My Genealogy Hound

Elder William Greenlee, a stock farmer, of Prairie Township, Franklin Co., Ark., was born in Monroe County, Tenn., August 18, 1823, and is a son of Lewis Greenlee, who was born in Georgia in 1790. The latter removed while young to Franklin County, Tenn., where he grew to manhood, and married Elizabeth Hunt about 1819, then removing to Monroe County, E. Tenn., in 1822, where our subject was born. In 1837 the father located on the Cherokee purchase south of the Hiwassee River, and in 1852 removed to Carroll County, Ark., and was murdered by the Federals in 1863. He was seventy-two years of age at the time of his death, and was a member of the Regular Baptist Church. Mrs. Elizabeth Greenlee was born in Franklin County, Tenn., in 1800, and was the mother of nine children, of whom four are now living, viz.: James M., William; Margaret, wife of John R. Copeland; Julia A., who married Morgan Magness. The mother died in Marion County, Ark., in 1877. William Greenlee grew to manhood in Polk County, Tenn., and in 1844 married Emily Jackson, a native of Blount County, Tenn., who was born March 15, 1826, and was reared in Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee are the parents of the following children: Frances M., Levicy J., wife of James V. Skinner; Sarah A., wife or widow of W. J. Holder; James, Newton; Emeline, who married Mathew McNatt, and died one year afterward; Lewis A., Thomas J.; Marieta S., who married J. S. Seward, and died fifty-one days afterward; William M., Willia A. and Virgil L. Mr. Greenlee located in Sevier, Ark., in 1848, where he lived until 1867. In 1849 he professed faith in Christ, joined the Missionary Baptist Church, and was ordained to the deaconship and licensed to preach, and was ordained to the full work of the ministry of the 10th of February, 1861. In 1867 he went to Franklin County, Ark., in 1871 settled in Sebastian County, but returned to Franklin County, in 1887, locating on the farm where he now lives. He has spent a great portion of his time since his ordination in the ministry, with very little remuneration, making his support for his family by working on his farm, but expresses satisfaction from an assurance of having been instrumental in the hands of the Master, of doing at least some good in his vineyard, for which he claims no merit, but gives God all the praise. He has not been able for several years to do much in the ministry, on account of age and ill health, but is still preaching some. Mrs. Greenlee was baptized at the same time as husband, and has lived ever since a consistent member of the church. His political sympathies are and ever have been with the Democratic party.