MOUNT VERNON – The Knox County Genealogical Society will hold a meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) building at 236 South Main St. in downtown Mount Vernon, where David Greer will speak about the history of the village Greer in northeast Knox County.
Greer's life was centered primarily in Greer and the Jefferson Township area, but his experiences and service have a context in neighboring counties and several statewide organizations. His family history dates back to his widowed three-great grandmother, who emigrated from County Antrim Ireland by way of Maryland to Ohio in 1827. One of her sons (his three-great uncle Robert) was the actual founder of Greersville in 1836.
Greer was a science teacher at his alma mater Danville High School for 16 years, retiring in 2002. Before that, he was an administrator at the college level in the Lima area. He also taught environmental science at COTC (part time) for three years.
He was a leader of the effort to declare the Mohican a state scenic river, writing the chapter on geological and cultural history in the report, which helped achieve that designation. He has also volunteered at nearby Malabar Farm State Park for the last 20 years, educating people about the impact of farmer and conservationist Louis Bromfield.
He further has interest in learning and telling how the contributions of Loudonville native son Charles Kettering helped improve the standard of living for farmers, their families and their communities.
He sits as vice president of the board of trustees of the Knox County Historical Society and has served nearly 15 years as a secretary of the Knox County Ag Museum, where he can further spread his knowledge of local history and the evolution of farming practices.
Greer was a key volunteer for the 4-H programs in Knox County since 1986, and served at statewide camps and judged 4-H projects from Mount Vernon to Columbus. He was very active as well in The Ohio State University Alumni Society of Army ROTC. Both organizations have inducted him into their halls of fame in the last two years.
