MIAMI COUNTY OHIO
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File contributed for use in the Ohio Biographies Project by:
Billy J. Baker
billybak@erols.com
April 15, 2000
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William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas
was first published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL.

Shawnee County --

HON. JOHN P. GREER, attorney at law, came to Kansas, September 22, 1856,
and after remaining a few days at Leavenworth, came to Topeka, and
bought a claim one and one-half miles west of Tecumseh, and engaged in
farming. In 1857 he went to Tecumseh and opened a law office there,
which he removed to Topeka in 1861, but still resided at his farm, which
he afterwards rented, and built a house in the city for the residence of
his family. Judge Greer published the Topeka Tribune, the first daily
paper issued in the city, in 1861, being editor at that time. It passed
into other hands, and in 1865 he purchased the office and again
published the paper about two years, being editor-in-chief, with A. L.
Williams as associate editor a portion of the time. In 1869 he was
appointed American Consul to Matamoras, Mexico where he remained a
little over a year, and was then obliged to resign his position on
account of ill health, occasioned by the climate. Judge Greer was a
member of the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention, and of the last
Territorial Legislature. He was twice elected to the office of Probate
Judge, and held district court between the terms of Gilchrist and
Morton, being appointed by the governor to fill the position. He was a
member of Gov. Robinson's staff, with rank of Colonel, and has held the
office of Justice of the Peace, and many minor local offices. He was
born in Dayton, Ohio, October 21, 1824, and educated in the schools of
his native town. In 1849 he graduated from the law department of the
University of Indiana, but commenced practice at Troy, Miami County,
before he entered that institution. He was admitted to the bar of the
Tenth Judicial District of Indiana in 1846, and after leaving the law
school was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United
States. In 1846 he removed to Bluffton, Wells Co., Ind., and remained
there until he came to Kansas. He was married in Milton, Miami Co.,
Ohio, June 22, 1845 to Elizabeth PATTY, a native of Miami County. Judge
Greer served in the Second Kansas Militia (Col. Veale's regiment) during
the Price Raid, and was badly wounded at the battle of the Blue. Judge
and Mrs. Greer have two grandchildren--the children of his son, Elbridge
Greer, who was Assistant Secretary of State at the time of his death,
which occurred in 1874. Elbridge Greer was Captain of Company I,
Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Infantry, serving a little more than three
years.