Biography of James William Green (1860-1935)

Like most people of that day, he lay in state at the family home. His Masonic funeral was conducted in the Winslow Methodist Episcopal Church with burial in the Sunset Cemetery located about a mile northeast of Winslow.

James William "Will" Green's mother divorced his father when "Will" was only 5 years old. It was a bitterly fought case in the Pike Co., Court and the mother was eventually awarded custody of all the children and his father disappeared from his life. "Will" was reared in the home of his grandfather, Joseph SHAWHAN, in a large beautiful home just outside Union, Pike Co., Indiana. The home still stands and is located on the "Shawhan Curve", a well-known landmark in Pike County.

Grandpa "Will" Green was educated in the schools of that day and with financial backing of his grandfather Shawhan opened a grocery store in Petersburg. He supplied groceries to the Pike Co. Jail and this was how he first met Grandma, Mary Ann BRYANT. Grandma lived in the far southern part of the county, but when her neighbor, Thomas SCALES, was elected sheriff, he hired Grandma as housekeeper in the sheriff's residence.

James William BRYANT married  at Petersburg, Pike Co., Indiana, 15 August 1882, Mary Ann BRYANT, daughter of James BRYANT and Margaret SCOTT. She was born 10 March 1860 in Patoka Twp., Pike Co., Indiana, and died 9 June 1935 and was buried beside her husband in Sunset Cemetery.

"Will" Green was a coal miner most of his life, working as a face boss in the underground mines operated by the Ingle family. Coal mining was never a source for steady employment all the time and Grandpa supplemented his income serving as Winslow Town Marshall for several years during the great depression.

Shortly after their marriage, Grandpa Green, purchased a large lot where the Winslow Post Office now stands. The land was ugly as sandstone had been quarried there to build the footers, supporting the old covered bridge crossing the Patoka River on the Southside of Winslow. The bridge is gone, but the sandstone blocks are still visible slightly east of the present bridge. Grandpa built a nice two-story frame home on the site where they raised 4 children and a grandson and lived until their death.

Grandpa Green  was active in the Winslow Masonic Lodge, serving many offices during his lifetime and was a member of the Winslow Methodist Church, teaching the Men's Sunday School Class.

When I was 5 years old, I went with Grandma and Grandma to visit Aunt Jessie WESTERFELT in Newark, Ohio. Grandpa had been used to driving Model T Ford cars, but Uncle Ted convinced him to buy a new Model A Ford touring car with a layback top and a rumble seat. As we were getting ready to leave on the trip, Grandpa had it in the wrong gear and we ran through the back end of his garage. Fortunately, there was no damage to the car and we proceeded on our way to Ohio.

Uncle Ted had the garage repaired while we were gone. But guess what? Grandpa couldn't find the brake and knocked out the ball wall of the garage, again. One thing I will always remember about Grandpa, both arms were stiff as pokers on the wheel and when he turned the wheel his whole body shifted position.

They had four children (all born in Winslow, Pike Co., Indiana.):

1. Harry GREEN, b. 13 July 1883; d. __  ___ 1969 in Brentwood, California; m. 1st., Lillian PIPES __ ___ 1901 in Winslow (div.); m. 2nd., Opal Pearl MOSIER __ ___ 1911 in Anthony, Kansas.
2. Nellie Bryant GREEN, b. 13 April 1886; d. 23 October 1972 in Princeton, Gibson Co., Indiana; m. 15 June 1903 in Pike Co., Indiana, Ben Wilson LINDSAY.
3. Jessie Bryant GREEN
4. Ted Morris GREEN

SOURCES
BIRTH: Tombstone Inscription at Sunset Cemetery in Patoka Township, Pike Co., Indiana.
MARRIAGE: Pike Co., Indiana Marriage Records.
DEATH: Tombstone Inscription at Sunset Cemetery in Patoka Township, Pike Co., Indiana, and obituary in The Winslow Dispatch.