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Below is a family biography included in The History of Webster County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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C. H. Greer, sheriff of Webster County, is a native of Claiborne County, Tenn., born April 4, 1847, the son of Hon. W. W. and Sarah (Teel) Greer. The father was born in North Carolina about 1801, and died in Claiborne County, Tenn., in 1886. He was a farmer and politician; was sheriff of Claiborne County for eighteen years, and represented the same county in the Lower House of the Tennessee Legislature for six years; was also a member of the Tennessee Senate for one term, and was an uncompromising Democrat all his life. The mother was born in Tennessee, and died in her native State when her son, C. H. Greer, was but six years of age. The latter remained with his father on the farm and received a common-school education. He then engaged in farming in Tennessee, and continued this until 1869, when he came to Missouri, settling in Webster County, and here carried on agricultural pursuits for one year. In 1870 he entered the employ of the Marshfield Milling Company as engineer, and continued to fill that position for sixteen years, or until 1886, when he was elected sheriff of Webster County by a majority of thirty-five votes. Two years later he was defeated for the same position by a majority of fifty-six votes, and the State Democratic ticket was defeated by 160, attesting, beyond a doubt, the popularity of Mr. Greer. He is one of the best sheriffs the county has ever had, and is honorable to a fault. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary A. Burchfield, who was born in Claiborne County, Tenn., in 1859, and who became the mother of four children: John W. and William M. (twins), Robert H. and Ida L. Mr. Greer is a Mason, member of Webster Lodge No. 98, of which he was Master for two years, and represented the same in the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, He is one of the representative citizens of the county.

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This family biography is one of 110 biographies included in The History of Webster County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Webster County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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