HON. F. P. GREENLEE

GREENLEE

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 12:52:02

HON. F. P. GREENLEE, one of the prominent citizens of the county and a leading attorney at law, was born in Ross county, Ohio, October 5, 1846. His parents were Thomas F. and Eliza A. (Pearce) Greenlee; the former was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, and the latter was born in New Jersey and raised in Ohio. His father was for more than twenty years engaged in teaching throughout Ohio, and was prominent as an educator. In later life he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits on his farm near Hillsborough, in Highland county, Ohio. He was an active and earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also his wife. The latter is still living and is now sixty-eight years of age. Mr. Greenlee was also an enthusiastic worker in the temperance cause and the Sabbath- school. Of the ten children born to T. F. and Eliza A. Greenlee, the subject of our sketch was the third and is one of the seven who are still living.

F. P. Greenlee, after receiving a high-school education, engaged in teaching, which he followed for three years, studying all the while. He then read law in Indianapolis, Indiana, under the tutorage of his uncle, E. A. Greenlee. In 1873 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession in Villisca, Iowa. Here he has continued and has met with eminent success. He is the oldest practitioner in Villisca, and among the oldest, and one of the leading attorneys of the county. He was elected a member of the School Board, which position he held for nine years, and ever since he located here has been prominently identified with the educational affairs of the county. He was elected Mayor of Villisca in 1883, which position he held one term, declining re-election. He was elected to the State Legislature and occupied a prominent position there two years. While a member of the Legislature he was Chairman of the Committee of the Board of Public Charities, was a member of the judiciary and other important committees; he had principal charge of reforming the judicial system of the State and redistricting the same; he took part on the floor in debate, and discharged the duties of the high offices with a high degree of satisfaction to his constituents and in a manner that reflected much credit on himself.

October 24, 1878, Mr. Greenlee was married to Miss Cora Mann, daughter of Joseph and Emily Mann of Montgomery county, Iowa. She was born in Michigan, and in 1869 came with her parents to Iowa. Her father and mother are now honored residents of Villisca. Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee have three children: George F., Harry L. and Marie.

Politically Mr. Greenlee is a Republican ever identified with the best wishes of his party. He is also actively associated with the fraternal societies of Villisca, being a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. In 1875 he had passed through all the chairs of the I. O. O. F., and more recently through the Encampment and the Canton. He was District Representative of the lodge in 1878. In the K. of P. he is a charter member of two lodges, Red Oak and Villisca, and a member of the Uniform Rank. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Active in every enterprise which looks to the general improvement and material progress of the county, Mr. Greenlee is regarded as a most influential citizen, being alike popular in business, political, fraternal and social circles.