The Green Family  

  Excerpt from the book "75 Years of Sully County History" published in 1958

      The Green family were indeed pioneers. They located near Olivet, Dakota

Territory in 1875, a time when Indians were as common as coyotes, and almost as

little tamed. Stirring adventures with the redskins marked their early life in

that section.

       Moving to this region in 1883, with a yoke of oxen and covered wagon, the

family again took up the tasks of the pioneer. It was in the spring of that year

that John Green filed on the homestead near Okobojo which was known by his name

and later descended to his son. In those days, the boy, Will, busied himself

with his schooling and the tasks common to youth. He served his apprenticeship

as a printer at 18 years of age under Steve Travis, of the Okobojo Times.

      Will was a Private in the first South Dakota Volunteer Infantry in the

Spanish-American War and saw active service in the Philippines. It was there

that he contracted malaria which finally resulted in complications, causing his

death. After his return from the war, he became associated with John Livingstone

in the Okobojo Times, and became its owner in 1910.

      On July 24, 1902, Will Green married Madge Glessner. They lived on a farm

north of Okobojo where their three children were born, Frances, Willis George.

[photo - The Will Green Family, about 1918. Early Pioneers of Okobojo Township.

Front seated - Mr. and Mrs. Will Green. Back, left to right - Willis, Frances (Cathie)

and George]  

      Frances married John W. Wilder and now lives in Greensboro, North

Carolina. They have four boys. Willis married Lucille Kennedy and they lived in

Okobojo Township until 1950, when they moved to Onida and built themselves a

home. George married Hazel Spencer, of Houghton, South Dakota. They also lived

in Okobojo Township until they moved to Redfield, South Dakota, in 1942

(they didn't actually move to Redfield until 1952). They have one boy and two girls.

      Will Green passed away on December 7, 1922, at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Mrs. Green then moved to Huron, South Dakota, where her children could attend

high school and college. She passed away in June, 1944, at the home of her

daughter in Greensboro.

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