Thomas Davis

As printed in 1901

The subject of this biography is now successfully engaged in the practice of law in Central City, Iowa, and is one of the most prominent citizens of that place. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, June 9, 1856, of Scotch-Irish parentage. His father, James Davis, is a native of Ireland, born near Londonderry in 1817, and in that country married Miss Jane Fullerton, who was born there in 1827. Both are still living and continue to make their home in Coshocton county, Ohio. Throughout the greater part of his life the father has followed farming, and although he came to the new world a poor man he is now quite well-to-do. In politics he is a Republican, and is an active party worker, who has held a number of local offices in his township. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian and also takes an active part in church work.

Unto James and Jane (Fullerton) Davis were born fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters, of whom five died in early childhood, and one son at the age of eighteen years, and a daughter died in Colorado at the age of about twenty-six. Those living are Mrs. Martha Scott, a resident of Arizona; Mrs. Rebecca Infield, of Coshocton county, Ohio; John F., a farmer, living near Milford, Dickinson county, Iowa; Mrs.

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(iEORGE GREENE.

To Robert Greene and Scfcr Woodward Greene, natives of Staffordshire, England, were born three sons, (george. William and Josei)h, who, jointly and severally, gave the best they could of thought and energy to the cause of progress in that section of the new west which early in life they selected to be the field of their lives' work.

George, who was born in Alton, Staffordsliire, was two years old when his parents brought him to the United States and located in Buffalo, New York, where the other sons were born, and where the father died in 1825. The mother, leaving her young children in Ihiffalo, returned to England, where some property had been left, which she sought but failed to recover..She died at her old home in 1827. For four years George, who had this been left an orphan at the age of ten, managed to support himself and his brothers. Then he went to England, hoping to succeed where his mother had failed. He returned in less than a year, having worked his passage each way, and Ijringing back nothing except a meagre fund saved from his own personal earnings while away and a dogged determination to succeed by his own efforts. By dint of industry and economy he managed to study one year at Carj-ville Collegiate Seminary, a year at Aurora Academy and two years at French's Collegiate Institute in Geneva, Xew York. During these years he taught school and did such other work as he could find to do.

After leaving the institute he read law in the office of Hon. George P. Baker, of Buffalo, making his home with a Dr. Chapin and assisting the Doctor in office work. keeping his books, etc.

He came west in 1838. His first stopping place was Davenport. Here he met and was at once employed by David J. Owen, who was making a geological survey of Iowa. For the next six months he was a surveyor. Thus he acquired an intimate knowledge of much of the country and saved considerable from his liberal salary.

Then he came to Ivanhoe, Linn county, and taught school, continuing his law studies at the same time. In 1840 he was admitted to the bar at Iowa City. The same year he moved to Marion and began practice. The next year he was a member of the Territorial Legislature. In 1845 "" gaged in law practice and journalism in Dubuque, having purchased the line E.press, which he conducted fur se\eral years. His law partner was J. J. Dyer. Soon after the formation of the partnership Mr. Dyer was appointed judge of the United States district court. In 1847 (george Greene was appointed one of the supreme judges of the state, to full a vacancy. The following year he was regularly elected. Me served on the supreme bench foy eight years.

During that period lie comjMled "Greene's Reports," published in four Aiilumes.

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He engaged extensively in the Ijanking business, associated with John Weare, D. O. Finch, W. H. Merritt and others. When the panic of 1857 came he was actively connected with the management of nine banks in different localities. He was largely interested in real estate in most of the counties and nearly every large town of the state.

In 1859 Judge Greene formed a law partnership with Cyrus Bently, of Chicago, which continued for five years, during most of which time he lived in Chicago. During the winter of 1863- 1864 he lived in Mc- (gregor, Iowa, while he and his brothers were building the McGregor Western Railroad to Conover. At this same time and for several years following he was also engaged in the construction of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad. On his return to Cedar Rapids he formed a law partnership. The other members of the firm were Judge Dudley and A. S. Belt. Judge Greene's s;inin-law. The firm were solicitors for the Chicago & Xorlhwestern Railroad. About this time Judge Greene became president of the Burlington. Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Railroad and was a most important factor in the construction of that road, which afterward became the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad. He constructed several other smaller railroads, and altogether was prominently- identified with railroad enterprises in six states. Ii)\va, Illinois. Wisconsin, IMissoivri, Minnesota and Kansas.

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He was one of the founders and a warden of Grace Episcopal church, and one of the most loyal promoters of Coe Collegiate Institute, the forerunner of Coe College. He was for many years president of the hoard of trustees of that institution.

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Judge Greene died at his home in Cedar Rapids June 23, 1880, surrounded by all the members of his family. He was buried with Alasonic honors.

As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.