John J. Greene

GREENE, BULMAN, MOOREHOUSE, BARGENDALE, REINER, TIMMIS

Posted By: Allamakee co. Coordinator (email)
Date: 12/12/2004 at 19:51:03

John J. Greene. Judge of the Nineteenth District court, and though one of the youngest of six judges in Montana, has behind him ample experience and qualifications for the varied duties of his office, and his work on the bench has thoroughly justified the confidence of members of the bar and general citizenship who recommended anad supported the recommendation of the governor when Judge Greene was allotted these responsibilities.

Judge Greene was born on his father's farm in Allamakee County, Iowa, December 4, 1887, son of Levi N. and Alice B. (Bulman) Greene. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1844, and at the age of seventeen, in 1862, enlisted in Company H of the Ninth Iowa Infantry. He was with his regiment in every skirmish and battle in which it participated, and was all through the Atlanta campaign and march to the sea under Sherman. At the close of the war he was, mustered out in 1865, and soon afterward engaged in farming on what is known as the New Galena Farm in Allamakee County, Iowa. He farmed successfully, and when weIl advanced in years, in 1892, he was ordained a minister of the Methodist Church. He then sold his farm, and during the rest of his life devoted his time to the church and the cause of humanity. He died at Delhi, Iowa, in 1906. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a republican in politics.

Levi N. Greene's wife was born in Allamakee County, Iowa, was married there and is still living in that community. Of her six children one died in infancy. The others are: Marion, wife of Arthur Moorehouse; Grace, wife of Edward Bargendale; Carrie M.; Leonard, who married Gertrude Reiner; and John J.

Judge Greene grew up a minister's son, graduated from the Delhi High School in Iowa, in 1906, then attended Upper Iowa University at Fayette, and pursued his law studies in the law department of the University of Minnesota. He was graduated in law in 1912 and was admitted to the Minnesota bar. In the spring of 1913 he came to Montana, was admitted to the bar in March of that year, and at once began making himself known in his profession at Conrad. He was soon elected county attorney in the fall of 1914, and served one term in that office. In the spring of 1917 he became associated with George Coffey, Jr., under the firm name of Coffey & Greene. They had a large law practice in Teton County until Mr. Greene was called from active practice by the appointment of Governor Stewart as judge of the Nineteenth District on March 8, 1919.

Judge Greene is a member of the Delta Phi Delta law fraternity, Choteau Lodge No. 44, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Choteau Chapter No. 25, Royal Arch Masons, and Bethany Commandery No. 19 of the Knights Templar.

August 1, 1914, he married Miss Alice Timmis. Their three children are Alice Joan, Frank Timmis and John J., Jr.

-source: Montana, Its Story and Biography; A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Montana and Three Decades of Statehood. Chicago and New York: The American Historical Society, 1921; Vol. 2; pg. 575

-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall

-note: Delhi is in Delaware co. Iowa