GEORGE GREER was born near Five-mile town, county Tyrone, Ireland, August 1, 1814. His father was also a native of Ireland and was named Robert. The grandfather, George Greer, it is thought was born on the same farm, and all were of Scotch ancestry. The grandfather was a farmer by occupation, and was also a prominent contractor of public works and improvements. He passed away in his native county. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Martin, was born in county Fermanagh, and was also of Scotch stock. Both were members of the Methodist Church. The grandfather was an eccentric but able man, with independent views, and erected a stone church in his own yard.

The father of our subject was also a farmer and a successful contractor and spent his entire life on the farm where he was born. His wife was Catherine Lendrum, who was born in the same locality, and was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Erskine) Lendrum, also of the same county and also of Scotch descent. The Erskines were very prominent people, not only in Ireland but in England also, where they were connected by ties of blood with nobility and royalty, and boasted a coat of arms, a motto, and an honored name. Both the parents of our subject were Methodists. The mother came to America at the age of forty-six years, and passed her last days at her home in Rushville. She reared a large family of thirteen children as follows: George, John, Elizabeth, Jane, Joseph, James, Robert, Eleanor, Erskine, Lendrum, Lucinda, Andrew and Alexander. All the members of this family were born in Ireland, and our subject was the first to cross the ocean, sailing from Derry on the 14th of April, 1832, in the vessel William Ewing, and landing in Philadelphia on the 7th of June.

When our subject reached Philadelphia he was a stranger and in limited circumstances. He soon found employment in that city, but the cholera broke out with great violence, whereupon he went to Lancaster county and engaged in farming, and there resided until the 13th of February, 1836, when he went by stage to Pittsburg, thence down the Ohio by the steamer Ben Bolt (her first trip), and up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Beardstown. Soon afterward he located at Rushville, and for some time was engaged in exploring the surrounding country. In the fall of 1836 he returned to Pennsylvania, and in July, 1837, again came to Rushville, where he has since resided. For many years he was a successful merchant and was associated in business with Thomas Wilson, but is now retired. He has been one of the most substantial and upright of Rushville's business men.

On the 6th of April, 1837, he was united in marriage to Miss Ann J. Clark, a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were John and Eleanor (Greer) Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Greer have two children living, Susanna and Almira D. The former is the wife of Henry Brown, and has three living children: Olie, Eleanor and Lynn; Almira is the wife of Edwin P. McClure, and has two children, George H. and Margaret M. Mr. and Mrs. Greer are Methodists, and he is a straight Republican.