My Genealogy Hound

GREENE, NELSON, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 24, P. O. Kane. Time has wrought many changes in the great and growing West, and few have been more stirring actors on the scene of action than the Greene family. Foremost among the leading spirits of pioneer days, we mention with more than a passing notice, William Greene, father of our subject; he was born in the State of Kentucky, of an extremely daring disposition; in his youth he wended his way to the State of Illinois, settling in Bond Co., thence to Madison Co., at a time when few then traversed Illinois, save the harbingers of advancing civilization, the hunters and trappers, who ever move onward at the advance of civilization. We do not know the motive that inspired William Greene to become a resident of this State at this early date, and eventually a leader among men, whose daring nature overcame all obstacles; doubtless the West, where game abounded in the forest, and the finny tribe that swam our Western waters, had claims for him; his martial spirit made him a leader among men, and shortly after his arrival in the West, we find him a soldier among other troops for the protection of the frontier ; he was destined to witness many stirring events during these Indian expeditions; in 1819, he became a resident of Greene County, where he was destined to play so prominent a part, and where himself, John Greene and Thomas Carlin were instructed as to the laying out of the county seat; as we have seen, he was a man of no ordinary courage, and evinced so much reckless daring as the leader of parties known as the Macoupinites, equally as daring as himself, that when it became necessary for the erection of a court house in Carrollton, in after years, it is safe to assume that he bore no secondary part in the payment of money toward its erection. In early days, Carrollton was a central point for the militia drills, over which Mr. Greene was the presiding officer; in many ways he will long be remembered as one who helped materially toward making Greene County, named in honor of William and John Greene, one of the most flourishing counties in the State; he died in 1828; his estimable wife, who bore him five children, is still living, a resident of this township, a lady of sturdy independence and will, that distinguished many of the pioneer women, who spent no time in idleness. Nelson was the fourth child, and as our narrative is obtained from him, we here append a short biography. He was born in Greene County, in the year 1822, and grew up a stout, vigorous boy, early becoming inured to the hard work of a farm, and receiving such education as he obtained in a subscription school; in 1847, he was married to Elizabeth Ann Gano, a daughter of John S. Gano, a Virginian; in his own language —“I borrowed the clothes which I wore to the marriage,” and subsequently borrowed many of the household utensils that formed the simple furniture of his cabin; but he worked hard, and this paved the way for future success; he is the owner of 120 acres of land in one of the best townships of Greene County; is a whole-souled, liberal gentleman, and enjoys the confidence of his many friends; he was twice elected justice of the peace, serving eight years, and has probably married more happy couples than any other man in the county. Mr. G. is the father of eight children: John, Emily, Mary, Sarah, Lucy, Herschel, Robert and Clarence.