According to Eileen Martin Bone, John Green was a Baptist minster. When he married Matilda Huff, the couple lived first a few years in Reynolds Co MO before going to Texas.215

The first formal record of John Green is the 1850 US Census of the 54th District of Madison Co, MO:54th District, Madison Co., MO (M432-405); Family #488

HUFF, Joseph - 41y - TN
HUFF, Luvina - 42 - NC
HUFF, Mary - 17 - MO
HUFF, Dianna - 15 - MO
HUFF, Elizabeth - 13 - MO
HUFF, Joseph - 11 - MO
HUFF, Jane - 9 - MO
HUFF, Nancy - 7 - MO
HUFF, John - 5 - MO
HUFF, Luvina - 3 - MO
GREEN, John - 29 - TN - married
GREEN, Matilda - 22 - TN

Madison Co is in the SE corner of Missouri, not far from the Missippi River, which separates the SE corner of MO from the SW corner of Tennessee. The county seat of Madison Co, Frederickson, MO, is 219 miles from Memphis

1860 Census of Logan, Reynolds Co MO

Name Age
John Green 35 TN
Matilda Green 31 MO
Elizebeth Green 5 MO
Phebe Green 3 MO
Ralsta Green 1 MO
Jane Huff 18 MO (Matilda’s sister)
Nancy Huff 17 MO (Matilda’s sister)

According to the obituary of Matilda Huff Green, published in 1915, John and Matilda came to Texas in 1865. John was definitely in Texas in 1880 when the family was enumerated in the 1880 census of Wilson Co:

1880 Census of Wilson, TX

John F. Green, w, m, 54, Minister and Farmer, TN, TN, TN
Matilda Green, w, f, 52, Wife, Keeping house, TN, TN, TN
Rebecca Green, w, f, 21, Daughter, At Home, MO, TN, TN
Sarah F. Green, w, f, 16, Daughter, At Home, TX, TN, TN
Marzee Green, w, f, 10, Daughter, At Home, TX, TN, TN
Frankie Green, w m, 7, Daughter, TX, TN, TN

There is also a 1887 deed: Wilson Co TX Deeds, p 634: 16 Feb 1887. Release of lien to F. R. Williams for purchase of 169 acres of land for $220. Vendors lien was held by F. M. Lay, J. F. Green, and J. E. Brown.

At about this time, John and Matilda appear to have moved to San Antonio. The 1891 City Directory of San Antonio lists a John F. Green as an employee of H. Cunningham & Company, selling boots and shoes. His address is listed as 517 Ave C.216 He is also listed at the same address in the 1893 and 1894 San Antonio City Directories. Also listed at 517 Ave C is a Nathaniel O. Green, Sr. (attorney) and a Nathaniel O. Green, Jr. (clerk with the S. A. & A. P. Ry.). [Note: it is possible that this is another John F. Green--see Notes on Matilda.] The 1893 San Antonio City Directory also lists J. F. Green, occupation private boading, at 429 E. Commerce.217 Also listed in 1893, as a sales lady with L. Wolfson, residing at 428 E. Commerce, is Mis M. M. Green.217 This would be the daughter of John and Matilda, Marzee Green.

John F. Green was definitely alive on 5 March 1896 when he signed the application for admission of his grandson, Frank Chevado, to Buckner Orphan Home in Dallas, Texas.

The 1905-6, 1908 and 1910 San Antonio City Directories list M. M. Huff as the widow of J. F. Green: M.M. Green (wid J F ) Springfield House r. same

Under Boarding Houses of same directories: Springfield House 322 E Commerce (1905-6) 334 E. Commerce (1908, 1910)

There was other men named John F. Green in early San Antonio. John Fulton Green was the second son of Col. and Mrs. N. O. Green and the brother of Judge Robert Green. He was born in Mexico on 12 January 1867, where his father had gone after the Civil War.218 He was a Captain in the Thirty-third Infantry, United States Volunteers. His unit shipped out to Manila, Philipines on 15 September 1899. He was wounded in the Battle of San Jacinto, near Luzon, on 12 November 1899.219

The San Antonio Daily Express, on Saturday March 22, 1902, carried a brief announcement in an article entitled HONORS FOR TEXANS:

“Captain John F. Green, Thirty-third Infantry, United States Volunteers, for distinguished gallantry in service at San Jacinto, Luzon, Phillipine Islands, Nov. 11, 1900, to rank from that date.”

The 1900 census has a listing for John Green, with his home in 1900 listed as “San Antonio, Phillipine Islands, Military and Naval Forces.

A man who appears to be this John Green is listed in the 1910 census of San Antonio, Bexar Co TX, with his wife Cecelia and six children.

Her obituary, published in the Floresville Chronicle Journal 10 Dec 1915 is given below:

"Mrs. M. M. Green, 88 years old, a resident of Texas for 50 years, died in LaVernia. Native of Missouri. Surviving, six daughters: Mrs. P. L. Davis, Mrs. F. Dudds, and Mrs. S. Ford, all of San Antonio, Mrs. Emma Robinson of California, Mrs. J. H. Erb of Real Co Texas, and Mrs. F. M. Lay of LaVernia."

This obituary, if accurate, indicates that M. M. Huff came to Texas in 1865, four years after the birth of her daughter Nannie Jennie Green.

Note added August 8, 2004: The inscription on her grave marker at the La Vernia cemetery indicates her date of birth as 16 October 1828. The 1900 census indicates that she was born in Feb 1828. If the birthdate of her younger brother (June 2, 1829) is correct, it is virtually impossible that Matilda could have been born 16 October 1828.

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Matilda’s state of birth is given in various census records as MO (1860, 1900) and TN ( 1850, 1880, 1910). It is not known where or how Matilda met John Green. Her family was from Sevier Co TN, but they were already living in Madison Co MO in 1840, when Matilda was only 13. Therefore, it is likely that Matilda met John in Missouri.

Notes on John F. Green and Matilda Green
San Antonio, TX (Bexar Co Court House, San Antonio Public Library)
Oct 20, 2001

Deeds and grants: 1890-1911:

Grantee John F. Green, Grantor Henry Elmendorf, Deed and Lien, Filing Nov 28, 1890 2pm; Date of Record, Dec 9, 1890 4pm; Book 86 page 167

Grantee John F. Green, Grantor Henry Elmendorf, Release of Lien, Jan 6, 1891 10am; Date of record Jan 22, 1891, book 89 page 99 [lot number 3, block number 7, South of E Commerce and East of the San Antonio River]

Grantee Matilda Green, Grantor H. Elmendorf, Deed with Lien, Filing Nov 28, 1890 2pm, Date of Record Dec 9, 1890 4:45pm, Book 86 page 170

Grantee Matilda Green, Grantor H. Elmendorf, Release of Lien, Jan 6, 1891 10am, book 89 page 101 [lot number 4, block number 7, South of E Commerce and East of the San Antonio River]

There are listings for John F. Green and Matilda Green in several San Antonio City Directories from 1891-1906. Following is not complete:

1896-7 San Antonio City Directory:
John F. Green, boarding, 408 E Commerce
[also listed - Springfield House 322 E Commerce]

1899-1900 San Antonio City Directory:
John F. Green, clk A. R. Shephard, r 517 Ave C
Mrs. John F. Green (wid), boarding, 408 E Commerce
John F. Green, 404 E Commerce
[also listed - Springfield House 322 E Commerce]

1901-02 San Antonio City Directory:
M. M. Green (wid J.F.), boarding 408 E Commerce, r. same.
[also listed is Matilda Green (wid Fritz), r 1361 S Laredo]

1905-06 San Antonio City Directory:
M. M. Green (wid J.F.), Springfield House, r same.
334 E Commerce St. Springfield House, Mrs. M. M. Green

These directory listings are confusing. There may even have been two John F. Greens and two Matilda Greens (but this seems highly unlikely). We know that John F. Green and Matilda Green bought adjoining lots from Henry Elmendorf in November, 1890. The 1896 listing of John F. Green, boarding, 408 E Commerce, agrees with the 1899 listing of Mrs. John F. Green (widow) at the same address and still engaged in boarding. However, the 1899 directory also lists a John F. Green at 404 E Commerce and the 1901 directory lists both this John F. Green and M. M Green (wid J.F.) and a Matilda Green (wid Fritz). The 2nd John F. Green and the 2nd Matilda Green both appear in several other directories in this period. It is possible that Matilda Green, widow of John F. Green #1, began to go by “M. M.” to avoid confusion with Matilda Green #2, widow of Fritz.

In the 1905 directory, it appears that M. M. Green has acquired the Springfield House, which is listed in earlier directories at 322 E. Commerce.

The area where the Springfield House stood is now occupied by the Hemisfair grounds. In the 1890s East Commerce street began at the river, whereas it now begins at a site further west.

Note added May 4, 2003: These apparent discrepancies may be explained by the letter from Emily Green Robinson to her aunt, Caroline Scoggins, dated August 2, 1890.220 In this letter (reproduced as a note under Emily Green Robinson), it is stated that John and Matilda Green split up some time after Rebecca married and left home (when she was 23 years of age). Rebecca was born in Missouri before 1860, so her marriage and estrangement from the family would have occurred in the early 1880s. Thus, John and Matilda had been living apart for some time by August, 1890.

Matilda's middle name may have been Marzee. This unusual name was used for one of her daughters and appears several times in other descendants.

1900 Census of San Antonio Ward 8, Bexar, Texas

Matilda Green, Head, w, f, Feb 1828, 71, divorced, mother of 8 children, 6 still living, MO, MO, MO, Boarding House
Marzee Green, Daughter, w, f, Feb 1871, 29, single, TX, TN, TX
John Erb, Boarder, w, m, Jun 1859, 41, divorced, Canada Eng, Canada Eng, Canada Eng, immigration 1878, 22 years in US, naturalized, Merchant
14 other boarders listed

1910 Census of San Antonio Ward 8, Bexar, TX

John H. Erb, Head, m, w, 52, m, married 1 year, Canada English, Canada Eng, Canada Eng, immigrated 1884, Na, Contractor, House
Maren E. M. Erb, Wife, f, w, 42, m, married 1 year, TX, MO, TN
Mathilda Green, Mother-in-law, f, w, 83, widowed, MO, MO, TN
Mary J. Chivido, Niece, f, w, 14, single, TX, TX, TX
Charles Chivido, Nephew, m, w, 23, single, TX, TX, TX
+ 9 white boarders and 2 black servants