For forty-seven years Stephen Davis Green has resided on his farm in Elizabeth township, Miami county, and is one of the most highly respected agriculturists of the community. He has long since passed the psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, but is still an active and vigorous old man, whose industrious life has not deprived him of health and strength. He has watched the greater part of the progress and development of the county through almost eight decades and has witnessed a wonderful transformation, having seen forests cleared away and farms developed, while towns and villages have sprung up, containing all the leading industries and enterprises which are familiar to the commercial activity of the east. Along many lines Mr. Green has aided in securing the growth and upbuilding of the county, and is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, withholding his support from no movement which he believes will prove of public benefit.

His birth occurred in Lost Creek township December 2, 1823, his parents being George W. and Nancy (Knight) Green. The father was a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, and a representative of the same family to which belonged John Green, one of the distinguished heroes of the Revolution. In the Keystone state George W. Green was united in marriage to Miss Gray, and about the close of the eighteenth century they came to Ohio, locating in Miami county, which was then in the period of its pioneer development. Mr. Green became a member of the Baptist church at Staunton, which was established in 1804, and in many other ways was actively associated with the work of laying the foundation of the county's present prosperity and progress. He erected some mills on Lost creek, and was the builder of at least one bridge over the Miami river at Troy. His second wife was Nancy Knight, and she became the mother of five children, her death occurring at about the age of forty years, when Davis was only two years old. The father afterward wedded Mary Hendricks, who survived him several years, his death occurring in 1836, when he had attained the age of fifty-five years. He was a very prominent church worker in Staunton, and served as an officer in the church of his denomination for some time. The children of his first marriage were: Joseph, who engaged in merchandising at Casstown, where he died at about the age of forty years; William, a farmer of Staunton, who died at the age of seventy-four years, leaving a son, Dr. Joseph H. Green, of Troy; and Eliza, who became the wife of John C. Dye, of Elizabeth township, and departed this life at the age of sixty-five years. By the second marriage there were five children: Mary, wife of John Williams, with whom she removed to Indiana at an early day, her death there occurring at the age of sixty; Elizabeth, who died in middle life; John, a farmer of Bethel township, who died at the age of forty years; Nancy, who became the wife of Bennett Harter, a farmer of Elizabeth township, and died in Washington City at the age of sixty-five years; and S. Davis, of this review. The children of the third marriage are: Margaret, widow of Joseph Mott, of Champaign county, Ohio; Abbot, who died at the age of twelve years; Ann, wife of W. W. Wallace, of Troy, Ohio; Robert, a machinist living in Springfield, Ohio; Sarah, who died in childhood; George, who died in early life; and Jane, who is living in the west.

S. Davis Green, whose name introduces this review, resided with his brother-in-law, John C. Dye, after his father's death. When he was only eleven years of age he was taken by his father to New Carlisle, and there apprenticed to learn the woolen-mill trade, but an epidemic of cholera compelled him to return to his home, and the boy was glad of it because he did not enjoy town life. He had obtained nothing but his board and clothes for his services, and he did not consider that it was very profitable.

When twenty-two years of age Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Hannah French, daughter of Asa and Hannah (Davis) French, of Elizabeth township. He then rented land of his brother-in-law, operating that tract for one year, after which he rented in other places in the county for five years, when, with the capital he had acquired, he purchased ninety-six acres of his present farm, taking up his residence thereon in 1853. There was a small clearing and. a little orchard had been planted, but no buildings had been erected at the time of the purchase. The tract was largely covered with walnut, ash and maple trees. He paid fifty dollars per acre for it, but had to incur an indebtedness for two-thirds of the amount. With characteristic energy, however, he began the work of clearing and improving the land, and soon the richly cultivated fields yielded to him good financial returns. He erected his present residence in 1861, burning the brick and lime upon his farm. It is a basement house and stands on a natural building site, commanding an excellent view of the surrounding country. Mr. Green also built a large basement barn in 1871, and has made many other substantial improvements upon the place, adding both to its value and attractive appearance. By additional purchase he has also extended the boundaries of the farm until it now comprises one hundred and seventy-six acres, all in one body. For some years he has made a specialty of stock dealing, shipping hogs and cattle on quite an extensive scale. He has also handled many horses, and has for many years felt a marked interest in improving the grades of stock raised in this section of the state. From his own farm he has made many exhibits at county fairs, and won a large number of premiums. His thorough understanding of farming and stock raising, combined with his marked energy, has enabled him to win splendid success in his business career, and for a long period he has been numbered among the most prominent representatives of agriculture in central Ohio. At one time he became owner of one thousand acres of land in Illinois, through the purchase of land warrants in Lee county, and later he sold that property to good advantage.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Green were born the following children: Asa, who is on the lecture platform and travels throughout the country; Zelora, who is a graduate of Granville College, went to South America as a civil engineer of a railroad company when twenty years of age, and is now engaged in farming and stock raising at Oakland, Illinois; Eliza, who was also educated in Granville College, is the wife of Alonzo Thackara, of Lost Creek township; Joseph, who was graduated in Lebanon, became an attorney, practicing at Oakland, Illinois, and is now a ranchman of DeWitt county, Texas, where he rents one hundred and eight-nine thousand acres of land, upon which he has ten thousand head of cattle, five hundred goats and one hundred horses; and Glen is a farmer of Shelby county, Ohio. After a happy married life of thirty-six years Mrs. Green, the mother of this family, was called to her final rest. Mr. Green's present wife was formerly Miss Thedosia McColloch, of Delphi, Indiana, and their marriage occurred December 24, 1890. She was born in Indiana, of Scotch parentage, was a seamstress and is a bright and intelligent lady, of genial nature. For a few years after her marriage her father, Solomon McCulloch, resided with her.

For forty-seven years Mr. Green has made his home upon his present farm, and during that time only two deaths have occurred there. He cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and has voted at each presidential election since that time. He is now a stanch Republican, and has often served as a delegate to county conventions. He became a member of the Missionary Baptist church, at Staunton, was clerk of the Casstown church for eighteen years, and is now a member of the church of his denomination at Troy. The cause of education has always found in him a warm friend, and realizing its importance in the active affairs of life he gave to his children excellent advantages in that direction. For many years he has been a member of the township school board, and has advocated all measures calculated to promote the general welfare along intellectual, social, material and moral lines.