[p. 988] One of the prominent
citizens who has been identified with
New Castle during the past twenty-five
years, who has largely contributed to the
manufacturing and industrial development
and growth of the city is Mr. George Greer,
who was born in Neshannock Township,
Lawrence County, being a son of the late
William Y. Greer, whose father, Mr. John
Greer, was one of the early settlers and
pioneers of Lawrence County, having located
at Neshannock Township about 1820.
Mr. George Greer has been actively engaged in and identified with the banking and manufacturing interests of New Castle during the past twenty-five years. He is vice-president of the First National Bank, and one of the directors of the National Bank of Lawrence County, of which his father (the late William Y. Greer) was one of the original stockholders and a director until the time of his death. Mr. George Greer was one of the original stockholders, and was identified with the organization of the Shenango Valley Steel Company.
In 1892 Mr. George Greer (with the assistance of Messrs. John Stevenson, Jr., W. S. Foltz, Charles Greer, and S. W. Cunningham) organized the New Castle Steel and Tin Plate Company, which was the first tin plate works erected and operated in New Castle, Mr. George being elected president and general manager of the company—which position he held until the company was absorbed by the United States Steel Corporation.
During January, 1899, Mr. Greer took charge of the then unfinished Shenango Tin Plate Works, which he completed, organized and successfully operated in addition to having charge of the New Castle works, until July 1, 1908, at which time he severed his connection with the tin plate company, to give his entire attention to his varied interests in other manufacturing and investment enterprises, located in New Castle and other cities, some of the more important of which are as follows:
The La Belle Iron Works, of Steubenville, Ohio, of which Mr. Greer is a large stockholder, also a member of the board of directors.
He is also largely interested in another successful Independent Sheet & Steel Company, manufacturing their own steel and marketing same in finished product.
Mr. Greer is, and has been identified, both as a stockholder and director, with the H. C. Fry Glass Company, of Rochester, Pa., which company has been very successful in manufacturing and marketing the finest quality of cut glass in the United States.
Also, Mr. Greer is one of the original stockholders of the Republic Rubber Company. He is a large stockholder and director of the Lehigh Shenango Portland Cement Company, located at New Castle; also of the New Castle Portland Cement Company.
Mr. Greer is identified with and a stockholder in the Preston County Coal and Coke Company, located near Morgantown, W. Va., of which his nephew (H. C. Greer) is president.
He is also a large holder of real estate in Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, and is interested in the breeding and raising of Shorthorn Durham cattle. He has imported into the State, bred and now owns some of the best thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle in Western Pennsylvania.
Mr. Greer is also a large holder of improved real estate in the city of New Castle, and has contributed to the improvement and beautifying of the city, having but recently built a fine residence, located on North Jefferson Street, also erected and completed one of the finest business and office buildings in the city, located on North Mercer Street.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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Updated: 14 Feb 2002