George B. Greenlee

Sarah Ellen Kerwood Greenlee

George Burns Greenlee was born January 5, 1849 to Clark Greenlee and Mgaba(sp) Finemore in Arbuckle, West Virgina located in Mason County.

Siblings are Nancy, Emma and Sara; estimated birth for all 3 is 1839-1862 and estimated death for all 3 is 1844-1946.

From a copy of a paper dated January 7, 1884 from the War Department, Adjutant General's office:

George B. Greenlee, a Private of Company G, 13 regiment W.Va. Infantry volunteers, was enrolled on the 12th day of December, 1863, at Barboursville, W. Va. for a period of 3 years and is reported on the muster roll February 29, 1864. (Note: your roster shows him at being age 18 when enlisted but from the paper work I have, he enlisted when he was 14 and was mustered in when he was 15).  This paper also states that for March and April 1865 he was absent from the muster rolls and was in the hospital Winchester, Va. since April 27 1865.  It goes on to say that he was mustered out a private on detachment muster out roll from McKirns Hospital in Baltimore, Md. on May 15th, 1865 and there are no Hospital records available.

The Company Muster-in and Descriptive Roll states the following:

Roll dated Guyandotte, V. VA, February 28, 1864.
Where born Mason County W.VA, age 18; occupation Farmer
When enlisted December 12, 1863
For what period enlisted 3 years.
Eyes Blue; hair light; complexion light; height 5'4"
Bounty paid $0.00; due $300.00

The Detachment Muster-out Roll states the following:

Must-out date May 15, 1865, Baltimore, Md.
Last paid to October 31, 1865
bounty paid $140.00; due $160.00 and then under remarks it says: Due U.S. $76.92 for clothing overdrawn.

I am told that after the war he resumed his occupation as a farmer.  A copy of an application to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions dated October 13, 1921 and written in George B. Greenlee's own hand states the following:

He married Sarah Ellen Kerwood on October 20, 1877 at Ripley Jackson West Virgina.  To this union it looks like 9 children were born (the following is my best guess because George B. Greenlee's writing is somewhat shaky:

Ola (my G. Grandmother) Born August 30, 1878; Jack born Sept 3, 1880; Olie May born July 20, 1882; Ingala Born May 21, 18??; George Dolphus born April 9, 1886; Horace born March 14, 1888; Carrie born April 2, 1891; Andy born March 23, 1893; and Ulah born June 16, 1895.  He also lists 4 more children, Fred, Carl, Chester and Mary Elizabeth in which he states he can not give the birth dates (I believe these children were from his second marriage and quite possibly not his biological children.

Sarah Ellen Kerwood died September 4, 1898 and he married a Maggie May Nicholl on June or August 14, 1899. He states that he does not no any thing about her husband but she told George that she was divorced and she had 4 children. George later divorced Maggie May in October 1918...I have copies of 2 sworn depositons from Maggies brother Jessie and her sister Edith that the divorce was due to spousel abuse, according to these depositions Maggie was brusied around the face and arms and that she was forced to pay George for sex at 50 cents per session....Maggie also stated that her and the children were afraid of George as he had violently beat her..

George married one last time to Alice V. Shue in Akron Ohio in Summit County on April 9, 1932. George lived out the remaining of his days in or about Akron Ohio and his last address was 157 W. Cedar, the address of his eldest daughter Ola, he lived until age 83. His death certificate list Uremia as the principal cause of death with Nephritis listed as a contributory cause. George died on April 5, 1932 in Akron City Hospital and was buried in Rose Hill Burial Park on April 7, 1932 in Akron, Ohio.

(Compiled by Cindi J. Staats)