Mercer County PAGenWeb

People of Mercer County

Harriet Ellen (Patterson) Greer


Harriett Ellen Patterson "Miss Hattie," was born 24 Jun 1858 to William Carse Patterson and Mary Martin Patterson in Belfast, Ireland. She emigrated to America with her parents at age 10; many of her 10 brothers and sisters also settled in the Titusville area. With the exception of two years spent in Wisconsin, she spent the remainder of her life in Stoneboro. Hattie was a member of the Ladies Aid Society, the Women's Missionary Society and the Dorcas Bible Study group.

On 8 August 1874, she married James Lyons Greer was born 15 Jun 1850 in Carygreavy Parish, Anahilt, County Down, Ireland to John Greer and Rachel Lyons Greer. In later life he would forget his birth date and list it as 15 Jan 1851 but records at the Loughaghery Presbyterian Church, Maghera-conluce Townland in Ireland, show it as 15 Jun 1850.

Jim and Hattie had six children. Their first child John, named for Jim's father, was born 22 July 1875 when Jim was 24 and Hattie was 17.


Harriet Ellen (Patterson) Greer
William Daniel, known as "Pup" was born next, in 1877. A daughter, Minna, followed two years later in 1879. Minna died in 1900 at the age of 10. Rachel, named for Jim's mother, followed on 8 Jan 1881. Then Jim Jr. on 16 June 1885. Thomas Kennedy was born 17 Dec 1888 and finally, seven years later, Helen Mae on 10 Jun 1895. She was 20 years younger than her oldest brother and clearly the baby of the family. Hattie was 37 when Helen Mae was born.

Jim Greer died April 20th, 1921. Miss Hattie outlived her husband by another three years. She died in 1924 at the age of 66. She had undergone an operation four years earlier and had never fully recovered from it. Her obituary stated, "She was a woman of fine character, beloved by all who knew her and her death has occasioned widespread regret."

Source: Retired Family Old Photos Website


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