From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1395
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

JOHN GREEN

   The rich lands of Rice county, once wild prairie or timbered regions, have been transformed into highly cultivated farms, whose productiveness equals that in any other section of this country.  The owner of a desirable farming property in Atlanta township is John Green, and his rich and arable fields yield to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them.

   Mr Green was born in Wayne county, Indiana, near Richmond, January 25, 1848, and is a son of H L Green, also a native of Wayne county.  The latter’s father, John Green, was born in Kentucky and became one of the first settlers of Wayne county, Indiana, where he remained until his death.  The father of our subject grew to manhood on an Indiana farm, and was there married to Miss Mary A Stanley who was born and reared in Wayne county, Indiana.  Her father was one of the early pioneers of that locality.  In 1852 the family removed to Illinois, and four years later, in 1856, took up their abode in St Louis, Missouri.  In 1861 they became residents of Andrew county, that state, where they remained until 1872, and in that year they came to Rice county, Kansas, being among the early pioneers of this section of the state.  For thirteen years they made their home in the Sunflower state and then removed to California, where the father died at the age of seventy-three years.  He followed the occupation of a carpenter and contractor, and was an advocate of Republican principles.  During the Civil war he loyally served his country as a member of the Missouri state militia.  Of the Methodist Episcopal church he was an active member.  His widow now resides in Lincoln township, Rice county.  She is the mother of five children:  John, the subject of this review; Wyatt, of Hutchinson, Kansas; James, a resident of Nebraska; H L, who resides with his mother in Lincoln township; Ida James, of Hutchinson.

   John Green was reared in the states of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, and early assisted in the labors of field and meadow.  The public schools afforded him his educational privileges, but he has largely added to his knowledge through reading, observation and practical experience.  He accompanied his parents on their emigration to this state in 1874, and here he has since made his home.  He first secured a claim in Wilson township and he gave a cow in payment for the same.  He afterward sold the tract to Wesley McCabe for eleven hundred and twenty-five dollars.  He then secured a tract of land from the Union Pacific Railroad Company, near Little River, which he afterward sold for twenty-five hundred dollars.  Four years later he bought a claim in Center township of James Turley, on which were a few improvements, and he remained on that place until 1894.  In that year he took up his abode in Lyons, where he purchased a good, comfortable cottage, although he still owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres.  There he is extensively engaged in the raising of wheat, for which he secures excellent returns.  His farm is one of the finest in Rice county.

   In Gentry county, Missouri, on the 1st of September, 1872, occurred the marriage of Mr Green and Miss Sarah S Poole, who was born, reared and educated in Gentry county, and has proved to her husband an excellent helpmate on the journey of life.  This union was blessed with one child, a bright, intelligent and winsome little daughter, but she was taken from them by death when ten years of age, and her loss was a great blow to the parents.  They have reared an adopted son, Edward Marion Johnson, who came to them on his ninth birthday.  He was born March 5, 1880, and is now a student of bookkeeping in Cooper College.  He is called a lightning calculator.

   In this connection it will be interesting to note something of the family history of Mrs Green.  Her father, William Poole, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 11, 1821, a son of Samuel Poole, who was a native of Europe.  He was married in the state of Delaware to Cynthia Poole, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio.  A member of her family was a recruiting officer in the war of the Revolution, and was a brave and efficient officer.  Samuel and Cynthia Poole had fourteen children who grew to years of maturity.  The parents both died in Belmont county, Ohio, in middle life.  He was a farmer and miller by occupation, and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  William Poole was reared on a farm in his native state and also learned the miller’s trade and was engaged in building bridges across the streams.  He removed from Ohio to Gentry county, Missouri, where he worked at farm labor and also followed his trade.  During the Civil war he became a member of Col. Dave Craynor’s regiment, of the Thirty-third Missouri State Militia, and served during the entire struggle.  He served through different parts of the state of Missouri, going as far south as Arkansas, where he assisted in defense against Rebel bushwhackers.  He served as quartermaster of his regiment for two years, issuing rations and clothing to the soldiers.  His regiment was located near Savannah, Missouri, for a time, was afterward in DeKalb county, and subsequently at St Joe.  Mr Poole participated in many skirmishes, and on one occasion was sent to capture Rebels who were engaged in stealing horses and stock in Missouri.

   Mr Poole was married in Belmont county, Ohio, by Esquire Tuttle, to Miss Cynthia Haggis, and they had the following children:  Samuel, a resident of Oklahoma; P Wesley, of Wilson township, Rice county; Sarah, the wife of our subject; Cynthia, wife of George Maury, foreman of the salt works; Abraham, a resident of Lyons; Stephen, a resident of the old homestead.  Two children are deceased, - John and Ollie.  The former was killed at a church in Missouri, in 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war.  He was then eighteen years of age.  The mother of this family died in 1885, at the age of seventy-three years.  She was an affectionate wife and mother, a kind neighbor and a true friend.  Mr Poole has been a life-long Republican, and in his religious views he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.