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Below is a family biography included in The History of Jefferson County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James F. Green is the present prosecuting attorney for Jefferson County, and is a resident of Hillsboro, where he was born March 9th, 1856. He was the second of five sons and one daughter born to Abner and Mary (Chapman) Green, natives of Virginia, born in 1809 and 1825, respectively. The father received a fair education, and when a young man went to Kentucky, where he engaged in school teaching for a few years, and also at the same time, at leisure hours, studied law. He then came to Palmyra, Marion Co., Mo., where he resumed the study of law under his brother, Hon. James S. Green, who served as United States senator, from Missouri, from 1857 to 1881, and who was a brother of Gen. Martin Green, who fell at the siege of Vicksburg. Abner came to Jefferson County about 1845, and entered upon the practice of his chosen profession at Hillsboro, where a long and successful career awaited him. He was for several years county school commissioner; also held the office of county attorney, probate judge, etc., and was holding the office of prosecuting attorney at the time of his death, which occurred in 1876. He was frequently a delegate to the Congressional and State Conventions as a Democrat of the old strict construction school. Although not a member of the church, he was a firm believer in the Christian religion, and contributed liberally to its support. Mrs. Green is a member of the Presbyterian Church. James F. was reared at home and educated in the public schools of Jefferson County. When about eighteen years of age he began the study of law in the office of his father. Previous to this, at the age of sixteen, he received a clerkship in the recorder’s office, where he remained for about three years, and was then for about one year deputy circuit clerk. In January, 1878, he was licensed to practice at the Jefferson County bar, and soon after became a partner with Judge J. J. Williams, with whom he remained for a number of years. Since then he has engaged in the practice of his profession alone and has met with evident success. In 1880 he was elected prosecuting attorney, and is now serving his fourth consecutive term in that capacity. He is an active worker for the principles of the Democratic party, and on several occasions has served as a delegate to State conventions. In 1883 he married Miss Essie, daughter of George and Harriet Tetley, of Ironton, Mo., where Mrs. Green was born. To them were born two children. Mrs. Green is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 224 biographies included in The History of Jefferson County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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