LEWIS GREENLEE, a farmer and harness maker of West Pike Run township was born July 27, 1814, in West Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn. He is a son of Samuel Greenlee, who was born in 1777, in Delaware, and when but a small boy came with his parents to a farm in Fayette county, Penn. Samuel Greenlee passed his youth in Fayette county, and there learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in connection with farming. When a young man he was married to Nancy Gance, who was born in 1779, in Fayette county, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee were the parents of thirteen children, namely: John (a farmer of Greene county, Penn.), James (also an agriculturist of Greene county), Benjamin (living on the old homestead in West Bethlehem township, Washington county), Daniel (a farmer of West Bethlehem township), Anna (widow of Lemuel Cooper, of Licking county, Ohio), Lewis (subject), Elizabeth, Susan, Mary, Margaret, Jacob, George and Albert. Of this family the seven last named are deceased. About 1812 Mr. Greenlee came with his family from Fayette county, and located permanently on the place in West Bethlehem township, Washington county. He began life as a poor boy, but by constant industry succeeded in accumulating a good property. He was an eager reader of current literature. He took an active part in public matters, and in politics voted with the Democratic party. He and his wife were members of the Disciple Church. Lewis Greenlee remained on the home place until about sixteen years of age, then served an apprenticeship of five years with Peter Flick, of Bentleyville, Washington Co., Penn., at the harness and saddle-maker's trade, and after learning his trade traveled from place to place for about five years. In 1843 he was married to Ann Eliza Kerr, who was born in 1820, in Taylorstown, Washington Co., Penn., a daughter of James Kerr, a member of a pioneer family of this county. James Kerr learned and followed the blacksmith's trade at Taylorstown, Penn., for many years, finally moving to Greene county, where he and his wife died. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kerr were born as follows: Mary, widow of Alfred Gregg, living in Greene county, Penn.; Ann Eliza, wife of Lewis Greenlee; Archibald, a farmer of Greene county; Margaret, Rachel, Sarah, Emily and Isabelle, of whom the three first mentioned are yet living. To the union of Lewis and Ann Eliza (Kerr) Greenlee three children have been born, namely: Virtue, widow of John Jenkins, of West Pike Run township; Mary W., widow of Morris Taylor, living in Ohio, and James, a miller of West Pike Run township. After his marriage Mr. Greenlee settled in Carmichael's, Greene county, and successfully followed the harness and saddlery business for about fourteen years. He then moved to Centreville, Washington county, continuing in business there until 1869, when he bought the forty-acre farm whereon he now resides, and has since devoted some time to agricultural pursuits. He votes the Republican ticket, has served five years as justice of the peace in West Pike Run township, and has also filled the position of auditor. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church at Beallsville, Penn., in which he has been class-leader for thirty years.

Text taken from page 1467 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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