West Virginia Pioneers

Benjamin F Greenleaf

Male Abt 1858 - 1910  (~ 52 years)


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  • Name Benjamin F Greenleaf 
    Born Abt 1858  Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Died 7 Nov 1910  [2
    Person ID I9714  WVPioneers
    Last Modified 24 May 2005 

    Father John Elliot Greenleaf,   b. 3 Aug 1816, Harrison County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother Sarah Norman,   b. Abt 1815, Lewis County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Between 1860 and 1865  (Age ~ 45 years) 
    Married Bef 1835 
    Notes 

    • 1840 Lewis Co, VA
      John Greenleaves
      1m 0-5
      1m 5-10
      1m 20-30
      1m 60-70
      1f 0-5
      1f 20-30
      1f 50-60

      1850 Jackson Co, VA # 307-311
      Greenleavs John 34 M Farmer Va
      Greenleavs Sarah 35 F Va
      Greenleavs George W 15 M Farmer Va
      Greenleavs Sarah E 13 F Va
      Greenleavs Elliot 11 M Va
      Greenleavs Caroline 9 F Va
      Greenleavs Seymore 5 M Va
      Greenleavs Mary A 1 F Va

      1860 Jackson Co, VA # 968-912
      John 44
      Sarah 45
      Caroline 18
      Elbert 20
      Lyman 14
      Ruami, 8
      Mary A 11
      John W 5
      Benjamin T 1

      1870 Washington, Jackson Co, WV Dist # 69-69
      Greenleaf, John, 54
      Catherine, 52
      John Jr, 16
      Benjamin F, 12
      Seamon, 24
      Cox, Mark, 16
      Mary, 14
      Hannah, 74

      1880 Census Place: Washington, Jackson, West Virginia Page 407C
      John GREENLEAF Self M M W 63 WV
      Mary GREENLEAF Wife F M W 61 WV
      Benjamin GREENLEAF Son M S W 21 WV
      Mary COX SDau F S W 20 WV
      Geo. W. MARKS Nephew M S W 15 WV

      John House:
      John Greenleaf, his son, was born on the third day of August, 1816, and was sixteen years old at the time of the migration to Gilmer County (then Lewis County), and lived at Normantown nine years.

      He married Sarah Norman, a daughter of James Norman, for whom the village of Normantown is said to have derived its name. She was a sister of "Sis" Ludwick's mother.

      In May, 1843, John Greenleaf moved to a farm of over one hundred acres he had bought at Gay, on Elk Fork of Mill Creek. There was some improvement on the land when Greenleaf moved to it, but he did not tell me at the interview I had with him one day in July, 1904, of whom he bought. Being nearly eighty eight years old, and very frail, the old man's memory was bad, and having lost his land recently and been left in his old age without a home, his mind was affected, or, as he expressed it, 'he was "shook up" in his head'.

      The first summer he lived on Elk, he made a light crop of corn on account of the lateness in the year of his arrival.

      He worked for some of the neighbors to get grain for bread. David Litton, John Bord, and John Tolley were among his neighbors when he came. He helped John Bord, who lived on Frozen Camp, where Miles Bord now lives, to reap his wheat crop that summer.

      When Greenleaf came to Elk Fork, he moved on pack horses. There was at that time an abundance of game in Gilmer County, but in Jackson County, it was already becoming scarce. There were some deers and a few wild turkeys yet.

      While moving, he passed a night with William R. Goff, long one of the leading citizens of Spencer. He was then for five years a resident of the Goff homestead, had a small improvement, and a family of four children. Uncle Hi Goff, of Tanner's Run, was then a babe of two months of age.

      It is said there were then only two other families living at Spencer, those of Samuel Tanner and Samuel Miller.

      John Greenleaf was a minister of the Gospel, Southern Methodist Church.

      He was Justice of the Peace for twenty two years, by appointment of the Governor, and four years President of the County Court, elected by the people. He retired late in the 80's.

      John Greenleaf and Henderson Harper were about the same age. They died about the same time, and were buried the same day.

      Elliot (C.E.) Greenleaf, of Elk Fork, one time assessor of Jackson County, was a son of John. He was born in Gilmer County a year before his parents moved to Elk Fork.

      Beulah Greenleaf, who married U.S. detective, Dan Cunningham, was a daughter of Elliott.

      Other children of John Greenleaf were:
      J. W. Greenleaf, died unmarried.
      S. E. Greenleaf, of near Red Knob, Roane County.
      "Rua" Greenleaf, married Charles L. Bradley.
      Caroline Greenleaf married John M. Bradley.
      Riley Greenleaf was the oldest son, lived near Red Knob on Wolf Camp.
      Ben T. Greenleaf was John's youngest son, died in the asylum, November 7th, 1910.
    Family ID F1259  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S1205] Census.

    2. [S70] John House.