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| @1918 L-R Back row: Jim, Margaret, Tom, Myrtle, John, Bina, Irvin; Middle row: Lillian, Harris, Orpha, Nat, Kate, Irvin; Front row: Nathan, Ray, Flossie, Leland |
May 1, 2018
Important Family Dates for May
In May we commemorate the death of the family patriarch, John Harris Greer. Click the link with his name for all of the posts about him on this blog.
April 6, 2018
Happy National Tartan Day!
In 2008, George Bush signed a Presidential Proclamation making April 6th National Tartan Day to celebrate Scottish history and the achievements of people of Scottish descent. The Greer family descends from the MacGregor clan. Though there are other tartans associated with this clan, the current chieftain has restricted the wearing of the rest of the tartans and has declared that descendants wear either the MacGregor Red & Black (also known as the "Rob Roy" MacGregor tartan) or the MacGregor Red & Green.
March 31, 2018
Important Family Dates for April
Here are some dates that are significant to the family in April:
1: Nathaniel "Nat" Greer died on this date in 1958 at the age of 65 from throat cancer. He is buried in Costa Mesa, California.
5: Margaret married local school teacher Warren Nichols on this date in 1917 in St. Johns. They had two children together and later divorced.
8: While working in Holbrook, Arizona, Irvin Babe Greer met the beautiful, red-haired Florence Virginia Johns, who was divorced and had a six-year-old son, Albert Francis. They married on this date in 1931 in Green River, Utah, and eventually had five children together whom they raised in American Fork, Utah.
9: Laura Sherwood became Jim's second wife on this date in 1938 in Mohave, Arizona. He adopted her daughter Lorene and they had a son together whom they named James Sherwood Greer.
15: Tom died at the young age of 41 on this date in 1936 from massive head injuries sustained in a car accident outside of St. Johns. He and his wife Nellie had been married only eighteen years, and he left her a widow with nine young children (the youngest of whom was only six months old).
1: Nathaniel "Nat" Greer died on this date in 1958 at the age of 65 from throat cancer. He is buried in Costa Mesa, California.
5: Margaret married local school teacher Warren Nichols on this date in 1917 in St. Johns. They had two children together and later divorced.
8: While working in Holbrook, Arizona, Irvin Babe Greer met the beautiful, red-haired Florence Virginia Johns, who was divorced and had a six-year-old son, Albert Francis. They married on this date in 1931 in Green River, Utah, and eventually had five children together whom they raised in American Fork, Utah.
9: Laura Sherwood became Jim's second wife on this date in 1938 in Mohave, Arizona. He adopted her daughter Lorene and they had a son together whom they named James Sherwood Greer.
15: Tom died at the young age of 41 on this date in 1936 from massive head injuries sustained in a car accident outside of St. Johns. He and his wife Nellie had been married only eighteen years, and he left her a widow with nine young children (the youngest of whom was only six months old).
March 29, 2018
Happy Birthday, Orpha!
With a little detective work and Google Maps, Jimmie James and his brother (descendants of Orpha's youngest brother, Joseph Franklin Nicoll) discovered the home Alexander Nicoll built in Washington, Utah, just north of St. George. Orpha was three when they moved into this home and lived there with her family until she was twelve, at which time the family accepted a call from Brigham Young to help settle eastern Arizona and moved to St. Johns. Today is Orpha"s 151st birthday as well as her 133rd wedding anniversary.
[As of July 2013 the home is abandoned (for quite a while it seems from the older photo) but still standing. It sits behind an occupied home. Using the address 142 East 100 South, Washington, Utah, you should be able to find it on Google Maps.]
March 17, 2018
Lucky You--You're Irish!
At least one branch of the Greer family tree comes from Ireland (there could be more--the Lacy line in particular needs some more research done to find out their country of origin). Harris Greer's fifth great grandparents, Thomas and Rachael Sarah Morton Greer, were both born in County Armagh in Northern Ireland. Thomas' grandparents moved to Ireland from Scotland in the late 1600's, but Sarah's line goes further back in Ireland.
County Armagh is where St. Patrick established his first church in Ireland--so you have extra reason to celebrate! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
March 10, 2018
An Invitation to All Descendants of John Harris & Orpha Nicoll Greer
Come join the family!
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| @1918 L-R Back row: Jim, Margaret, Tom, Myrtle, John, Bina, Irvin; Middle row: Lillian, Harris, Orpha, Nat, Kate, Irvin; Front row: Nathan, Ray, Flossie, Leland |
All of the descendants of the John Harris & Orpha Nicoll Greer family are invited to participate in commemorating their 133rd wedding anniversary during the month of March. These gatherings were held for years at the park in St. Johns, but are now held virtually on this blog. Choose an activity that will mean the most to you and/or your immediate family. Some suggestions are:
- visit a FamilySearch Discovery Center for a fun, interactive, high-tech experience (or go online at FamilySearch.org)
- visit the cemetery where your ancestors are buried
- get together and share family stories and photos
- read the stories of your ancestors on this blog
- submit photos and stories of your ancestors to add to this blog
If you would like to share what you did with the rest of the family, please send information and photos to barbaraballantyne@hotmail.com and they will be posted here. We look forward to connecting with you!
March 9, 2018
Happy Birthday, Aunt Flossie!
The youngest daughter of Harris and Orpha, Florence (fondly known by the family as Flossie), was born March 9, 1902, on the Greer Ranch. This article that appeared in the Phoenix Gazette on August 1, 1963, tells a bit about her life, talents, interests, and contributions to the town of Greer.
February 28, 2018
Important Family Dates for March
Here are some dates that are significant to the family in March:
9: Orpha and Harris' tenth child, Florence Leoma Greer, was born on this date in 1902 on Greer Ranch. She was fondly known throughout her life as Flossie.
17: The second time was the charm for both Sabina and Carl Law, who married on this date in 1915. Here is the story of how they met in her own words--
"I met Carl Andrew Law through my neighbor Mrs. Icker. I took in washing and used to take in his also. The first time he saw me he knew he loved me, so after I was divorced he told me he wanted to marry me.... We never even went out before we were married. He was so good to Cathleen and played with her one whole evening at the Icker's--that’s when I knew he'd be a good husband and father. Harry [her first husband] had been quite mean to Cathleen. Love for Carl grew later. He had $5.00 and I had a sewing machine and Cathleen when we were married—until he got his next check. He laid off work two days to get married. The next summer during his vacation, we went home to see my folks. They really liked Carl. On the way there in our wagon, I shot the clothespins right down the line with a 22."
24: The oldest child, Myrtle, died on this date in 1965 at the age of 79. While visiting her sister Sabina in Salt Lake City, Myrtle fell ill, was admitted to the hospital, and died 45 minutes later, apparently from a gallstone that had not passed. She is buried in St. Johns.
29: Orpha was born on this date in 1867 in American Fork, Utah. This will be her 151st birthday. Click on her tab on the right side of this page to read all of the previous posts about her.
29: Harris and Orpha were married on her birthday in 1885 in St. Johns. This will be their 133rd anniversary. The Harris and Orpha Greer Family Organization was founded on their anniversary in 1980. Be watching for information about plans for the annual get together.
9: Orpha and Harris' tenth child, Florence Leoma Greer, was born on this date in 1902 on Greer Ranch. She was fondly known throughout her life as Flossie.
17: The second time was the charm for both Sabina and Carl Law, who married on this date in 1915. Here is the story of how they met in her own words--
"I met Carl Andrew Law through my neighbor Mrs. Icker. I took in washing and used to take in his also. The first time he saw me he knew he loved me, so after I was divorced he told me he wanted to marry me.... We never even went out before we were married. He was so good to Cathleen and played with her one whole evening at the Icker's--that’s when I knew he'd be a good husband and father. Harry [her first husband] had been quite mean to Cathleen. Love for Carl grew later. He had $5.00 and I had a sewing machine and Cathleen when we were married—until he got his next check. He laid off work two days to get married. The next summer during his vacation, we went home to see my folks. They really liked Carl. On the way there in our wagon, I shot the clothespins right down the line with a 22."
24: The oldest child, Myrtle, died on this date in 1965 at the age of 79. While visiting her sister Sabina in Salt Lake City, Myrtle fell ill, was admitted to the hospital, and died 45 minutes later, apparently from a gallstone that had not passed. She is buried in St. Johns.
29: Orpha was born on this date in 1867 in American Fork, Utah. This will be her 151st birthday. Click on her tab on the right side of this page to read all of the previous posts about her.
29: Harris and Orpha were married on her birthday in 1885 in St. Johns. This will be their 133rd anniversary. The Harris and Orpha Greer Family Organization was founded on their anniversary in 1980. Be watching for information about plans for the annual get together.
February 10, 2018
Happy Birthday John Harris Greer!
Had a special affinity for horses
Spent a lifetime driving cattle
Wrestled crops out of the desert soil
Not a stranger to using a gun
Cared for others
Served his community
Loved the Lord
Treasured his family
January 31, 2018
Important Family Dates for February
Here are some dates that are significant to the family in February:
10: Harris was born on this date in 1866 in Kimball, Bosque, Texas, the sixth of the twelve children born to Thomas Lacy and Catherine Ellen Camp Greer. He spent his early childhood in Kimball until about the age of twelve when the family bought the ranch in Arizona.
13: Harris and Orpha's thirteenth child, Leland, was born on this date in 1908 at their Grandmother Nicoll's home in St. Johns.
16: Orpha's mother, Sabina Ann Adams, was born on this date in 1837 in Perth, Drummond Township, Lanark, Ontario, Canada, the fourth child born to Arza and Sabina Clark Adams. Her parents had joined the Church about two years prior to her birth and moved to New York to join the Saints a few months after she was born.
17: Orpha's parents, Alexander Nicoll and Sabina Ann Adams, were married on this date in 1854 in American Fork, Utah. They were later sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on September 25, 1957, by Brigham Young and witnessed by G.A. Smith and W.W. Phelps.
18: The first child born to Harris and Orpha was Myrtle, born on this date in 1886 in Concho.
10: Harris was born on this date in 1866 in Kimball, Bosque, Texas, the sixth of the twelve children born to Thomas Lacy and Catherine Ellen Camp Greer. He spent his early childhood in Kimball until about the age of twelve when the family bought the ranch in Arizona.
13: Harris and Orpha's thirteenth child, Leland, was born on this date in 1908 at their Grandmother Nicoll's home in St. Johns.
16: Orpha's mother, Sabina Ann Adams, was born on this date in 1837 in Perth, Drummond Township, Lanark, Ontario, Canada, the fourth child born to Arza and Sabina Clark Adams. Her parents had joined the Church about two years prior to her birth and moved to New York to join the Saints a few months after she was born.
17: Orpha's parents, Alexander Nicoll and Sabina Ann Adams, were married on this date in 1854 in American Fork, Utah. They were later sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on September 25, 1957, by Brigham Young and witnessed by G.A. Smith and W.W. Phelps.
18: The first child born to Harris and Orpha was Myrtle, born on this date in 1886 in Concho.
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