The Washington bee., 1897-04-24
oHIo'S GREATEST NEGRO

AT the end of seven years, he had |
not only succeeded in purchasing a
home for his mother, where she spent
the remainder of her life, free from
want: but he had also, by studying
during the spare hours allotted TO him,
succeeded, without teacher, in pre-
pairing himself in English, Latin. and
Mathematics, TO enter the Cleveland
Central High School, whence he was
graduated, at the head of his class, (all
white except HIMSELF, in less than
three wears; having gained one year
and one month, by hard study; al
though he worked in dining-rooms for
his board and lodging during the
whole time, and was excused at ten
minutes before the rest of his class,
each noon, in order that he might
reach the hotel in time to take his
place TO wait on the dinner table.
Having graduated, he Immediately
entered upon the study of law, in the
office of the late Judge Jesse P. Bishop,
of Cleveland Afterwards, upon the
invitation of the late General John
Crowell, he entered the Ohio Law Col
lege, from which he was graduated, in
the Summer of 1870.
Before, Mr.. Green finished his law
course, he married Miss Annie l..
Walker, native OF Greensboro, n. c.,
and though entirely without money,
save few dollars Qess than ten), yet,
they have always lived happily to-
gether, and as the years go by, the love
they bear, each for the other, becomes
intensified and sacred.
Six children.-hve boys and one Girl,
s yDf, hny-e Iao6 have haaT
the result of this union: OF these, VIM,
K is a lawyer Theodore B. is study
ing law, Jesse B. is pupil at the Cen
tral High School, while Clara Annie
F., is at school.
In 1870, Mr. Green visited South
Carolina, where he was admitted to
practice law. He was elected to the
State Convention which elected dele
gates TO the Philadelphia National Re-
publican Convention and, on motion
of Hon. Robert Smalls, he was invited
TO and did address the convention,
consisting of the leading public men OF
that State. He was also then and there
elected an alternate delegate to the
aforesaid National Convention.
Returning TO Cleveland, IN the Fall
of 1872, Mr.. Green, resumed the prac-
tice of law, until the following Spring,
when he was, by popular vote, elected
Justice of the Peace for the city OF
! Cleveland He held this position for
nine consecutive years, beginning and
disposing of more than twelve thOus-
and cases.
/ In the Fall of 1882, he was elected to
the lower house of the Ohio General
Assembly; having served two years,
he was renominated, by aCClamation
I but. went down in he general defeat
OF his party.
! In 1890. he was again nominated to
the lower house, by the popular
/ Vote" plan; of thirteen candidates for
this honor, ofwhom eleven were white
men, and one of the latter an ex-
/ Speaker of the Ohio House of Repre-
/ sentatives, Mr. Green was the highest
+. by 754 votes; he was elected, of course,
] and served his second term.
I In 1902. Mr.. Green was elected by a
large majority to the Senate Of Ohio,
representing in that august body the
25th Senatorial District, which includes
the beautiful and wealthy ci y of Cleve-
land AT the conclusion OF his term
in the Senate, Mr.. Green, whose
health, owing TO long service at the
bar and in politics, was in very pre-
CarIous condition, retired from politics
temporarily and made an extended
tour in Europe.
/ Returning, he stood. in the Summer
of 1894, as a candidate for one OF the
Judges of the Court OF Common Pleas
of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. In the
contes, t with tWenty-siX, all white but
himself, he stood number IS in the
race; but, could not win in.
Since then. Mr.. Green has been
practicing law and giving all his spare
time to the service of his friends en-
gagged in political contests. worked
faithfully with both tongue and pen for
the nomination and election OF Presl-
dent Mckinley, and used his three
sons in that behalf as well. He has
been at all times, when in Office as well
as when out of office, for twenty-seven
consecutive years. actively engaged IN
practice of law, as he has never
held a salaried office, save that OF
legislator, which paid him $500 per
year.
Mr.. Green was an alternate at large
to the St. Louis National Convention.
Mr.. Green will be the next recorder
I of deeds for the District of 'Olum bia