Husband Rev. Joseph Collins Greer 1 2 3
Born: 13 Feb 1827 - near Murrysville, Westmoreland Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died: 1 Jan 1899 - Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA 4
Buried:
Father: Squire William Greer (1802-1872) 2 5 6
Mother: Abigail Collins (1803-1886) 1 3
Marriage: 15 Nov 1857 4
Wife Jennie S. Shryock 3 7
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: David Shryock ( -1856) 8
Mother: [Unk] Wilson ( - ) 8
Children
1 M William Shryock Greer 1 9
Born: 8 Oct 1858 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
2 M David Newton Greer 1 9
Born: 26 Dec 1859 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Jean C. Harris (1871- ) 9
Marr: 20 Dec 1893 9
3 F Jennie Mary Greer 1 9
Born: 11 Apr 1861 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: J. M. Cooper, D.D.S. ( - ) 1 9
4 M Joseph Collins Greer, Jr. 5 7 9
Born: 19 Aug 1863 - Indiana Co, PA 7 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Sarah J. "Sadie" Cooper ( - ) 1 9
Marr: 23 Sep 1885 9
5 M Harry Lincoln Greer 1 9
Born: 2 Dec 1866 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Sadie J. Bowman ( - ) 9
Marr: 17 Sep 1891 9
6 M George Clarence W. Greer 1 2 10 11
Born: 24 Nov 1875 - Lumber City, Clearfield Co, PA 10 11
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Marie McKeever ( - ) 11
Marr: 12 May 1896 or 1897 10 11
General Notes: Husband - Rev. Joseph Collins Greer
His preparatory studies were with Rev. Wm. Conner, Pastor of the Associated Reformed Churches of Bethel and Beulah. At the age of seventeen he taught a District School in Allegheny County. Entering Jefferson College in 1848, he graduated in 1852; studied Theology at Allegheny and Oxford, Ohio; was licensed May 29, 1855, and ordained by the Presbytery of Westmoreland, Aug. 19, 1857.
His Ministry was chiefly at Mechanicsburg, Lumber City and Johnstown, Pa. In 1864, a number of the young men of the Churches of which he was Pastor, enlisted in the United Service, and at their solicitation and obedient to his sence of duty, he went with them as Captain of Co. H, 206th Regi-ment, serving to the close of the War. His Regiment was among the first Troops to occupy Richmond, upon its evacu-ation by the Confederates. He was Officer of the Day the first three sabbaths in Richmond and on the fourth preached in the City Hall, the first Union sermon from the text: "Ps. 80:18, 'So will we not go back to Thee'." After the War, he was Pastor for some years at Lumber City, where he also established an Academy, of which he was Principal for six years. For five years, from 1899 to 1894, he was Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Johnstown, Pa. For several years he resided at Greensburg in impaired health.
(The writer, P. H. Hoffman, knew Brother Collins very intimately in College. A diligent and successful student and a cordial friend. He had backbone and conscience. No one could drive him and no one could lead him against his own convictions of duty. He was favored with a good physical constitution and his courage and muscle and powers of endurance specially fitted him for service as a soldier, whether under the banner of his country or under that of the cross. In army services, he maintained his position as a minister, embracing every suitable opportunity of preach-ing the gospel. A faithful and earnest preacher, a diligent and tender pastor, now in his enforced retirement, has the sympathies of a wide circle of friends, who pray that health and comfort and in due time great Reward may be given him. Signed. P. H. Hoffman.)
He was reared on a farm. He graduated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, in the class of 1852. He studied theology at Allegheny, and at Oxford, Ohio, was licensed to preach May 29, 1855, and ordained August 19, 1857. He then entered the ministry and preached for six years at Lumber City, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, where he founded the Lumber City Academy. In April, 1864, he entered the Union army as captain of Company H, Two Hundred and Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, participated in the siege and capture of Richmond and had the proud distinction of being the first Union minister to preach in that city after the fall. He was mustered out of the United States service June 26, 1865. He resumed his ministerial labors in western Pennsylvania, and for many years thereafter was pastor of the First United Presbyterian church of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. During Rev. Greer's pastorate at Johnstown, 1889-94, occurred that most appalling disaster, the Johnstown flood. The substantial Morrell building was occupied by the business college conducted then and since by his son, David Newton Greer, and M. E. Bennett, and was also the home of the Greer family. There were seventeen persons in the building, including Rev. J. C. Greer and two sons, Newton and Clarence. Mrs. Greer was out of the city visiting her son William at Curwensville. While thousands of other houses far and near were swept away, the Morrell building withstood the maddened rush of the waters that came into it to a depth of twenty feet, and became a haven of refuge in that locality. The wreckage of houses, bridges, railroad cars, engines and timber piled up and beat against it, yet it stood. Not only were the inmates saved, but by heroic exertions the dazed and drowning victims of the flood were drawn in through the upper windows to the number of sixty.
In 1894 failing health compelled Rev. Greer to give up his chosen profession, and he then retired to private life at Greensburg. He was an educated Christian gentleman, a diligent and successful student and a cordial friend. He was favored with a fine physique, and his courage, muscle and powers of endurance specially fitted him for service as a soldier, whether under the banner of his country or that of the cross. [HWC 1906 III, 95]
General Notes: Wife - Jennie S. Shryock
from New Salem, PA