William Laury Greene

William Laury Greene (October 3, 1849 – March 11, 1899) was an American Populist Party politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska from 1897 until his death.

Early life and career

Greene was born in Pike County, Indiana, and raised on a farm in Dubois County.Template:Sfn He worked on the family farm while attending school, and graduated from Ireland Academy.Template:Sfn He taught school while studying law, and attained admission to the bar in 1876.Template:Sfn Greene practiced in Bloomington, Indiana until 1883, when he moved to Kearney, Nebraska, where he continued to practice law.Template:Sfn Greene was active in the Baptist Church, and pastored congregations and delivered sermons at churches in Indiana.Template:Sfn

Political career

Greene was an adherent of the Democratic Party, but was not politically active for most of his life.Template:Sfn He was a founder of the Populist or People's Party in Nebraska during the agrarian reform and free silver movements of the late 1880s, and gained a reputation as an effective orator on behalf of Populist causes and candidates.Template:Sfn In 1893, Greene was a candidate for the United States Senate.Template:Sfn He lost the Fusion nomination (Populists and Democrats) to William V. Allen, who went on to win the seat.Template:Sfn

In 1895, Greene was elected judge of Nebraska's 12th judicial district, and he served until 1897.Template:Sfn In 1896, Greene was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Populist, and he served until from March 1897 his death.Template:Sfn

Death and burial

After Congress adjourned in March 1899, Greene traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska to observe the legislative election for U.S. Senator.Template:Sfn On March 10, he traveled from Lincoln to Omaha on business.Template:Sfn On March 11, Greene and several friends traveled from his Omaha hotel to the train station by carriage, and upon arrival at the station, his friends observed that he was lying down on the back seat.Template:Sfn They could not revive him, so they carried him into the train station and summoned medical aid.Template:Sfn A doctor soon arrived, who determined that Greene had died, and the cause of death was heart failure.Template:Sfn

Greene's funeral took place at First Baptist Church in Kearney.Template:Sfn He was interred in Kearney Cemetery.Template:Sfn

Family

In 1872, Greene married Emma Dowell of Shoals, Indiana.Template:Sfn They were the parents of seven children.Template:Sfn

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)

External links

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