Born in 1750, in the vicinity of his father’s first colonial home, when the American Revolution occurred he was in the prime of youth, and, like all true sons of the Old Dominion, engaged in the conflict, devoting his early years to the cause of Liberty and Independence. Later in life, in the bloody war which occurred between the pioneers of the West and the Indian tribes, he also bore a part, and brought into active service against that formidable foe, the skill he had acquired in the Revolution. After thus gaining for himself considerable distinction in arms, he settled in 1782, in what is now Fayette County, Ky., near Lexington, and was among the first owners of lots there in 1783. On the 4^th of March, 1783, he was sworn as an attorney at law in the old court for the District of Kentucky, established by the Virginia Legislature, and on the 18^th of March, 1785, he was appointed Clerk of that Court, holding the position during its existence. In 1792, he was elected to Congress, where he remained until 1797. At the close of his Congressional life, he served for five years in the capacity of Clerk of the Kentucky Senate, and in the month of August, 1804, he was chosen Governor of Kentucky – a position held until 1809. Subsequently he was a member of the Legislature from Franklin County, for a number of years; Justice of the Peace in the same county, and a Director of the Old Kentucky Bank. In honor of him, a county and county seat in Northeastern Kentucky are named. He died April 27, 1818, in his sixty-ninth year. In the discharge of his official duties, he acted with a scrupulous regard for the public good. Prompt assiduous and faithful in the labors of his own position, he required the same of all who were subordinate to Him. No man more than he ever possessed the confidence of the people of Kentucky.

When Christopher Greenup settled in what subsequently became Fayette County, Ky., he was accompanied by a married brother -- Samuel Greenup -- already referred to as the grandfather of the subjects of the sketch. The third son of the original colonial ancestor emigrated at the same time, but located farther west. Samuel brought with him into the wilds of this territory, a little son, John (born near Fredricksburg, Md.); who ripening in the rough civilization of those early days, into a sturdy, vigorous manhood, was married on the 5^th day of February, 1797, to Mary A. W. Holland, a native of Kentucky. Twelve children were born of this union, three of whom – Christopher E. on the 2d of September, 1812; John W. on the 3d of October, 1816, and Samuel G. on the 30^th of August, 1818, all in Scott County – are more particularly the subjects of this biography. On the 1^st of October, 1832, John Greenup with eleven children (his wife having died on the 6^th of September, 1822), emigrated to Carroll County, Ind., passing the first winter in the little brick house opposite the southwest corner of the public square, now the property of Vine Holt. The following winter they purchased the farm, which after clearing ninety acres of timber, they subsequently, in 1846, sold to the county to be used as an asylum for the poor. The same year – their father, John Greenup, having died on the 2d of August, 1835 – the sons purchased and removed to the farm in Tippecanoe Township upon which John W. and Samuel G. now reside. It contained at that time but one small frame building. As the years went by, it became the exclusive property of the three whose names begin this sketch, and under their skillful management, improvement after improvement has been added until it ranks among the most valuable, if not, indeed, heading the list of valuable farm properties within the borders of Carroll County. In 1847, they began the building of a dyke which prevents the waters of the Wabash River from Inundating Deer Creek Prairie. It is to-day three miles long, and incloses 2,200 acres of tillable land. They have been the chief support of this work. Excepting Samuel G., who learned the trade of a carpenter under the late Joseph Evans, working with him seven years, and subsequently taking part in the construction of a number of the pioneer enterprises of the county, such as the Wabash dam in 1837-38, the first court house, first canal bridge, laying lock-floors in the canal, building the first flatboats running from this point to New Orleans, building warehouses, barns, etc. the main occupation of the brothers has been farming -- Samuel himself relinquishing his trade after a score of years to devote his time entirely to agricultural pursuits. In 1859, they built a handsome and substantial brick residence; and in 1861, a commodious bank-barn was made to supply the place of the rude log stables. The farm and its surroundings indicate to the stranger, systematic order , and bespeak in the completeness of surrounding detail, a felling of lasting home comfort such as should cause perpetual summer in the pathway of the declining years of the two remaining brothers -- for Christopher E. passed from among the living on the 29^th of October, 1875.

Samuel G. was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners as a candidate of the Democratic party in the fall of 1876, serving on term, and exhibiting in that time a degree of firmness and cool, good judgment, such as made his refusal of a re-election a source of regret alike to both parties. Christopher E. at one time served for several terms as Trustee of Tippecanoe Township. Though members of the Democratic party, they have never entered actively into political labors, and never sought the distinction of political offices, coupled as they always are with political drudgery.

Samuel G. since 1842, has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and next to Abner Bowen, id the oldest living member of the Delphi Lodge. None of the three brothers ever married. They have living at the present time, one brother, Hoover Greenup, and one sister, Mrs. Benham of Indianapolis.

County Coordinator: Suzy Sprague suzyq.wa@worldnet.att.net