Edward B. Green

Edward B. Green was an American attorney and jurist who was appointed by Benjamin Harrison as the first chief justice of the Oklahoma Territory Supreme Court on May 4, 1890. Green, presided over a three-man panel of judges, who were also appointed by President Harrison. The other two judges, known as Associate Justices, were John G. Clark, from Illinois and Abraham J. Seay, from Missouri. Other court officials included Charles H. Filson, as clerk, Warren G. Lurty, as marshal and Horace Speed, as United States Attorney.

Early life Green was born December 29, 1837, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of 12 children of Thomas and Martha (née Galbraith) Green. Edward received a primary education in the public school of the county, then attended Reimersburg and Leatherwood Academies, preparing himself to become a teacher at age 17. He became an instructor in languages and then chair of the Department of Languages at the Academy of West Freedom, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

Career On October 28, 1858, Green moved to Illinois, where he first settled in Paris, Illinois and went to work and study in the law office of his older brother, Amos, who was a partner of James A. Eads. In June, 1860, Green went to Carlisle, where he was examined by Judge Sidney Brese, a justice on the Illinois Supreme Court. Green passed the exam and, recommended by Judge Brese, was admitted to the bar. On June 20, he went to Mount Carmel, where he opened a solo practice. In 1864, he went into a partnership with Judge Robert Bell. The Bell & Green law firm prospered in Wabash and surrounding counties, and lasted until Green moved to Oklahoma Territory in 1890.

Although Green's decision had little direct impact outside of Oklahoma Territory, it roiled the rest of the country. Many leaders of other states feared that the precedent would seriously damage the government's policy for educating Indians and potentially empty Indian schools all over the country. Ultimately, the situation was resolved without bloodshed, although the use of military force was threatened on more than one occasion, as explained by Matthew Gilbert's book.

Resignation President Harrison's run for reelection in 1892 failed, and he was succeeded effective March 4, 1893, by the incoming Democratic President, Grover Cleveland. Territorial officials had become traditionally patronage jobs, so on that same day, President Cleveland accepted Chief Justice Green's resignation and pronounced Democratic Party candidate, Frank Dale, as the new Chief Justice of Oklahoma Territory. Green promptly returned to his former home in Mt. Carmel, Illinois and resumed his private practice of law.

Personal life Judge Green married Emma G. Lutes of York County, Pennsylvania on October 23, 1861. They had three children, two daughters and one son. One daughter, Daisy (Mrs. S. L.) Russell, died March 28, 1898, leaving a daughter.