My Genealogy Hound

GREENE, S. F., who bore a prominent part in the growth and development of the flourishing county of Greene, is a native of the county, born in 1820, and is in all probability the first white child born south of the Macoupin Creek. Of his parents it will be well to enter into a short description: John Greene, the head of the family, was a cotemporary settler with Samuel Thomas and John Huitt, having settled south of the Macoupin Creek in 1819. He was a native of Kentucky, and is described as a man of genial manners, and whose hospitality was unbounded. Such was the confidence reposed in his honor and integrity, that in 1838 or 40, when the legislature convened in Vandalia, he served one term as a member, receiving a re-election two years later. His wife was Miss Nancy Mains, of Georgia. The marriage occurred in Madison County, but as nothing has been retained in writing by the surviving members of the family, the date cannot be ascertained. Both husband and wife have long since passed away, and the survivors of the family are now six sons and one daughter. The subject of our sketch, whose life history is here appended, is the second child born of this marriage. Growing to manhood upon the old farm homestead, he received such education as the facilities of a log cabin offered. In 1846, November 5th, he was united in marriage to Miss Polly Witt, a daughter of Franklin Witt, by whom he had one child, John H. Mrs. Greene departed this life September 11th, 1850, and two years later Mr. Greene was married to Miss Eliza J, Witt, a cousin of his first wife, and the daughter of William P. Witt by whom he has six children: William R., Hattie L., Robert W., Mary E., Justina and Walter B. During the Autumn of 1866 Mr. Greene received the nomination and was elected sheriff of this county, and serving one term gave general satisfaction to the law-abiding portion of the community, and in 1877 he was elected county commissioner by a large majority. Ranking among the prominent farmers of the west, Mr. Greene is the owner of 706 acres of valuable land, and holds a controlling interest in the private banking institution known as Littlefield & Greene’s.