Fountain County IN Archives Biographies.....Greenwood, Harley 1800 - 
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Author: H. W. Beckwith (1881)

   Harley Greenwood, retired, Attica, was born in Bethel, Oxford county, Maine,
April 18, 1800. His father's christian name was Nathaniel, and his mother's
maiden name was Mary Mason. He obtained a good education, and when about twenty
years of age left home in company with a younger brother, both seeking their
fortunes in the world. They started with $20 apiece in silver, which had been
given them by their parents. Mr. Greenwood still has in his possession the
little purse which his mother presented him when he was leaving. They were
controlled by no definite plan, but drifted to Boston and New York; going into
New Jersey, stopped and remained there some time teaching school. From here they
went to Virginia, arriving there on horseback, and continued school-teaching.
His brother finally read medicine, and in a few years went to Indiana, where he
practiced a little while and then quit the profession for merchandising. He
located at Rob Roy, in Fouutain county. At that date this point was one of
growing importance; and when the older brother arrived in the foil of 1831 it
was the largest place between Indianapolis and Chicago. Our subject had a little
money when he got here and at once invested it in the store in company with his
brother, whom he found already engaged in trade. The county was very sickly at
this early period, and the latter was stricken by disease and died in 1833. It
had been the intention of the two to erect a flouring-mill, and Mr. Greenwood,
acting in accordance with the original purpose, built at Rob Roy the first one
of any consequence ever raised in the county. A pair of "raccoon burrs" had been
doing a little work there before this time. This "corn-cracker" stood on the
first "eighty" that he bought. Mr. Greenwood now turned his attention wholly to
this business and to forming. Milling became very profitable. Money was very
scarce, arid exchanges were carried on chiefly by barter; the merchants sold
goods and took their pay mostly in wheat. Four and a half bushels made a barrel
of flour; but the merchants were willing to give five bushels, furnish the
barrel, and pay fifty cents, and take an article that would pass in New Orleans
for two-thirds superfine; and it would have been a miracle had a miller been
found who was loth to take it. For many years Mr. Greenwood operated
extensively, and in the meantime accumulated a handsome property. At one time he
had upward of 1,100 acres of land. In 1872 he sold 600 acres for $30,500, and
his landed estate now comprises 540 acres. He sold the mill in 1865 to A. A.
Greenwood and F. W. McCoughtry. In 1833 Mr. Greenwood returned on horseback to
the valley of Virginia, and in March was married to Miss Frances Davis. She died
in November, 1837, and the following year he went again to Virginia and brought
away a second wife in the person of Miss Fanny Timberlake. By the first marriage
were born two children, which died in infancy. Mr. Greenwood has been a leading
citizen of Fountain county, a man to whom the people always went for counsel and
to transact legal and other business for them. Probably no other did as much
business as administrator and guardian as he; he has had as many as thirty
children under his charge at a time. His commercial honor and financial
integrity were always of the highest order, and inspired the soundest
confidence. Under the circumstances it was impossible for him altogether to
escape office-holding. He was county commissioner, probate judge, and justice of
the peace. When the citizens of Shawnee township were subscribing money to raise
substitutes during the rebellion Mr. Greenwood offered to give $1,000 more than
any other man, and did so, paying $2,000. The amount raised was $16,000. The
democrats would not be satisfied to send any other than him to Indianapolis to
hire the men and disburse the funds, so he went as agent for the township. When
he sold a part of his farm, in 1872, he removed to Attica, where he has since
lived in retirement. Politically he is a republican. Both he and his wife have
been members of the Presbyterian church thirty years. In 1836 Mr. Greenwood
returned to his native home to see his dying mother, but she died before he
reached there. In 1867 he paid another visit to his birthplace.

Additional Comments:
Logan Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.


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