Nevada
County
Biographies
ROBERT EMMETT GREEN
Robert Emmett Green is one of the
leading citizens of Grass Valley, who by his energy and integrity has risen to
a responsible and honorable position, winning the respect and confidence of his
fellow men in all classes of society. He
is probably the youngest justice of the peace in California, but his ability
well qualifies him for the office. A
native of Massachusetts, he was born in the city of Boston on the 12th of
October, 1874, his parents being James B. and Elizabeth (Rowe) Green. His father was born in Massachusetts February
27, 1845, but the grandfather, Robert Green, was of Irish birth, as was the
great-grandfather, who served as a soldier in the English army under the Duke
of Wellington, participating in many engagements of the peninsular wars. On the maternal side Mr. Green is descended
from the McQuade family, his ancestors in that line
having been residents of Ireland for many generations. The father of the Judge served throughout the
war of the rebellion in America, being a member of Company K, First
Massachusetts Cavalry. He took part in
nearly every engagement in Florida and through the Butler campaign in that
state, in Georgia and about Richmond. He
was one of twelve young men who entered the service together, but ten of the number sleep in graves on southern battle-fields, Mr. Green
and one of his comrades being the only two of the number who escaped.
Robert E. Green, whose name
introduces this review, is the eldest of a family of eight children and was
only two years of age when brought by his parents to Nevada County,
California. Here he was reared and
educated, pursuing his studies in the public schools. He entered upon his business career at a very
early age and has been employed in various capacities. For two years he was the night clerk in the
hotel at Marysville, after which he returned to Grass Valley and worked at the
blacksmith’s trade for eighteen months.
Subsequently he was employed in a tailoring establishment; but, finding
neither the hammer nor the needle to his taste, he entered upon the study of
law and in this profession he has been very successful. He was first a student in the office of P. T.
Riley, then district attorney, and after eighteen months continued his studies
under the direction of A. Burrows, attorney at law. His last preceptor was P. H. Painter, who had
filled the office of justice of the peace for twenty-eight years, and upon his
retirement Mr. Green was appointed to fill out the unexpired term and in 1898
was elected to the office for a term of four years, so that he is the present
incumbent. He is strictly fair and
impartial in the discharge of his duty and his rulings are based upon a comprehensive
knowledge of the law. His sympathy has been with the Republican Party, whose principles he warmly
advocates, believing that they contain the best elements of good
government.
He has been connected with the Grass
Valley fire department for four years, and socially he affiliates with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has taken the uniformed rank
degree, is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and also
belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Ancient Order of Workmen; and in his
social relations he has won the respect and confidence of his brethren of the
respective fraternities. He is a man of
strong mentality, of great force of character and of unquestioned ability, and
his friends predict for him a successful future.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 443-444. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Nevada County Biographies