Hon. George Greene

GREENE

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 5/10/2008 at 19:41:01

The Cedar Valley Times, March 21, 1861.

HON. GEORGE GREENE-

Talent, industry, sobriety, and integrity, are virtues which adorn the human character. They increase the ardor of friendship and command the confidence and respect of society. They enlarge the field of public enterprise, and enliven the charms of the private circle. They challenge the admiration of strangers, and animate home with the smiles of contentment and pleasure. The name which appears at the head of this article, belongs to one who possesses these attributes of character in an eminent degree. To lose such a citizen from among us, is a serious calamity, and therefore we notice the departure of Judge Greene, for Chicago, to embark in the profession of the law, with deep regret. It creates a void in business and social circles which we fear will not soon be filled. It withdraws from public enterprise, the church and society, one of its chief pillars.

Judge Greene settled in this county in 1840 when the state contained a population of only 43,017, and the county a population of not probably to exceed 200 souls: when the country was in a wilderness state, inhabited chiefly by wild beasts and wilder bands of savages; when we were without schools, churches or courts of justice, and, we might add the ordinary comforts of life. He has lived to see the state advance to a population of some seven hundred thousand souls; the development of a vast area of territory; the building up of towns and cities; the establishment of public edifices for the diffusion of knowledge and the advancement of religious truth; the erection of public improvements, of vast importance to the material prosperity of the state and the enjoyments of the people; and it is his peculiar privilege to reflect, that instead of being an idle spectator of these rapid and salutary changes, he has been an active and honorable participator in them.

As a member of the upper house of the territorial legislature, as a lawyer, Judge on the supreme court bench for eight years, supreme court reporter, editor, banker and private citizen, he has uniformly sustained a high character for ability, probity and courtesy.

As the founder of this city, he displayed his usual sagacity and foresight; and as a citizen of the place, he has spent more time, money and talent in building it up, and giving it a character for thrift and enterprise, than any other man in this place. This is no disparagement to the just claims of others; for no one will have the hardihood to enter the lists with Judge Greene, as a champion for this honor.

We are extremely reluctant to part with the Judge; but as he leaves large interests and warm friends behind, we shall hope often to hail among us his frank countenance and receive his warm grasp of the hand.

In entering his new field of enterprise, he has associated with him in the practice of the law, Cyrus Bently, Esq., a gentleman of good practice, fine attainments and unsullied reputation. Mr. Bentley’s long residence and favorable acquaintance in Chicago, united to the characteristic energy and ability of the Judge will no doubt insure rapid and brilliant success. Such is the sincere wish of the writer and the community among whom he is so well known and so highly appreciated. May his success as a lawyer be commensurate with his deserts as a man.