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Michael W. Greene, general merchant and farmer at Sulphur Springs Landing, 

is a native of Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, born in 1830, and after 

receiving a fair common school education, remained on a farm until eighteen 

years of age (1848), at which date he came to the United States landing at 

Quebec, and went from there to New York four months later.  He then spent 

about three years as day laborer on railroads, in stone quarries, etc., 

after which he came West in search of land, and after traveling through 

Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri, finally, in 1855, became foreman of the 

construction of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railraod, which 

occupied his time for four years.  In 1859 he married Miss Catherine, 

daughter of Daniel Gorman, who was from the same county in Ireland, but 

who was living in St. Louis at the time of Mr. Greene's marriage.  Mrs. 

Greene died the same year, and in 1860 he married Miss Mary McGrath, of 

St. Louis, who bore him ten children, six now living: Margaret, a book 

keeper in the McCormick works at St. Louis for four years; Daniel, 

railroad operator at Denver, Colo.; Ella; Blanche, with her sister in St. 

Louis; Joseph and Ethel.  Soon after marriage Mr. Greene began 

merchandising at Sulphur Springs Landing, at which place he has since 

carried on a successful business, being perhaps, the oldest merchant in 

Jefferson County, as well as one of the most successful, energetic and 

wealthy citizens.  He at one time owned considerable property in St. 

Louis and Illinois, and now has about 1,000 acres of land, most in 

Jefferson County, but some in Wayne and Crawford Counties.  In 1860 he 

built a flouring mill at Sulphur Springs which he operated for about 

three years and then sold out.  For the last twenty years he has been 

more or less engaged in farming and dealing in real estate.  During 

Lincoln's first administration he was made postmaster at Sulphur Springs 

Landing, and held the office continuously until 1882.  A Democrat 

politically, his first presidential vote was cast for Pierce, in 1852.  

He is a member of the Catholic Church.  Mr. Greene has always taken a 

great interest in educational work and has spared no pains in endeavoring 

to school his children.  Two of his children have graduated from the Normal 

School at St. Louis.  He is the son of Daniel and Madigan Greene; the 

former was a carpenter, and at the age of about fifty left Ireland and came 

to the United States, but three years later returned to his native Isle, 

where he died about 1840. The mother came to the United States about 1853, 

and died at Sulphur Springs about 1857.