Henderson Palmer Greene

Hon. Henderson Parmer Greene, county and probate judge of Washington

County, Ark., was born in White County, Tenn., on the 4th of June, 1828.

His parents, Wesley and Catherine (Gentry) Greene, were natives of the" Old

North State." the former a millwright by occupation, and a direct descendant

of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame. This branch of the Greene

family have all the characteristics of their ancestors; and are a square-built,

hardy, long-lived and courageous people, inheriting Scotch-Irish blood from

their paternal ancestors.

Catherine (Gentry) Greene is a descendant of a prominent

old North Carolina family, and she and her husband. Mr. Greene. died

in Montgomery County. Tenn., when their son, Henderson, was a small lad

of seven years. He became a bound boy in the family of Alfred Davidson,

and with them removed to Greene County, Mo., in 1839, where he grew to manh0orl,

and acquired sufficient knowledge in the common schools to enable him to

engage in teaching as a profession. He followed this occupation in Greene and

Christian Counties from 1849 until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion.

In 1860 he was elected to represent Christian County in the State Legislature,

and served two terms, the latter term including a call session. In 1861 he organized

Company F,Fourth Regiment Missouri Volunteers, Confederate States Army,

of which company he became commander upon its entering the field, and after

serving about two years was taken captive while doing recruiting service as quartermaster,

and was kept a prisoner until near the close of the war. After the

cessation of hostilities he went to Texas, where he remained about two years,

and then came to Cane Hill, Ark., and engaged in farming and teaching school.

In 1884 he was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature, and two years

later was elected county and probate judge of Washington County, and has tilled

the duties of that office with ability and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

While residing in Christian County, Mo., he was married to Miss Elmina

Elizabeth Tillman, who was a daughter of Reuben Tillman, a native of Tennessee.

She was an honored and worthy member of the Missionary Baptist Church,

and her untimely death was mourned by her husband and five children. The

latter's names are as follows: William F., a physician and druggist at Lowell,

Ark.; James A., who is studying medicine with his brother, Thomas 0., who

is a teacher by profession; Minnie, who,is yet single, and Mattie, wife of Andrew

Hanna. Judge Greene was married in Washington County, Ark., January 9,

1874, to Miss M. J. McLothlin, a native of Arkansas, and two daughters have

been born to this marriage: Emma Otelia and Caddie A. Judge Greene has been

amember of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1854, and was a charter member

and active worker in the Grange movement at Cane Hill, being master of

that organization for several years.

GREENE, H.P. - Judge H.P. Greene, Prairie Grove’s oldest and highly respected citizen, passed away Wednesday morning, April 26thth, about 3:30 o’clock after a short illness of urethral trouble. He was taken sick on Tuesday of last week, but his illness was not regarded as serious at first. He gradually grew worse, however, and for several days his suffering was intense, but for several hours before the end came he rested better. Wednesday morning he quietly breathed his last, surrounded by his loved ones and friends, who were ministering at his bedside. Judge Greene would have been 88 years of age, had he lived until the 4th day of next June, and he had long been a familiar figure on our streets and in the business and church circles of Prairie Grove. He was a man possessed of a remarkably strong vitality for his age and up to the time he was taken sick, was at his office daily, transacting such business as came to his hands for attention. Judge Greene has been a man of great usefulness, both in church and state. He was possessed of strong convictions for morality and righteousness. He had held many positions of trust, in which he served well and faithfully, and up to the time of his death was one of the Justices of the Peace of this township. Henderson Parmer Greene was born in White County, Tennessee June 4, 1828 of Scotch Irish ancestry and was a lineal descendant of Gen. Nathaniel Greene of Revolutionary fame. When a small boy his parents both died and he was adopted by Alfred and Martha Davidson who in 1839 moved to Missouri and located near Springfield. Here he grew to young manhood and was educated in the common schools of that period. He later engaged in teaching school and continued in this profession until the breaking out of the Civil War. In 1860 he was elected to the Missouri Legislature and served two terms during the turbulent period preceding to and during the beginning of the war. In 1861 he organized Co. F, 4th Reg. Mo. Volunteers, Confederate States army and became its commander upon entering service. After serving two years in the army he was taken prisoner and remained in prison until near the close of the war. When the war was over he moved to Texas and lived there for two years, then he came to this county and located on a farm on Cane Hill, where he farmed and taught school. In 1884 he was elected a member of the Arkansas Legislature and in 1888 he was elected Judge of Washington County. At the expiration of his term in office he moved to Prairie Grove, where he has since resided. He had been one of the Justices of the Peace here for a long term of years. Judge Greene had been twice married. In 1854 he married Miss Elmina Elizabeth Tillman. To this union six children were born, three of whom survive, James A. Greene of the State of Washington; Thomas O. Greene of Idaho and Mrs. Andrew Hannah of Prairie Grove. After the death of his first wife, he was again married on January 8, 1874 to Miss Marilda Jane McLothlin, who survives him with two children, Mrs. J.P. Edmiston and Miss Caddie Greene of Prairie Grove. Judge Greene has been a faithful and devoted member of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1881, and was very active in all of its work. He was clerk of the Fayetteville Baptist association for 32 years. For a long period of years he was superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School of the local church, and he will be sadly missed from the church councils. He was a member of the Prairie Grove Camp of Confederate Veterans and held the position of Chaplain of this organization. All of his children, except Prof. T.O. Greene of Idaho, who was unable to come, were with their father for several days before his death. The funeral services were held from the Baptist church this morning at 10 o’clock, conducted by his pastor, Rev. E.L. Conry, the funeral sermon being preached by Rev. Dr. M.P. Hunt of Fayetteville, and Rev. F.A. Bradshaw and Rev. F.R. Hamilton assisting in the service. A large concourse of friends were present to pay their last tribute to the memory of their friend, a number of friends being present from Fayetteville and Cane Hill. After the funeral service the remains were taken to the West graveyard in Greasy Valley for interment. [Prairie Grove Herald 4/27/1916]

Henderson Palmer Greene of Prairie Grove, Arkansas was born June 28, 1828 near Sparty, White County, Tennessee, the son of Wesley Greene and his wife Catherine Gentry. Subject taught school and was superintendent of schools in Christian County, Missouri. He was a member of the Legislature of Missouri in 1860, and in Washington County, Arkansas 1884 and 1885, Probate Judge of Washington County 1886 to 1896 and Justice of the Peace and notary public. He was a Democrat, a Missionary Baptist, Clerk and treasurer of Baptist Association and Church for thirty years. “Henderson Palmer Greene was son of Wesley Greene who was born in North Carolina, who was a descendant of General Nathaniel Greene, a General of the Revolution of Scotch Irish descent. His father died in the year 1836, and he was bound to Alfred Davidson and his wife, Martha Davidson, and they moved to Missouri in the year 1837 near Springfield and was bound to them and lived with them until they died in the years ---“ Subject served with Company F, 4th Regiment Missouri Volunteers 1862 to 1865, without discharge. He was in prison on Johnson Island nearly 2 years. He was married first to Elmina Elizabeth Gillman, daughter of Mrs. Margaret Gillman, who was a daughter of Mrs. Nancy Duncan of Lewis County, Tennessee,.and later lived at Elk Valley, Missouri. Second wife was Matilda J. McLouthlin. Children by the first wife were: William Franklin, Harriet, James Alfred, Missouri, Thomas O., and Asa I. Mathu Greene. Children by the second wife were Erma O. Greene and Cadie Greene. [1911 Arkansas Confederate Census]

Judge H.P. Green (from Wednesday’s Daily) Judge H.P. Green, 88, died at his home in Prairie Grove this morning. [Fayetteville Democrat 4/27/1916] GREENE, Henderson Parmer - Judge H.P. Greene lost a cow last week by being poisoned from eating an oleander plant. The plant had been set out on the porch and the cow got out into the yard and spying the green foliage, took a few bites of it before being discovered, but this was sufficient to cause her death. [Prairie Grove Herald 3/23/1905]

(Cane Hill Items) Judge Greene, wife and Mrs. J.P. Edmiston attended the burial of Miss Addie Ish last Wednesday. The Judge is nearly 88 years old and the party drove from their home in Prairie Grove to Morrow, a distance of some fifteen miles and back the same day, passing through here shortly after noon. This is surely remarkable for one of his age. We would give an account of Miss Ish’s life were we familiar with same but as we are not and as it has already been published we will not attempt. However, she was from a very notable family. [Prairie Grove Herald 12/23/1915]