From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1409-1412
 
CHARLES PORTER GREENE.  One of the most conspicuous figures in the present day 
history of Walworth county is Charles Porter GREENE, of Elkhorn, a man 
actively identified with the business and industrial interests of this 
locality and for many years widely known as one of the representative men of 
the southern part of the Badger state.  Equally noted as a citizen whose 
useful career has conferred credit upon the community and whose marked 
abilities and stirring qualities have won for him much more than local repute, 
he holds today distinctive precedence as one of the most progressive and 
successful men that here ever inaugurated and carried to successful 
termination large and important undertakings.  Strong mental endowment, 
invincible courage and a determined will, coupled with an honesty of purpose 
that hesitates at no opposition, have so entered into his composition as to 
render him a dominant factor in the business world and a leader of men in 
important enterprises.  He is essentially a man of affairs, sound of judgment 
and far-seeing in what he undertakes; and every enterprise to which he has 
addressed himself has resulted in liberal financial returns, while at the same 
time he has won and retained the confidence and esteem of all classes.
 
Mr. GREENE was born in Muskego, Wisconsin, September 19, 1844, and is the 
second of eight children born to George and Sarah A. (CLARK) GREENE.  This 
family has an honored and distinguished ancestry, which may be traced back to 
Sergt. Thomas ELLSWORTH, born in England in 1629, and who emigrated to 
America, locating at Windsor, Connecticut, where he married Elizabeth HOLCOMB 
in 1654.  Their daughter, Eunice ELLSWORTH, born in 1665, married Timothy 
GREENE, Sr.  She was a first cousin to Capt. David ELLSWORTH, and was first 
cousin once removed of his son, the famous chief justice, Oliver ELLSWORTH.  
Her son, Timothy GREENE, Jr., was therefore, second cousin to Chief Justice 
GREENE.  Timothy GREENE, Jr., was born in 1748, married Eunice CLARK, and to 
them was born Clark GREENE in Amherst, in 1776, who married Submit HASTINGS, 
daughter of Thomas and Hannah (BILLINGS) HASTINGS.  Hannah BILLINGS was the 
daughter of Deacon John BILLINGS, who was born in East Amherst in 1749.  Clark 
GREENE, mentioned above, was the grandfather of Charles P. GREENE, of 
Elkhorn.  He was a farmer, genial, honest, upright and was highly respected.  
He and his wife were members of the Congregational church, and they reared 
their children to be self-reliant, honest and sincere.  George GREENE, one of 
their children, was born in Amherst, June 19, 1811, was reared on a farm and 
when a young man moved to New York state where he farmed and also worked in 
the lumber mills.  In June 1836, he came to Wisconsin when the present great 
city of Milwaukee was only a small village and he lived on a farm near there 
until 1864.  On March 31, 1841, he was united in marriage with Sarah Ann 
CLARK, who was born in Portland, New York, May 13, 1823.  Her father was of 
English ancestry and was in the war of 1812.  George GREENE and wife lived on 
the farm there until they came to Walworth county in 1864 and here purchased a 
farm in section 30, Spring Prairie township, on which they lived until the 
death of George GREENE, June 2, 1885, when he was killed by a stroke of 
lightning.  After that his wife made her home with their son, Charles P. 
GREENE, until her death, September 26, 1894.  Both these parents were active 
members of the Free-Will Baptist church in Spring Prairie, the father having 
been clerk of the congregation there for several years.
 
George GREENE spent his life in agricultural pursuits, and he was also a bank 
director for many years.  He was quiet and unassuming, and was a stanch friend 
and good neighbor.  He was not much of a public man, preferring the serenity 
of his home and association of his family.  He was loyal to the principles of 
the Republican party and was decided in his views as a Christian, and he gave 
liberally to the church.  His wife was a teacher before her marriage, having 
been educated in the public schools of New York.  She was a woman of beautiful 
personal characteristics; she was a great reader, but read only the best books.
 
Charles P. GREENE, the immediate subject of this review, spent the major part 
of his youth on his father's farm, where he assisted with the general work 
during the crop seasons, and he received his education in the common schools 
and the academy at Milton.  Upon reaching manhood he joined his father in 
business, continuing with him until the death of the elder GREENE, when the 
subject bought the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead.  His 
careful management of his affairs, his persistency and close application 
brought prosperity, and he kept the old place well improved and under a high 
state of cultivation.  He owns over three hundred acres of as choice and 
valuable land as the county affords, all in Spring Prairie township.  He is 
also one of the stockholders in the First National Bank of Elkhorn, and he has 
been president of this popular and conservative institution ever since about 
1886, its ever growing successes having been due very largely to his able and 
judicious management.
 
Mr. GREENE is a Republican and has long been active in the ranks, and is 
regarded as a leader in local affairs, but he would never consent to run for 
office.  The greater part of his life has been passed in Walworth county, 
whose interests he has ever had at heart and played well his part in 
prompting, and those who have known him from boyhood number him among their 
warmest friends, a fact which indicates that his life has been exemplary in 
all its relations with his fellow men.
 
Mr. GREENE was married on September 12, 1898 to Lillian B. WEBSTER, daughter 
of David Putnam WEBSTER and Jane (STILLWELL) WEBSTER.  She was born in the 
town of East Troy, this county, February 8, 1862.  This family also has an 
interesting ancestry.  Nathan DELANO was born in Schoharie county, New York, 
November 16, 1764, and he married Phila WILSON for his second wife, and his 
death occurred on April 3, 1841.  Sally Ann DELANO, daughter of Nathan DELANO, 
was born April 16, 1816, married Joseph Murray STILWELL, May 31, 1836 and died 
March 22, 1900.  Joseph Murray STILLWELL was born December 1812, and died on 
March 4, 1890.  Jane STILLWELL, daughter of Joseph Murray STILLWELL and Sally 
Ann DELANO, was born in Manchester, Ontario county, New York, February 11, 
1838, and was married to David Putnam WEBSTER on March 6, 1861.
 
Caleb Douglas WEBSTER, descended from the same family as Noah WEBSTER, of 
Webster's Dictionary fame, was born in Ontario county, New York November 20, 
1810; he married Nancy PUTNAM, August 20, 1832, and died January 13, 1905.  He 
and his wife came to Wisconsin in 1846.  Nancy PUTNAM was born in Oneida 
county, New York, April 16, 1812 and she died on December 5, 1904
 
David Putnam WEBSTER, son of Caleb Douglas WEBSTER and Nancy PUTNAM, was born 
in Webster, Oneida county, New York, January 13, 1834, married Jane STILLWELL, 
March 6, 1861, at East Troy, and they resided in that town until March 20, 
1877, when they moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, for the purpose of educating 
their daughters in the normal school there.  They as well as their parents 
lived to celebrate their golden wedding.  The WEBSTER home has remained at 
Whitewater ever since.  Mr. GREENE was graduated from the above named 
institution in 1886, but before completing her course she taught school for a 
time, and for fourteen years after her graduation she continued teaching with 
much success.  In 1806 she came to Elkhorn and has lived here ever since.  On 
July 25, 1896, Mrs. GREENE was nominated by the Republican party as their 
candidate for county superintendent of schools.  After receiving the 
nomination she spent the next three months in teaching in the schools of 
Milwaukee.  She has had experience in all kinds of school work except 
kindergarten up to and including high school, and she taught three years in 
Colorado before her nomination.  She was duly elected the fall of 1896 to the 
office above named, and she had the distinction of being the first woman to 
hold that office in Walworth county.  She very ably and conscientiously 
discharged the duties of the same for one term, winning the hearty approval of 
all concerned, and taking her place among the notable educators of her day and 
generation in southern Wisconsin.  She has kept fully abreast of the times in 
all matters pertaining to educational work, and is a lady of talent and 
refinement, a profound student, familiar with all branches of literature.  To 
Charles P. GREENE and wife two children have been born, namely: George Webster 
GREENE, born July 11, 1890, and Charles Porter GREENE, Jr., born May 2, 1902.
 
Submitted by Carol