[p. 779] a successful farmer
and highly esteemed citizen of Neshannock
Township, comes of old and respected pioneer
families of the county. He was born
near his present home, November 26, 1840,
is a son of Thomas and Annie (Riley)
Greer, and a grandson of Hance Greer.
Hance Greer, the grandfather, came
from Ireland and located near Noblestown,
Allegheny County, Pa., about the year
1808. In his native land he had been a
weaver and dealer in linen goods, and upon
coming to America brought with him
considerable wealth. He loaned a man named
Noble most of his money, the latter purchasing
stock which he loaded on trading
boats, to be carried down the Ohio River.
The boats were wrecked near Cincinnati,
and both Mr. Greer and Mr. Noble lost
all their investment. After some years Mr.
Greer began farming and moved on what
is now known as Sewickley Hills, later
removing to Zelienople, Butler County, Pa.,
where he died in 1846, at the advanced age
of eighty-five years. He was buried there,
but was later re-interred in King's Chapel,
where a stone marks his grave. Beside him
lie the remains of his wife, who in maidenhood
was Elizabeth Hall.
Thomas Greer was born at Noblestown,
September 14, 1808, and received a common
school education. He served an apprenticeship
of six years at blacksmithing,
learning all branches of the trade, including
wagon making and the manufacture
and dressing of tools. David R. Greer has
in his possession hammers and chisels made
by his father. The latter was a natural
mechanic, and could skillfully turn his hand
to anything along that line. After his
marriage he took to farming, in 1835,
locating on the farm now owned by David
Greer in Neshannock Township. His original
purchase was 100 acres, to which he
added, and at one time was the possessor
of 500 acres. It was his ambition to give
each of his children a farm as a start in
life, and this he did long before his death,
each receiving some 100 acres. He built
a forge on his farm and did blacksmithing
during his long and active career, and there
are few men in the township who prospered
through their individual efforts, as
did he. A hard worker, ambitious, and a
capable manager, he took rank among the
most substantial citizens, and was ever
among the foremost to give his aid and
support to measures calculated to benefit
his home community. In politics, he was
a Democrat until the time of the election
of James Buchanan, and in later life was
a Republican. He served as school director,
and in other minor offices.
Thomas Greer was united in marriage
with Annie Riley, who was born on the
farm now owned by her son, David, in
1811, and died April 21, 1852. She was a
daughter of David and Sarah (Richards)
Riley, and a granddaughter of William and
Annie (Roberts) Richards. 
Her maternal
grandparents came from Center County,
Pennsylvania, in 1804, and were among the
earliest to settle in the woods of Neshannock
Township. Thomas and Annie Greer
became parents of the following children:
Sarah Ann, deceased, wife of Alexander
Rankin; Elizabeth Hall, deceased; Mary
Ann, widow of Samuel Cowan, who died in
Andersonville Prison, and David. Religiously,
they were strict members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and he served
many years as local preacher and elder.
David Greer is a man of high educational attainments, receiving his preliminary training in the public schools, supplemented by a course in Allegheny College, at Meadville, from which he was graduated in 1862. He then engaged in teaching school for a time, but as he was the only son at home, he almost necessarily attended to the farming of the home place. His father gave much attention to the raising of sheep, cattle and horses, and Mr. Greer himself has made a specialty of thoroughbred Southdown sheep and Durham cattle. His farm is one of the best improved in the township, and he conducts it along modern lines with progressive ideas. A man of energy and ability, success has crowned his efforts on every hand, and he is a man of popularity among his fellow-citizens. He is a Republican in politics, and has served seventeen years as township auditor, although he has never sought office. Fraternally, he is a member of the college Greek letter society, Phi Kappa Psi.
Mr. Greer was united in marriage with
Sarah Jane Simonton, now deceased, a
daughter of William and Catherine Simonton,
of Rich Hill, near Neshannock Falls.
Their union was not blessed with children,
but they reared and gave parental care and
love to a grandnephew of Mrs. Greer,
Francis Greer Simonton, who was five days
old at his mother's death. 
He is a member
of the class of 1911 in Allegheny College.
Religiously, the Greer family belongs to
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
Mr. Greer is a trustee, class leader and
steward and has been local preacher and
elder of the congregation since 1871. Both
he and wife have been potent factors in
the good work carried on by the church.
Mr. Greer's wife, his parents and paternal grandparents and his maternal grandparents and great-grandparents are buried in the beautiful cemetery in connection with King's Chapel M. E. Church, an old place of worship which observed its centennial with appropriate ceremonies on July 1 and 2, 1904.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 22 Dec 2001