Representative Benjamin Greene View All Years
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Benjamin Greene
Dallas County
A native of Otsego County, New York, born March 4, 1819, and his ancestry can be traced back to the nobility of England. He is of both English and Welsh descent. At the age of sixteen Benjamin Greene entered upon his business career as teacher of a public school. He had acquired his own education largely through his own efforts, never attending school but three months after the age of fourteen years, yet he was studious, ambitious to learn and made the most of his opportunities. At the age of eighteen he went to the home of a brother in Belvidere, Illinois, where he remained for four years, and then returned to New York, where he studied law and taught school until 1846. Seeking a broader field of labor and opportunity he went South and traveled through Mississippi, and not finding any suitable situation he returned North by boat up the Mississippi river to Keokuk, Iowa, where he followed the profession of teaching until early in 1849, the date of his arrival in Adel. In the fall of 1848, before locating in Adel, Mr. Greene was married, in Van Buren county, Iowa, to Miss Permelia C. Sturgis, who was born in Smyrna, New York. In January, 1849, Mr. Greene opened a little shop of general merchandise in Adel, the first store in the town, which he conducted for about five years, then sold out. His business interests have ever been managed with excellent ability and his straightforward, honorable dealing has secured him the confidence of all. In this connection it may be mentioned that Mr. Greene, with others, took a prominent and active part in the organization and projection of the railroad running from Waukee to Adel, now known as the Des Moines & Northwestern. Mr. Greene has also been prominent in public affairs. His political support was given to the Whig party in early life, and he cast his first presidential vote for General Harrison in 1840. On the organization of the Republican Party he joined its ranks, voting for John C. Fremont, in 1856. He has since been a stalwart advocate of the party, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. In 1852 and in 1856 he was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature, and as a statesman fully discharged the trust reposed in him, laboring for the best interests of the general public. He was also School Fund Commissioner of Dallas County in an early day, and for several years was president of the school board of the independent district of Adel. The cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart friend. For many years he was president of the board of Supervisors of Dallas County. Other local offices he has filled, with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.
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