Individual Details
Eli Washington Greear
(October 6, 1836 - February 27, 1901)
1880 Grayson County, Virginia census.
"Eli Washington Greear, was born in Grant (Grayson County, Virginia) in 1833, and died at Trout Dale in 1898. He was reared on the old homestead place in Grayson County, and for a number of years he conducted a general store at Grant. He opened the first store in the newer town of Trout Dale, and here he continued as a leading merchant until his death. He was one of the historic California argonauts of 1849, and was successful in his gold-mining operations. He remained in California three years, having gone across the plains to that state and having returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In 1880 he established his store at Trout Dale, but he continued to reside at Grant until 1883, when he transferred the family home to Trout Dale. In addition to his successful mercantile business he was prominently associated with farm enterprise, as the owner of a large tract of fine mountain land in his native county. He was originally a whig and later a republican in politics, and he and his wife were earnest members of the Baptist Church. As a soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil War, Mr. Greear served as a bugler in the command of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. (He received a sabre wound on the head and his horse was killed at the same time.)" (From the article, "Robert E. Lee Greear," HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, The American Historical Society, Chicago and New York, 1924, Vol. 6, Virginia Biography, pages 613-14; as is further information on the children of Eli Washington Greear).
"Eli Washington Greear served in the 8th Virginia Calvary as Bugler under General McCausland and part of the time in General Early's army, and was with Early's army when it threatened Washington City. He was also in the raid into Pennsylvania when Chambersburg was burned. He served the entire four years of the war and was discharged after General Lee's surrender." (C. P. Greear, Troutdale, Virginia.)
"Near the close of the Civil War, John Calvin Greear and Eli Washington Greear secured furloughs for themselves and worn out horses for a two weeks rest. When the time came for their return, Calvin announced to his neighbors that he was "whipped" therefore was not returning and would fight at home if it became necessary. He also sent the Captain of the Home Guard word he would be at home, but would fight before he'd go back to his company. In this beligerant mood, Calvin tried to get "Wash" to stay while they started spring farming operations. Wash refused to agree to such a plan but finally agreed he would take the train at Marion, Virginia and go to his company then fighting at Richmond, Virginia. This would leave his horse and equipment for his then very small family of one child and his wife. After adopting this plan Calvin accompanied Wash on horseback, and started for Marion and the train going east. On the way and after much persuasion Wash agreed to go some distance back in the White Top Mountains where the Greear family had stock running wild and greatly neglected. There he would round up and take care of the stock until the War situation was over. Before daylight the following morning Wash was knocking on Calvin's door for admission. During the night he said a mess mate who had been killed in action, came to see Wash where he was sleeping. Pointing a finger at him said "Wash get out of here and go back and fight for your Country." Wash said to Calvin he'd rather go back to his company and be killed than lay out and take such punishment in that mountain. Shortly again they were on horseback going to Marion, Virginia for the east bound train Wash had planned to take on the previous day. On top of Iron Mountain there came a man walking who then informed them the war was over, that General Lee had surrendered on the previous day. The two brothers then returned home." (Related by Clabe Baker Greear, son of John Calvin Greear.)
Marriage date of E. W. Greear and Ludema Young contained in Marriage Records in the Grayson County Courthouse, Marriage Book 2, page 6.
"Eli Washington Greear, was born in Grant (Grayson County, Virginia) in 1833, and died at Trout Dale in 1898. He was reared on the old homestead place in Grayson County, and for a number of years he conducted a general store at Grant. He opened the first store in the newer town of Trout Dale, and here he continued as a leading merchant until his death. He was one of the historic California argonauts of 1849, and was successful in his gold-mining operations. He remained in California three years, having gone across the plains to that state and having returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In 1880 he established his store at Trout Dale, but he continued to reside at Grant until 1883, when he transferred the family home to Trout Dale. In addition to his successful mercantile business he was prominently associated with farm enterprise, as the owner of a large tract of fine mountain land in his native county. He was originally a whig and later a republican in politics, and he and his wife were earnest members of the Baptist Church. As a soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil War, Mr. Greear served as a bugler in the command of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. (He received a sabre wound on the head and his horse was killed at the same time.)" (From the article, "Robert E. Lee Greear," HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, The American Historical Society, Chicago and New York, 1924, Vol. 6, Virginia Biography, pages 613-14; as is further information on the children of Eli Washington Greear).
"Eli Washington Greear served in the 8th Virginia Calvary as Bugler under General McCausland and part of the time in General Early's army, and was with Early's army when it threatened Washington City. He was also in the raid into Pennsylvania when Chambersburg was burned. He served the entire four years of the war and was discharged after General Lee's surrender." (C. P. Greear, Troutdale, Virginia.)
"Near the close of the Civil War, John Calvin Greear and Eli Washington Greear secured furloughs for themselves and worn out horses for a two weeks rest. When the time came for their return, Calvin announced to his neighbors that he was "whipped" therefore was not returning and would fight at home if it became necessary. He also sent the Captain of the Home Guard word he would be at home, but would fight before he'd go back to his company. In this beligerant mood, Calvin tried to get "Wash" to stay while they started spring farming operations. Wash refused to agree to such a plan but finally agreed he would take the train at Marion, Virginia and go to his company then fighting at Richmond, Virginia. This would leave his horse and equipment for his then very small family of one child and his wife. After adopting this plan Calvin accompanied Wash on horseback, and started for Marion and the train going east. On the way and after much persuasion Wash agreed to go some distance back in the White Top Mountains where the Greear family had stock running wild and greatly neglected. There he would round up and take care of the stock until the War situation was over. Before daylight the following morning Wash was knocking on Calvin's door for admission. During the night he said a mess mate who had been killed in action, came to see Wash where he was sleeping. Pointing a finger at him said "Wash get out of here and go back and fight for your Country." Wash said to Calvin he'd rather go back to his company and be killed than lay out and take such punishment in that mountain. Shortly again they were on horseback going to Marion, Virginia for the east bound train Wash had planned to take on the previous day. On top of Iron Mountain there came a man walking who then informed them the war was over, that General Lee had surrendered on the previous day. The two brothers then returned home." (Related by Clabe Baker Greear, son of John Calvin Greear.)
Marriage date of E. W. Greear and Ludema Young contained in Marriage Records in the Grayson County Courthouse, Marriage Book 2, page 6.
Events
| Birth | October 6, 1836 | Grant, Grayson County, Virginia | |||
| Marriage | 1858 | Grayson County, Virginia - Ludema "Dema" Young | |||
| Death | February 27, 1901 | Troutdale, Grayson County, Virginia | |||
| Burial | Liberty Hill Cemetery, Grant, Grayson County, Virginia |
Families
| Spouse | Ludema "Dema" Young (1838 - 1905) |
| Child | Alonzo Napoleon Greear (1861 - 1920) |
| Child | George Washington Greear (1861 - 1863) |
| Child | Sonora Victoria "Vic" Greear (1862 - 1934) |
| Child | William Clayborne "Clabe" Greear (1866 - 1937) |
| Child | Robert E. Lee Greear (1869 - ) |
| Child | Nellie Josephine Greear (1871 - 1943) |
| Child | James Monroe "Jim" Greear (1873 - 1943) |
| Child | John Fields Greear (1877 - ) |
| Child | Shadrack Wiley Greear (1879 - 1909) |
| Father | Shadrack Marshal Greear Jr. (1801 - 1876) |
| Mother | Sarah Jane "Bettie" Baker (1813 - 1875) |
| Sibling | John Calvin Greear (1830 - 1916) |
| Sibling | Martha Greear (1833 - 1903) |
| Sibling | Isaac Madison Greear (1838 - 1898) |
| Sibling | Evaline Greear (1840 - ) |
| Sibling | Andrew Jackson Greear (1843 - 1920) |
| Sibling | Nancy Caroline Greear (1845 - 1846) |
| Sibling | James Monroe Greear (1846 - 1847) |
| Sibling | Raussy Jane Greear (1848 - 1850) |
| Sibling | Shadrack Marshall Greear III (1851 - 1922) |