Life History

Other facts

Notes

• 119-254-2)Minerva Willits-b-Dec.29 1829-Wayne Co., Ind.-her-p-d-Milk sickness-m-Apr.l5,1847 to Thomas Greer a farmer-b-Jun 10,1818 in Ohio. 14 children [to this couple] (See page # 24)
  Children;
  (H)     254-l.Ruben Greer
  254-2.James M. Greer
  254-3.Mary J. Greer
  254-4.Thomas F. Greer
  254-5.Alice A. Greer
  254-6.John E. Greer
  254-7.Samuel I. Greer
  254-8.Arthur Greer-b-Feb. 1862-d-Dec 14, 1862-bur-Jackson Greer Cem.
  254-9.Lewis W. Greer-Jan. 1864-d-Oct 10, 1864-bur-Jackson Greer Cem.
  254-10.Albert C. Greer
  254-11.Ella P.  Greer
  254-12.Dora E. Greer-b-Jan 1870-d-Feb.22,1870Arthur-bur-Jackson Greer Cem.
  254-13.Robert F. Greer-b-May 1875-d-May 8, 1883-bur-Jackson Greer Cem.
  254-14.a dau. Greer-d-as an infant
  
  
  This interesting information from the "History of Mercer County - 1882":
  Minerva A. Greer was born in Wayne County, Indiana, December 29, 1829. She was the daughter of Reuben and Mary (Harris) Willits.
  
  Her parents both died in the spring of 1834 of milk sickness; the mother dying in the evening and the father the following morning. Minerva came to Mercer County in 1836 with her uncle, Thomas Moore,who settled in New Boston Township. She married Thomas Greer on April 15, 1847. Their 14 children were: Reuben H. , James M., Mary J., Thomas F., Alice A., John E., Samuel I., Arthur, Lewis W., Albert C., Ella F., Dora E., Robert F., and a daughter who died when an infant before she was named. Arthur, Dora and Lewis died before 1882. Thomas Greer was born on June 10, 1818 in Ohio and first settled in Abington Township in 1832 0r 1833. (Another account says he moved to Abington Township in 1836.) By 1882, seven of the children were married and living within 2-1/2 miles of the old homestead.
  
  Reuben H. Greer married Sarah H. Dungan on July 4, 1871. [Sarah d) Jan. 28, 1931]
  James M. Greer married Mary E. Douglass on November 11, 1873. [James M. d) Jan. 19, 1934][Mary E. d) Feb. 13, 1926]
  Mary Jane Greer married George Henry Fox on January 1, 1897.
  Thomas F. Greer married Eliza C. Marsh on January 24, 1877. [Thomas F. d) May 21, 1937][Eliza C. d) Dec. 30, 1942]
  Alice A. Greer married William C. Thompson on March 30, 1880.
  John married Mary Jane.
  Arthur died.
  Lewis died.
  Albert Clarence Greer married Maggie May Kiddo on December 21, 1887. [Albert C. d) Sep. 9, 1950][Maggie - later]
  Ella F. Greer married William A. Marsh Jr. on March 6, 1888.
  Samuel I. Greer married Isa R. Marsh on January 19 1881.
  Dora E. died.
  Robert F. ? Not sure if this is the same guy that married Bessie Davis.
  
  In the 1870 Census, the Greer family is living in Abingdon Township and looks like this:
  Thomas Greer is 51 years old. His wife, Minnie A. is 41 years old. Reuben is 22 years old, James is 20, Mary J. is 18, Thomas is 15, John E. is 13, Alice is 12, Samuel is 9, Albert is 5 and Ella is 3year old. Thomas was born in Ohio and all the children were born in Illinois. This is the only Greer family in Mercer County in 1870.
  
  John Edward Greer married Mary Jane Marsh on May 7, 1880 in Mercer County.
  Sometime before the 1880 Census, Thomas, the father must have died. The family is still in Abington Township. Keep in mind, the age shown will vary depending on the birth date and the date the censuswas taken. The spelling will be as I see it in the Census. Notice the given names passed down thru generations.
  Menerva is 50, John E. is 22, A. Anna is 23 (this must be Alice - if so, she is now older than John E.) Albert is 14, Ella F. is 12 and Robert F. is 6 years old. Menerva was born in Indiana, her father was born in Ohio and her mother was born in Pennsylvania.
  In the 1900 Census, I see Edward Greer working as farm labor in Mercer Township. Could be the son of John E., but then it could also be the son of any of his brothers since Edward's parents were bornin Illinois. The 1890 Census was destroyed by fire, so I cannot tie Edward back into an earlier family.
  
  Mary Jane Greer died on August 10, 1930 in Seaton.
  In 1935, J.E. Greer is living in Abington Township with his children; Harry, Blanch, Fay, Stella, Ruth, Robert, Gordon, Ella and Effie.
  Harry Greer married Laura Kiehna and are living on the 536 acre farm of J. E. Greer in Section 11, Abington Township in 1940.
  John E. Greer died on February 19, 1943 in Abington Township.
  Robert Greer married Bessie Davis. In 1940, their children are Robert Jr., Willard and Mary Jane. They too are living in Section 11 in Abington Township.
  Lots of information here, and there's plenty more, but I think I'll just go ahead and send this. I'll follow later with an excerpt of his biography from the "Past and Present of Mercer County - History of Mercer County; Volume II" and I'll take a look at the 1910 and 1920 Census. The Greer family has been prominent in business and agriculture in the county for many years, so there's lots of history here. And since some of the family probably monitor the site, I'll copy it to the web and they may have more to offer.
  Stay tuned!
  George Carpenter
  Illinois City, Illinois