Parents

Son of Thomas GREER & Minerva Ann WILLITS.

Life History

Other facts

Notes

• The following is the biography of John Edward Greer as it is recorded in Volume II. (Written about 1913-14)
  
  JOHN E. GREER
  
  
  
  For the past six years John E. Greer has served as assessor of Abington township, where he owns and operates a farm of three hundred and sixty acres, being numbered among the well-to-do and enterprising agriculturists of that part of Mercer County. He was born in the township which is still his home, June 3, 1858, a son of Thomas and Minerva A. (Willits) Greer, the former born in Ohio, June 10, 1818, and the latter in Wayne County, Indiana, December 29, 1829. Thomas Greer was a youth of eighteen years at the time of his settlement in Abington Township, the date of his arrival here being 1836.He engaged in farming and as his resources increased, he added to his possessions until at the time of his death he was the owner of one thousand acres of valuable land. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Their family numbered fourteen children; Reuben H., who has passed away; James M., a farmer of Millersburg township; Mary J., the widow of William Griffith of Abington township; Th!
  omas F., also a resident of Millersburg township; Alice a., the wife of W.C. Thompson, a resident of Burlington, Iowa; John E., our subject; Samuel I. of Millersburg township; Arthur and Lewis W., who died in infancy; Albert C., a resident of Seaton, Illinois; Ella F., the wife of W.A. marsh of Millersburg Township; Dora E., who died in childhood; Robert F., who has also passed away; and one who died in infancy.
  J.E. Greer remained on the home farm until he attained his majority, during which time he pursued his education in the common schools. He eventually inherited one hundred acres from his father's estate and to this he has since added from time to time until he is now the possessor of three hundred and sixty acres in Abington Township, and in addition to this he also own one hundred and sixty acresin Canada. On his home place he has a good set of farm buildings, which are modern and convenient and are kept in splendid repair. He is here engaged in general farming and as a result of the care hebestows upon his fields he annually gathers rich and abundant harvests.
  Mr. Greer wedded Miss Mary Marsh, who is a native of the county and a representative of one of the early settlers of Mercer County, her parents being W.A. and Mary J. Marsh. Mr. and Mrs. Greer had thirteen children as follows: P.E. who married and follows farming in Abington township; Harry, who is with his brother, P.E.; Ed, who is married and is farming in Abington Township; Ella, the wife of Guy Douglas of Abington; Bewsie, who died at the age of eleven years; Fay, the wife of Abel J. Clooster of Chicago; Blanch, the wife of Charles Andrews of Millersburg Township; Stella, , Robert, Effie and Gordon, all at home and one boy John, who died at the age of seven. The mother and daughters are members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In politics, Mr. Greed is a democrat and has served for six consecutive years as township assessor, and he previously filled the office for three years. He has been successful in his farming operations and deserves to be classed with the representative citizens of this section of the state.