An Eventful Career.

J. L. Greer, Confederate veteran, early Collin County educator, founder of the town of Anna, ex-legislator, and successful farmer had new honor conferred upon him recently when McKinney named one of her brick school buildings (North Ward) the "J. L. Greer School". This new honor came as a fitting recognition of his long term of unselfish service on the City School Board. For sixteen years he occupied that position which carries with it much responsibility, but no salary. Therefore, his interest in our city school welfare was prompted purely by his love for children and the noble cause of education in which many of his earlier years of life were actively spent as teacher.
James Lafayette Greer was born in Chambers County, Alabama, at Oak Bowery, October 27, 1836. His father, Joseph Greer, was a native of South Carolina, but removed from the Palmetto state to Alabama even before the primitive Red Man had forsaken the state. Joseph Greer was of Irish descent and was a farmer and mechanic. Three brothers were the first of the family name to emigrate to America and came over prior to the Revolution. In that war for freedom, they took such an active part as soldiers that the trio of brothers won the soubriquet of "The Bloody Greers." The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Miss Jane M. Wilson, a native of the Newberry district of South Carolina. She was of Scotch extraction. She bore him nine children--two daughters and seven sons. She died December 31, 1874 [note: 1873 on head stone]. Joseph Greer attained the ripe old age of 87, passing to his reward in the year 1893. These parents were Presbyterians as were their ancestry for generations before them and as their descendents are today. J. L. Greer was only 18 when he identified himself with the church, was made an elder in the same in 1872. Until his resignation, he was for many years a trustee of Austin College and has for many years been one of the foremost laymen of the Presbyterian church in the South. J. L. Greer was educated at New Harmony Academy and graduated in 1860 from Oglethorpe University, Georgia. At the first call for Southern troops, he enlisted on February 27, 1861, in Company D, Fourth regiment of Georgia volunteer infantry, and was assigned to the army of Northern Virginia, and valiantly served throughout the war. He followed Stonewall Jackson until that hero fell and then was with Lee until the latter's surrender. While stationed at Norfolk, he was an eye-witness to the terrific battle between the Merrimac and Monitor, the first clash in actual warfare between iron-clad vessels, and which sea fight resulted in the reconstruction of all the navies of the world. J. L. Greer entered the army as a private, but came out a captain. He participated in the memorable battles of Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania and other bloody engagements. Of the 200 who at different times enlisted in his company, only 9 were at the surrender. Capt. Greer was shot through the arm and side at Spottsylvania Court House where he was captured May 10, 1864. He was a prisoner in the Federal prisons at Point Lookout, Washington, Ft. Delaware and at Charleston. He was one of the "Immortal 600" in prison at Charleston where they were subjected to the most harrowing cruelties and placed under the fire of their own guns. Starvation, stalking disease, filth and cruelty were means resorted to by their captors to force the helpless confederate prisoners to take the oath of allegiance. Fully one-fourth of the number died, but not more than a dozen would take the oath. Released from prison on Christmas day 1864, he returned to Alabama where he was engaged in teaching when the war broke out. In 1866, he came to Texas. After getting into the state he taught his first school in St. Augustine County, in East Texas. After teaching two terms there, he came to Collin in 1867 which county has ever since been his home. Capt. Greer taught five terms at Old Mantua in North Collin, then taught one term at Van Alstyne. This ended his career as a teacher. He bought land in North Collin and henceforth devoted his energies to agriculture in which vocation he was preeminently successful. He owns a great body of the finest of land at Anna in North Collin. When he landed in Collin County, Capt. Greer's possessions were less than $5.00 in cash. Now he is accounted as being one of the county's wealthiest citizens. Capt. Greer was elected to the 23rd and 24th legislatures of Texas where he served with ability. In politics, he has always been prominent in the councils of the democratic party, was county chairman of the pro forces when Collin County banished the saloons from its boundaries. Capt. Greer was made a Mason in Alabama in 1865, later was Master of the Van Alstyne lodge and at present is a member of St. John's Lodge of McKinney. Capt. Greer married Laura E. Kelley, December 22, 1869, to whom were born two children, Nannie L., and Joseph Knox. Mrs. Greer died Jan. 27, 1877. The daughter is now the wife of Dr. W. C. Bryant. The son, Joseph Knox, is a druggist at Allen, Oklahoma. On the 17th of September, 1888, Capt. Greer married Mrs. Lou. M. Perrin, daughter of Dr. W. A. Kuyrkendall. She and her husband now reside in the splendid home on North Kentucky street in this city to which they removed in 1890.