REV. J. B. GREEN, pastor Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Was born in Hart County, Ky., July 11, 1832. In
1849 he entered Hartworth Academy, Williamson County, and in 1857, was ordained at Russellville, Ky. In
1858, was sent by the Board of Missions as a Missionary to Leavenworth, Kan., where he remained until 1862,
after being located a short time near Huntsville, Mo., in 1862, he took charge of the parish at Sugar Ridge, Ky.,
where he remained until 1869, in which year he moved to Nebraska City, and took charge of his present parish.
He was married in Shelby County, Ky., in September, 1868, to Miss Mattie Frazure of that county. They have
three children; Stella, James and Cora. Mr. Green is a member of the A., F. & A. M. Lodge and Chapter, of the
I. O. O. F., K. of H. and of the Royal Arcamun.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized on July 16, 1865, by Rev. C. B. Hodges. Shortly after
the organization of the society five elders, J. A. Lobb, W. W. Owen, Alexander Magers, W. L. Boydston and J.
J. Barwick were elected. Of this number, none are now residents of this city, three having died and two removed
to other fields of labor. In August of the same year Rev. C. M. Love became the pastor of the church for a short
time but was soon followed by Rev. C. B. Hodges, who was very efficient in building up the church during his six
months charge. In the spring of 1866, Rev. R. S. Reed of Salem, Ill., accepted a call from the church, and
became its pastor October 28, of the same year. Under his management the church throve greatly, both in
spiritual and financial matters and their present house of worship, at the corner of Tenth and Laramie streets, was
erected. This work was commenced in the first year of his pastorate and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies
in December, 1867. After three years of service, Mr. Reed resigned his position to become corresponding
secretary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This occurred in the fall of 1869, and Mr. Reed died the
following year, to the great sorrow of his many warm friends in this city. He was succeeded; in November, 1869,
by Rev. J. B. Green of Kentucky, who is the present pastor.

During Mr. Green's pastorate the work so well begun by his predecessor has gone steadily on. For a number of
years the society has been on a sound financial basis and out of debt. The church building is finely furnished and
has an abundant supply of books and other necessary properties. The membership is now over 200 and
embraces a large share of the wealthiest business men of the place.

The Sabbath school of this church was established in July, 1865, and has been from the first a very successful
one. Its superintendents have been Martin Hughes, W. L. Boydston, W. T. Sloan and A. R. Newcomb, who
now holds the position. The present membership of the school is over one hundred and forty-five.

Nebraska City Lodge, No. 925, K. of H., organized March 2, 1878. The officers are: H. R. Wodehouse, P. D.;
C. W. Seymour, D.; R. P. Draper, V. D.; Rev. J. B. Green, A. D.; T. D. Haydon, G.; A. M. Smith, C.; C. W.
Phillips, R.; S. B. Eastman, F. R.; H. Wales, T.; G. Hail, G.; L. Levi, S.

Otoe Council, No. 159, Royal Arcanum, organized September 8, 1878. The officers are: C. H Smith, R.; L.
Levi, R.; J. Reed, O.; C. W. Phillips, S; Max Kohn, C.; John Steinhart, T.; Rev. J. B. Green, C.; S. Blum, S.;
W. F. N. Houser, P. S.

[Source: Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska. Kansas Collection Books: Written by William Cutler and published by Andreas in 1882]

For more than a third of a century Dr. Green, though still an active pastor in charge of the exceedingly important church at Fort Scott, Kans., has been a conspicuous figure on our frontier. Our readers, and especially those in the Central West, will be glad to see an outline sketch of Dr. Green's career in connection with the accompanying portrait. We are indebted to Mr. F. T. Dysart, of Fort Scott, for the items in this sketch.

J. B. Green, D.D., was born in Hart county, Kentucky, July 11, 1833; professed religion while quite young and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Big Spring, in Simpson county, Kentucky; was licensed to preach by the Logan Presbytery at Pilot Knob, in the fall of 1855, and ordained by the same presbytery in Russellville, Ky., in October, 1857. In the summer of 1858 was appointed by the Board of Missions, missionary to the territory of Kansas. He continued in this mission work until the summer of 1861, when he went to Huntsville, Mo., and preached for the Sugar Creek and Sweet Spring congregations until the spring of 1862, when he accepted a call to the Sugar Ridge and Gilead congregations in Clark and Montgomery counties, Kentucky. He was pastor of these congregations for seven years and then accepted a call to the pastorate of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Nebraska City, Neb. He entered upon this work the second Sunday in November, 1869, and remained pastor of that church for twenty-seven years. While in that city he was president of the Ministerial Association continuously for over twenty-two years. He also published The Watchman, a monthly religious paper for several years, and was also for a number of years editor of The Nebraska City Evangelist. His health failing, it became necessary for him to seek a milder climate, hence his resignation. After a brief respite he went to Fort Scott, Kans., in May, 1897, where he is now the installed pastor of our church.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, November 29, 1900, page 615]

John B. Green, D.D., was born in Hart county, Ky., July 11, 1833, professed religion while quite young, and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Big Springs, Simpson county, Ky. He attended school at Hartworth Academy, from which he graduated; was licensed to preach by the Logan Presbytery at Pilot Knob in the fall of 1855, and was ordained by the same presbytery in Russellville, Ky., in October, 1857. In the summer of 1858 he was appointed by the Board of Missions as missionary to the territory of Kansas. He continued in this work until the summer of 1861, when he went to Huntsville, Mo., and became pastor of the Sugar Creek and Sweet Springs congregations. In 1860 or 1861 he was married to Miss Mary Stratten, of Louisville, Ky., who lived only about two years. In the spring of 1862 he accepted a call to become pastor of the Sugar Ridge and Gilead congregations, in Clark and Morgan counties, Kentucky. He was pastor of these congregations for seven years. During this pastorate, and on September 11, 1866, he was married to Miss Martha Frazier, of Shelby county, Kentucky. To this union were born three children, who, with the mother, still survive. In 1869 he received a call to the pastorate of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Nebraska City, Nebr., and entered upon that work the second Sunday in November of the same year, and continued as pastor of this important church for twenty-seven years, during which time he was president of the Ministerial Alliance continuously for twenty-two years. His pastorate in Nebraska City was not only of great length but was one of continued success.

Under the wise leadership of Dr. Green a strong and well-organized congregation was built up.One of the daily papers in Nebraska City, announcing the death of Dr. Green and speaking of his church and work in that city, contains the following: "Dr. Green's church in this city was known as 'the little church around the corner.' No one ever appealed there in vain; no family was so poor that he would not visit and give what religious consolation he could. In day or night he would respond to any call. In time of death the weather could not be too bad to prevent him from being at the bedside of the dying, or going to the cemetery and paying the last sad rites."

Dr. Green was not what the world would call an eloquent speaker, but was a plain, Bible preacher. He preached not only from the pulpit, but by consistent example wherever he went. He was a good and pure man and showed it in his actions and proved it in his every-day life. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by Stewartville College about the year 1884. The writer first met Brother Green in 1883 at the General Assembly in Nashville, Tenn., and was at once impressed with him as a man who dignified the office of the gospel ministry and with his lovable disposition. After a successful pastorate of twenty-seven years in Nebraska City he was forced to give up the work there on account of failing health. After a brief rest, being somewhat recuperated in health, he accepted a call from the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Fort Scott, Kans., entering upon his work there in 1897. When he took charge of this work the church was greatly discouraged and poorly organized, with only a few members, and he took the work almost without compensation. By earnest, faithful work and close consecration to God his labors were blessed, and a good, working church was built up, taking its place with other prominent churches of the city. For the last two years the writer has been intimately associated with Dr. Green, as a neighboring pastor, and I do not think I ever knew a sweeter-spirited man, or a truer brother, than he was.

Rev. Samuel Garvin, the present pastor at Nebraska City, in a letter to the writer regarding Dr. Green's death, said: "He was and is a dear man, a true helper of his race, with one of the biggest hearts I have ever known."

D. E. Bushnell, D.D., an acquaintance of long standing in a similar way, said of his acquaintance and association with Dr. Green: "I first met him, I think, in some of our General Assemblies and in his own home and church, in Nebraska City, and in Fort Scott. From the first I was impressed with the exceeding purity and winsomeness of his character, and learned to love him more and more as a friend and brother as the years went by which have so swiftly borne him away to the land beyond the river."

Dr. Green was for a number of years stated clerk of Nebraska Presbytery, and was at the time of his death a member of the board of trustees of Missouri Valley College. In April, last, he had a severe attack of diabetes, from which he never recovered. It was my privilege to visit him several times during his last illness, the first visit being soon after my return from the General Assembly. I found him more interested in regard to things pertaining to the welfare of the church than he was about his own condition. He spoke freely of important issues that came before the Assembly, speaking with much interest and great clearness. He realized the end was drawing near, and expressed his willingness to go.

On June 19, at 7:30 a.m., at his home in Fort Scott, he quietly passed into eternal rest, his companion and three children and immediate friends being at his beside. At 5 p.m., same day, the writer conducted a funeral service in the church of which he had been pastor, using as a text Acts 11:24--"For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and much people was added unto the Lord." The Ministers' Alliance of Fort Scott were present in a body, and assisted in the service, presenting very commendatory resolutions regarding Dr. Green's life and work while in that city. The great grief manifested by the members and friends composing the large audience told of the high esteem in which this universally beloved pastor was held. The remains were taken on the early morning train of the next day to Nebraska City, where appropriate services were held in the church where the deceased had preached the gospel for twenty-seven years. The services were conducted by Rev. Samuel Garvin, assisted by the city pastors, after which the body was buried with Masonic honors in the Nebraska City cemetery. Many were the flowers strewn upon the grave by former parishioners and friends as an evidence of appreciation of this man of God. Thus has ended a pure, beautiful and useful life.

Truly, he was "a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and much people was added unto the Lord." While Dr. Green was not a sensational preacher, yet he was instrumental in leading many souls to Christ. It is estimated from the records at hand that from eight hundred to one thousand souls were led to Christ through his ministry. This is an illustration of what the plain, ungarnished word of God will do for the world.

May his mantle fall on some one who will wear it worthily. The Lord comfort the wife, son and two daughters.
Richards, Mo.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, August 21, 1902, pages 228-229]

John B. Green
Cumberland Presbyterian Minister
born: 11 July 1833 - Hart County, Kentucky
died: 19 June 1902 - Fort Scott, Kansas
buried: Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska
married 1st: c1860/1861 - Kentucky
1st wife: Mary Stratten
died: c1862/1863
married 2nd: 11 September 1866 - Shelby County, Kentucky
2nd wife: Martha Frazier
born:
died:

Children of John B. Green and Martha Frazier:

1. Stella Green
born: Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska

2. James Green
born: Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska

3. Cora Green
born: 1871 - Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska
married: Pennsylvania
husband: Lemuel Clarence Day

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