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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON ELIJAH C.S. GREEN

The subject of this biographical notice was born in Tyre, Senecca Co., N.Y., Sept. 16, 1825, and was the second in order of birth in a family of nine children born to David and Miranda (Chalker) Green, the former a native of Schobarie County, N.Y., and the latter Vermont.  The father was born in 1802, and growing to manhood, followed farming for a number of years, after which he had charge of the infirmary at Ohio for two years, at a salary of $600 per year, and furnished rooms.  In 1836 he made a tour of this State, prospecting for a place of settlement, and in the following year he returned and bought a tract of land near Coldwater.  In 1841 he brought his family and settled in Gilead Township, where he bought 300 acres of land of D. Waterman, on sections 20 and 21.  He was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred Oct. 9, 1885, at the age of eighty-three years.  He was at one time Lieutenant in the old Flood Wood Company, organized in Seneca Falls, N.Y.  The mother of our subject still survives, and resides at Orland, Steuben Co., Ind.  The paternal grandparents of our subject, Boen and Sally (Cole) Green, were natives respectively of England and Holland, and both came to this country while un-married, and united their destines in 1799.  The grandfather was a drum major in the Revolutionary War, and his remains are buried in Schoharie County, N.Y.  The grandmother died, and was buried in Gilead, in this county, and three of the Green brothers came to this country from England,.  The maternal grandparents of our subject, Nathaniel and Sally (Cook) Chalker, were natives of Vermont, but trace their ancestry back to England, whence some of the family emigrated to this country in its early history, in 1828.

Young Green was reared to farm life in his native State, and was fifteen years of age when he came to Michigan, obtaining his education largely in Michigan, where he attended college two years at Albion.  He subsequently attended ......

The ceremony which united the destinies of Mr. Green and Nancy M. Keyes took place in Bethel Township, July 16, 1846.  Mrs. Green was born in the Empire State in 1827, and was the third in order of birth in a family of seven children born to Samuel and Mary A. (Jerrold) Keyes, natives of the same State as their daughter.  They came to Michigan at an early day, and settling in Adrian in 1838, made it their home for four years, after which they went to Bronson, where they engaged for a time in keeping a hotel.  The father died in Bethel in 1881, while the mother passed away five years later.  After marriage our subject settled on section 9, Gilead Township, where he operated rented land for a short time, but in 1855 he went to Iowa, and buying a tract of land in Scott County, engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He subsequently sold this property, and returning to Michigan located in Bethel Township, where he purchased eighty acres of land on section 16.

January 27, 1861, Mr. Green lost his amiable and accomplished wife, after suffering about three years with consumption.  Everything that loving hearts could suggest was done to ward off the destroyer, but she died in the prime of life, aged thirty-two years, eight months and ten days.  She bore to her husband three children, whose record is as follows:  Isabelle G., Mrs. Bigelow, of Lincoln, Neb., is actively engaged in the cause of temperance, and is a celebrated speaker, having lectured throughout the States of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Michigan.  Her home is at Lincoln, Neb.  Eliza died at the age of thirteen years, her death being caused by inflamation of the bowels; she was a bright and intelligent girl, and very apt scholar and a natural mathematician.  Bascom Rodel died in 1861, a sweet child of two years, six months and ten days.

Mr. Green was a second time united in marriage, April 15, 1863, the lady of his choice being Lydia H. Thurston, a native of Sturgis, Mich., where she was born in 1835.  She is the eldest in a family of six children born to George and Sarah (Jones) Thurston, natives respectively of New York and Pittsburgh, Pa.  The parents came to Michigan in 1818, and settling near Detroit, assisted in taking down the old stockade at that place.  During the struggle known as the Black Hawk War, he was residing at Sturgis, and participated in the contest.  He is still hale and hearty, and has completed his fourscore years; the mother died several years ago.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Green has been brightened by the birth of two children - Harry G. and Homer J. 

During the Civil War our subject went to Kalamazoo with three squads of men, paid them their bounty and saw them mustered into the service.  Mr. Green takes an active interest in politics, and is a staunch Republican.  He has been Deputy Sheriff of Branch County, and was Justice of the Peace twelve years, and Notary Public sixteen years.