Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 525] deceased, was one of the representative and prominent farmers and blacksmiths of Neshannock township, and for at least a quarter of a century was a well-known and highly respected class-leader and local preacher of the M. E. Church. He was a son of Hance and Elizabeth (Hall) Greer, both natives of County Fermanagh, Ireland. Hance Greer came to the United States in 1804, and settled at Noblestown, Allegheny Co., Pa., about twelve miles from Pittsburg on Chartiers Creek. In 1810, he removed to Sewickley Bottom, and there resided, until 1826, when he took up his home in Zelienople, Butler Co., Pa., where his death occurred in 1828. To him and his wife were born the following children: Robert; John; Mary A.; James; Elizabeth; and Thomas, of whom we write. Our subject's mother was called to her reward on April, 8, 1815. They were highly thought of in the communities in which they lived, upright and conscientious, of high moral principles, and consistent members of the Methodist Church.
Rev. Thomas Greer obtained the greater part of his school education in Butler County, and then learned the blacksmith's trade of his brother-in-law at Sewickley, Pa., spending six years to learn the trade, which he thereafter diligently followed until 1835, in which year he moved to Neshannock township, where he purchased a farm and worked it in connection with his trade. Rev. Mr. Greer was originally a Democrat in his political affiliations, but later on identified himself thoroughly with the Republican party being very active in local affairs and holding several township offices of importance.
In 1830, he married Annie R. Riley, daughter of David and Sarah Riley of Neshannock township, and to them were given the following children: Sarah A., who married Alexander Rankin, and bore him four children—Annie N., Isabel, Mary, and Thomas G.; Elizabeth H.; Mary A., who married Samuel Cowan, now deceased, of Armstrong Co., Pa., and has one child, Sarah A., who married William W. Maitland, and has one child, Sarah A.; David R., who married Sarah J. Simonton of Rich Hill, Wilmington township, this county. The husband of Mary A. Greer, Samuel Cowan, was a prosperous farmer of Neshannock township, a man of good business ability, and honest and upright in all his dealings. Rev. Mr. Greer held many positions of honor in the M. E. Church, and was one of the pioneer preachers of this district. His son, David, has followed in his footsteps, and is a local preacher of the Methodist denomination. Our subject departed this life April 10, 1891, aged eighty-three years. He was a man of decided opinions as to the right or wrong of actions, and fearless in giving them expression; he is amply entitled to the reward of the upright man and good citizen in the memory of his colaborers. Such a noble gentleman merits the fullest recognition in our power, and it is with pleasure that the publishers of this Book of Biographies present his portrait on a preceding page.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 13 Jul 2001