of the community demanding
enterprise and public spirit. He has
also given much attention to business and
corporation matters. In 1888 he
accepted the position of secretary and
treasurer of the Knox County Mutual Fire
Insurance Company, which is the oldest
mutual company in Ohio. Its
incorporators were men of great prominence,
high commercial standing and personal
responsibility, the number including the
Hon. Columbus Delano, who in his
lifetime was the peer of the ablest men in
the state. This company, under the
careful and wise management of the
secretary, has been successful as a
corporation and gained wide popularity by
its promptness in paying losses.
Unusually liberal in the treatment of its
patrons by accepting a small percentage rate
for insurance, the company has paid losses
aggregating over a million dollars.
Regarding it as a foster child Mr. Greer
has guarded and protected and promoted its
interests without in the least neglecting
his law business or other duties. At
this time the company is one, if not the
very strongest, mutual insurance company in
the state, resting upon a financial basis of
enduring strength.
For the last fourteen years Mr. Greer has
served as a member of the Columbus State
Hospital board of trustees, receiving his
appointment two out of the three times from
the late lamented President William
McKinley, who was then governor of Ohio,
and with whom he was intimately associated.
In the past six years Mr. Greer has
been the president of the board and during
all these years large sums of money have
passed under the management and control of
this board without the loss of a single
dollar, showing a scrupulous honesty and
care of the interests of the state and that
of its unfortunate wards. The
estimated value of his official services is
fairly inferable from these circumstances.
He has not been a candidate for political
office and has even refused to stand for
nomination for the judicial office. He
had formidable and influential support for
appointment to the high and honorable
position of judge of the United States court
of appeals. His name was considered by
President Harrison at the
request of men of great prominence in the
party and the profession, both in central
Ohio and Cleveland. Among those who
visited Washington and called upon
the president in his behalf was Columbus
Belano. Although the candidates
for the place were numerous he was second
only to Judge Taft in the
favor of the appointing power, and second to
none in qualifications and endorsements.
He had always been connected with the
Republican party and has long been a trusted
advisor in its councils. Whatever he
has done to direct political policy or to
promote partisan success had not its
inspiration in self-interest, but in the
conviction that the policy of the party to
which he belongs would better conserve the
interests of the people. He has been
absolutely free from political ambition in a
personal sense. A native of the county
which has been his home during the sixty
five years of his life Mr. Greer
has become thoroughly identified with the
people and the welfare of the community.
His life has been open and more than
ordinarily prominent. He is well known
to his fellow citizens and his reputation is
safe in their hands. He is of good
report among them. If any antagonisms
have been aroused they are only such as a
man of force and activity is liable to
encounter in the performance of his duty.
He is a leader in the affairs of the
municipality and is relied upon as the
friend and champion of policies and measures
best adapted to the wants of a progressive
community. His daily life illustrates
the spirit of Christianity without the badge
of public profession or church membership.
He is charitable, hospitable, kind and
true-hearted. He has a secure place in
the confidence and the affection of his
neighbors, as well as an honorable position
in the profession.
Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 9 |
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BENJAMIN L. .GRIFFITH Source: The Biographical Record of
Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 ~ Page 146 |
| |
PROFESSOR C. M. GRUBB.
Professor C. M. Grubb is now
principal of the schools of Howard and for a
number of years has been accounted one of
the most acceptable and capable teachers in
the county. Perhaps no public position
is as difficult to fill as that of the
teacher. He must not only possess
strong intelligence, but must be capable of
imparting clearly and concisely to others
the knowledge he has acquired, must be able
to maintain discipline, and moreover he has
to please not one but many. The tide
of public opinion must be in his favor and
the individuals constituting the public all
feel that the work of the teacher, more than
of any other one, is a personal concern.
It is therefore an indication of ability
when the favorable criticism of the public
is won and the words of commendation
expressed of Professor Grubb
indicates his high standing in the public
regard.
A native of Knox county, he was born in Morris township
Sept. 29, 1867. His father, Henry
Grubb, was also a native of the county,
born and reared in Pike township, and in the
common schools he pursued his education.
He has made farming his life work and now
resides in Monroe township. His wife,
who in her maidenhood was Miss Mary Ann
Jeffries, was born in this county, and
as she was left an orphan at an early age
she was reared in the family of Daniel
Brumbaugh. Mr. and Mrs.
Grubb are the parents of three sons and
a daughter, yet living: Wilson, who
engages in drilling wells in Knox county;
Celestia, at home with their parents;
C. M., of this review: and D. B.,
who is now studying law with the firm of
Cooper & Moore, in Mount Vernon.
Professor Grubb began his education in
the district schools of Monroe township and
was afterward a student in the Ohio Normal
University, at Ada, for two and a half
years. He was married, Nov. 5, 1890,
to Miss Jennie Loney, a native of
Brown township and a daughter of William
and Mary (McClurg) Loney. Her
father was born and reared in Pike township,
while her mother was a native of
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.
They became the parents of ten children, of
whom Mrs. Grubb was the ninth
in order of birth and the fourth daughter.
She was reared and educated in her native
county and attended the normal in Danville,
Ohio.
For a year Professor Grubb and his wife
resided in Mount Vernon, and he engaged in
teaching school in the country. He
then removed to a farm in Brown township and
engaged in teaching through the winter
months, while in the summer season he
followed farming. In 1898 he removed
to Howard and continued to teach in the
schools of the township, being in charge of
one school for seven years. In 1901 he
was elected principal of the schools of the
town, and is now occupying that position.
There are two rooms in the school and an
assistant teacher is employed. He has
always succeeded in raising the standard of
education in every school with which he has
been connected, and has been an active
factor in the intellectual development of
the several communities in which he has
labored and wrought for the mental good of
the young.
Socially the Professor is connected with the Modern
Woodmen of America and the Masonic lodges.
His religious belief connects him with the
Christian church, of which he is a most
consistent member. He is now serving
as elder and is also teacher of the Bible
class in the Sunday-school. In his
political faith he is a stanch Democrat, has
labored earnestly to insure the success and
promote the growth of the party, and has
served as a member of the county committee.
His genial manner, unfailing courtesy, his
earnest devotion to his work and to every
cause in which he believes—all these have
made him popular and won him the warm
friendship of a large circle of
acquaintances.
Source: The
Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 - Page 246 |
| |
LEVI GRUBB.
Levi Grubb was born in Pike township
Apr. 14, 1843, and died on the 14th of July,
1901. He always resided in Knox county
and his many excellencies of character won
for him the trust and respect of his fellow
men. He was reared in the place of his
nativity and during his youth became
familiar with farm work in its various
departments. The public schools
afforded him his educational privileges and
when young he also learned the carpenter's
trade, his knowledge of this business
proving a value to him as he carried on his
work in later life, enabling him to keep
everything about his place in excellent
repair. In his farming he was
progressive, practical and enterprising, and
yearly his labors brought to him a good
income.
Feb. 1, 1871, Mr. Grubb was united in
marriage to Miss Hannah Cole, a
native of Knox county, born June 1, 1854.
Her father, Isaac Cole, was a
native of Connecticut and when a young man
came to Ohio, where he met and married
Mrs. Rachel Brown, who was also
reared in Knox county, her people being
early settlers here. Mrs.
Grubb spent her girlhood days in Berlin
township and there obtained her education.
She was only seventeen years of age when she
gave her hand in marriage to him whose name
introduces this review. They became
the parents of three children: Nettie,
the wife of Wilson Yanger, a
business man of Bellville, Ohio, and they
have one child, Paul; Bertie,
the wife of John Spohn, a
resident farmer of Berlin township, and
operating the home farm; and Clarence,
who is living with his mother. She is
the owner of one hundred and twenty-seven
acres of good land, and to its improvement
she gives her attention, supervising the
work which annually results in good
harvests. She is a most estimable lady
and her circle of friends is almost
co-extensive with her circle of
acquaintances. Mr. Grubb
was a prominent and influential citizen.
In his business methods he was
straightforward and honorable. He
belonged to the Grange, gave his political
support to the Democracy, and was a member
of the German Baptist church. One of
his marked characteristics was his fidelity
to principle, and in all life's relations he
commanded the warm regard and confidence of
his fellow men.
Source: The
Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio -
Publ. 1902 - Page 145 |
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