The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-03-20
The PASSING OF
JOHN M. GREER
Was Devoted To War and Bri'.
liant in Peace.
ABLE AND BELOVED JURlST
Large Was His Bounty and His Soul
Sincere'-Only Good to Say of
Hlm-1Nobe Example for
Youth to Emulate.


Butler, Pa.-John Morgan Greer,
aged 67, former president judge OF
Butler county and leading attorney
of the Butler county bar is dead at
his home here. He had been a sol
dier, attorney, educator, jurist and
member of the State Senate. At the
time of his death he had retired as
Judge and was the head of the law
irm of Greer and Sons, which has an
extensive practice in Western Penn
sylvania.
Judge Greer was born in Jefferson
township, Butler County, Pa, August
3, 1914. His early education was OBJ
tanned in the common schools and at
Connoquenessing Academy at Zelien
ople. Later he taught school in Win
fed and Jefferson township.
In July, 1862, he enlisted in the
Civil War and was sergeant in
Company D. One Hundred and Thirty
seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers,
which served in the Army of the Poto'
mas in General Wadsworth's division
of the First corps, commanded by
General Reynolds, until it was dis
charged June /, 1868. This regiment
was at the battles OF South Mountain
Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chan
cel!orsville.
In the following March he re-enlist'
ed in Battery E, Second Pennsylvania
Artillery, and was transferred to Bat
terry B, Provisional second artillery,
as a sergeant. The regiment lost
over 200 men, killed and fatally
wounded during Grants campaign in
1864, was in the battles from the Will
derness to Petersburg, remaining in
the breastworks in front of that city
from June II until late in the fall OF
1864.
In number of the battles Greer
carried the regimental coiors and at
the charges in front of Petersburg on
June II and at the mine explosion of
July 80, had command of the battery.
At this explosion he received gun.
shot wound in the left thigh which
confined him to the hospital for five
months. His younger brother, Rob
ert Boise Greer, was member of the
same battery, received wound in the
charge at Petersburg and was taken
to the hospital where he died.
After the war the later Judge
Greer began his legal studies under
Judge Charles McCandless Of Butler
and was admitted to the bar in 1867.
In 1868 he was elected district attor-
ney of Butler county and served for
three years Being man Of high
integrity and painstakins in his pro.
fession he always enjoyed the conf
dence of the people. His pleasing ad'
dress and sincerity made him an ef-
fective pleader before juries, Later
he formed a law partnership with
Judge McCandless, which continued
until the elevation Of that jurist to
the bench in 1874. In 1876 Greer
was elected to the State Senate from
the Forty first district and was re.
elected in 1850, serving as senator for
eight years.
Senator Greers service in the Sen
ate was distinguished. His judgment
was sound and his knowledge of the
state and its needs comprehensive.
His good nature was unfailing and
his humor frequently relieved the
tedium of the necessary routine of
careful legislation. His gigantic fig
ure always commanded attention.
In 1887 he founded law partner
ship with Everett l.. Ralston, which
continued until his election to the
bench, when his son, John B. Greer,
succeeded him in the firm, which be-
came of Raston G. Greer.
Governor Beaver, in 1887, appointed
him examiner and inspector of the
soldiers orphans schools of the state,
position which he filled for four
years, when, on account OF his in
creasing law business, he reluctantly
resigned.
He was past commander of A. G
Reed Post No 1O5, G. A. R., and was
intensely patriotic. Seldom were
"taps sounded over the remains OF
any old soldier of the Civil War in
Butler county that he was not pres.
ent at the funeral of the deceased
eomrade in arms. He was warmly In
IeT6blcu Ill lnC vi CuuNuilOh anu
was one of the citizens of Butler coun
ty who were instrumental In the es'
tablishment of the Slippery Rock
State Normal School at Slippery Rock,
and he was one Of the trustees Of that
institution since It's establishment, He
also served for six years as trustee
of the Pennsylvania State College.
On the death OF Judge McMichael,
law Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial
district, Mr.. Greer was nominated on
the Republican ticket and elected. He
served until September, 1898, when
on account of an act of Assembly di.
viding the district, with Lawrence
county as the new one, he became
president Judge of the Seventeenth
district (now Fiftieth), composed OF
Butler county.
Upon the retirement Of Judge Greer
from the bench, in January, 1908, he
associated with him his sons, Thomas
II. Greer and John r. Greer, both
Wreck Victims Body Found.
Steubenville, O.--The body OF Cap.