My Genealogy Hound

Judge Alfred Burton Greenwood. Prominent among the old and much respected citizens of Benton County, Ark., stands the name of Judge Alfred Burton Greenwood, who was born in Franklin County, Ga., in 1811 son of Hugh B. and Elizabeth (Ingram) Greenwood. The father was born in North Carolina, was of Irish descent, and a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade. He went to Virginia when a young man, was there married, and soon after immigrated to Franklin County, Ga. Later he moved to Lawrenceville, Ga., where he died, August, 1825. Mrs. Elizabeth (Ingram) Greenwood was born in Mecklenburg, Va., and died in 1888. They were the parents of five children, the subject of this sketch being the eldest. He was educated at Lawrenceville, Ga., and at the age of eighteen became a disciple of Blackstone, his preceptor being William Izzard, and was admitted to the bar at Monroe, Ga., in 1832. He immediately located at Decatur, De Kalb Co., Ga., and there continued until 1838, when he immigated to Bentonville, Ark., where he located, and where he resumed his practice. In 1833 Judge Greenwood married Miss Sarah A. Hilburn, who was born in Union District, S. C., in 1819, and twelve children were the result of this union, eight of whom lived to maturity: Mrs. Mary Hollingsworth, Mrs. Sophia A. Black, George (deceased), Mrs. Georgia A. Arrington (widow of John A. Arrington), John, Mrs. Sarah A. (widow of V. M. Lassater), Alfred W., and William (deceased). In 1846 Judge Greenwood was elected by the State Legislature as prosecuting attorney, and represented ten counties in Northwest Arkansas. In 1848 he was elected to the same office by the people, and re-elected in 1850. In 1852 he was elected circuit judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of the State of Arkansas, which composed ten counties, or the same he represented as prosecuting attorney. In 1858 he resigned as circuit judge, and was nominated to Congress from the First Congressional District, which comprised all territory north of Arkansas River, or about thirty counties, there being but two districts at that time in the State. Soon after his nomination Judge Greenwood threw up his judgeship and entered the canvass. At the November election he was elected by a majority of about 10,000. He was re-elected in 1854 and 1856, and served in all six years. In 1858 Judge Greenwood was appointed by President Buchanan as commissioner of Indian affairs, and held the office during the remainder of Buchanan’s administration. While commissioner of Indian affairs, the Secretary of the Interior, Jacob Thompson, resigned, and Judge Greenwood was tendered the position, but declined to accept, the office. During the war he was appointed by Jefferson Davis Confederate tax collector of the State of Arkansas, and during the month of December, 1864, he collected over $2,000,000, being located at Washington, Hempstead Co., Ark. Since the war the Judge has devoted his time and attention to the practice of law. He is the oldest resident citizen of Benton County, and the oldest member of the Benton County bar. He came to this county when the county seat contained only thirty people, and during his residence here has witnessed its growth and development. He was continuously in office for over twenty years, and during all that time his official as well as private life was above reproach, thus forcibly illustrating his marked ability as an able and efficient public officer. He is a Democrat in politics, and has gained a national reputation, being one of the most influential men in Northwest Arkansas. September, 1884, Judge Greenwood lost his wife, and since then his two daughters, Mrs. Lassater and Mrs. Arrington, have been making their home with him. During his congressional career he served with Vice-president Hendricks, Charles Sumner, John Scott Harrison, father of ex-Senator Benjamin Harrison, John C. Breckenridge, etc. He is a charter member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he was a steward for several years.