My Genealogy Hound

Rev. Oliver Hazard Perry Green, one of the most prominent citizens and large farmers and stock raisers of Independence township, Oakland County, whose portrait is herewith shown, is located on his fine farm of 105 acres in sections 5 and 9. Mr. Green was born May 20, 1825, at Lansing, Tompkins County, New York, and is a son of Samuel Green, who was born in Warren County, near Greenpoint, New York.

The Green family is a very old and numerous one in the United States and has numbered many distinguished members, one of these being Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame, who was a Quaker in religious belief. Three brothers of the name of Green came from England and one settled in New Jersey, one in Vermont, and the third crossed the line and settled in Canada. Our subject is a descendant of the New Jersey settler, and in that State his grandfather, Maurice Green, was born on the banks of what is known as Green’s Pond. There he became a man of means and importance and died at an advanced age. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a religious body with which the family has always been identified. The children born to Maurice Green were: Samuel, Richard, John, Reuben, Mrs. Betsey Chattle, Mrs. Kate Van Sickle, Mrs. Susie Weitzel, Mrs. Mayberry and Mrs. Cummings.

Samuel Green, the father of our subject, took a prominent part in the War of 1812. When hostilities were declared, he happened to be in Canada, but he soon made his way to American soil and served under Colonel Mallory.

In 1837 he came to Pontiac, Oakland County, having walked the whole distance from Cleveland, where he had been landed from the last boat of the season from Buffalo. Later he bought 120 acres of land in Independence township, and 120 acres in Holly township, Oakland County. The latter tract he cleared and put under cultivation, and built a log house on his property, which he occupied two years. His death took place at Clintonville in 1841, at the age of 55 years. He was married to Betsey Osmun, who was born in Tompkins County, New York, and was a daughter of John and Polly Osmun. Fourteen children were born to them, all of whom lived beyond the age of 33 years. They were as follows: John, deceased; Mrs. Rebecca Linderman, of Clintonville, Waterford township, Oakland County; Jacob, deceased; Maurice, who died in Waterford township, Oakland County, aged 82 years; Reuben, who died at Holly, Oakland County, aged 72, years; Abram, who is a resident of Clayton, Michigan, aged 80 years; Oliver Hazard Perry, our subject; Mrs. Mary Lott, who died at Lansing, Michigan, in 1895; Mrs. Sarah (Hunt) Fleetham, of Detroit; Jackson, a resident of Hazelton, Shiawassee County; Mrs. Ruth J. Riker, of Clintonville, Oakland County; Joshua W., who died at Green’s Pinery, aged 33 years; Mrs. Katherine Lester, of Pontiac; and Israel H., deceased, who lived at Portland, Michigan.

Our subject was 12 years old when he removed with his parents to Pontiac township, Oakland County, Michigan, and he remained at home until he was 22 years of age, eagerly taking advantage of every educational opportunity afforded. He was admitted to the ministry of the Methodist Protestant Church, after proper preparation, and began his work in La Grange County, Indiana. During his 11 years of itinerancy, he became widely known and much beloved. His circuit covered many points. From the work in Indiana he came to White Lake Circuit and was stationed for four years at Davisburg and Holly, going then to Pontiac, Richfield Center, Owosso and Corunna, then back to Richfield and afterwards returning to Pontiac. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Conference of Detroit, then went to Linden for one year. He spent the following four years at Hartland, and then retired to his farm, where he remained several years, then accepting a charge in New Jersey. After remaining there two years at Townsburg, he returned to Michigan and retired from regular work, in the hope of regaining his health in farming.

Rev. Mr. Green since that time has devoted his energies to agricultural affairs with great success. He has engaged in general farming, and has made a feature of his business the raising of fine stock, being particularly successful with high grade Shorthorn and Durham cattle. He has been connected with a number of business enterprises, and at one time owned one-half of the woolen mills at Commerce, the Waterford grist mills and a part of the Clintonville grist mills. He has also done much in the line of buying and shipping stock, having carried on these operations for three years at Ionia, Michigan. For a short period he also owned a store at Holly.

Rev. Mr. Green has entered actively into politics, endeavoring to secure public spirited and honest citizens for official life. He is a man of broad intellect with an excellent judgment of men and affairs and spares no personal effort in assisting to bring about reformatory measures which he can see will be beneficial to the locality. Mr. Green testifies to his interest in agricultural matters in every way possible and is an active member of the Grange at Clarkston and the Independence Farmer’s Club. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, and also an Odd Fellow.

Mr. Green was married first to Louisa J. Thomas, who was born in Ohio, and was a daughter of Abel and Ruth Thomas. Four children were born to this union, namely: Ruth J., who died at the age of five years; Manning E., an attorney of Detroit, who has one daughter, Anna; Thomas P., a farmer of Holly township, Oakland County, who has one son, Arthur W.; and Mrs. Rebecca J. Pool, of Independence township, Oakland County, who has four children, — Eugene and Irene (twins), Edwin and Anna. Mr. Green was married second to Mrs. Mary E. Gibbins, widow of John B. Gibbins, a veteran of the Civil War, and a daughter of John and Martha Foote, the former a native of England, and the latter of Ireland.