May be related to Benjamin, Gabriel and/or William GREENSWEIGHT / GREENSWITE / GREENZWEIGHT / GREENZWEIG

Living alone as of 1880 census. [2011]

Probably made the move to Missouri about 1882-83, based on the fact that his son, Gabriel (A. Lincoln) was discharged from school to Rolla, MO, 31-MAY-1883. [3644]

Given that Stephen’s father was John, according to Stephen’s
marriage license, [2339] then the 1850 census of “John Greenswag” [2340]
(“Greensway” according to Ancestry) in Upper Towamensing, Carbon
Co., PA, shows that Stephen had an older brother, Reuben (b.1833).
Stephen’s age here of 14, is inconsistent with other records of his
age but the only other Stephen with a similar surname (Greenswig, or
“Greenserig” according to Ancestry) that year had a father named
“Danl.” Next-door neighbor of John Greenswag, Benjamin Greenswag
(age 22) is probably another brother of Stephen, though technically
not certain from that census record. Further complicating this is
the appearance that same year of a Benjamin GREENSWITE, also 22, in
Lycoming Twp., who was a Blacksmith [4127], whereas the Benjamin in Carbon
Co. was a farmer. The Benjamin Greensuige(?) [308] who was living with
Mahlon Taylor in 1860, was born the same year as Benjamin Greenswag
and was a Blacksmith, and so perhaps is more likely the Benjamin who
was in the John HARTMAN household in 1850, rather than the Benjamin
over in Carbon Co. A Benjamin GREENSWEIGHT, born 11-MAR-1828 in
Northampton Co., PA, and died 23-JAN-1913, in Williamsport [4128], was
reportedly the son of William GREENSWEIGHT and Edith STROHL. This
would seem to rule him out as the brother of Stephen. Though considering
that Carbon Co. was formed out of Northampton Co. in 1843, this Benjamin
was probably part of the Carbon County GREENSWAG/GREENSWEIGHT
family.
And of course there was Gabriel Greensuige, age 40, next door to
Mahlon TAYLOR in 1860, and certainly could also have been another son
of John Greenswag.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In 1891, Stephen became the defendant in a lawsuit over a labor contract. Here is my summary of the case based on copies of the actual case file: [3748]

In May of 1891, Fritz Wagner of Rolla, Missouri, filed suit in Circuit Court to obtain wages allegedly owed to him by Stephen Greensweight. Greensweight had apparently hired Wagner to cut and haul “12 loads of wood at 60¢ per load” for a net of $7.20 (adjusting for inflation, possibly the equivalent of $183-230 as of 2013). Wagner asked for “judgment with all costs of this suit.” A short statement describing that job was filed in court on 6 May 1891, by Justice of the Peace, George H. Hume. That same day, Justice Hume ordered Constable Louis Heimberger to summon Greensweight to appear in Hume’s office on 16 May 1891, to answer to Wagner’s complaint. However, on 14 May 1891, Greensweight submitted a request for a change in venue, as he claimed Justice Hume was prejudiced against him. On 16 May 1891, the request was granted and the case was transferred to Justice R. A. Warren. Three witnesses were subpoenaed by Justice Warren on 27 May 1891: Puleston, Abe Light and Louis Heimberger (subsequent documents show that of these, only Heimberger testified). The following day, A. J. Jones was also subpoenaed and records show he did testify.

On 29 May 1891, Justice Warren ordered Constable Louis Heimberger to assemble “twelve good and lawful men” as jurors in this case (though of the 12 summoned, only 6 actually served; they were paid 75¢ each). That same day, a statement by Greensweight was filed, in which he formally answered Wagner’s petition, denying that he owes Wagner “any sum whatsoever.” Greensweight provided a backstory, to the effect that on 13 Sep 1890, Wagner had leased him, by oral agreement, 40 acres of land in Rolla Township, for a term on one year. Greensweight states that he had agreed to farm and cultivate about five acres of that property for the 1891 growing season. Wagner was to receive the entire crop produced, but he was also supposed to farm another three acres himself, as well as fix the fences on the property. The work on those extra three acres was to earn Wagner $3.00. Wagner was then also to chop and haul 15 loads of wood from Greensweight’s land to Greensweight’s home, no later than 1 Jan 1891. Greensweight alleged that Wagner failed to comply with the terms of the lease, and therefore proposed that Wagner owes him $15 plus court costs.

This matter appears to have been handled very quickly, as the jury’s verdict was also dated 29 May 1891. Wagner won the case with an award of $6.45 (Greensweight would also owe court costs of $11.45). The next day, Greensweight filed an appeal, advising Wagner to appear in court on 10 Aug 1891. But then on 1 Jun 1891, Greensweight and a previously unmentioned associate, F. E. Dowd (probably Frank E. Dowd, originally of Michigan), submitted a statement to Justice Warren, stating that Greensweight and Dowd acknowledge indebtedness to Wagner in the amount of $50, to be paid subject to certain conditions: if the original judgement against Greensweight is affirmed on appeal, or if the appellate court judgement goes against Greensweight, or if the appeal is dismissed. Payment would also include the costs of the appeal. The results of the appeal are not part of this case file.

As a postscript, it should be noted that the Missouri Judicial Index Database also lists two other civil cases involving Stephen Greensweight, and interestingly they both also involve F. E. Dowd as well as Stephen’s wife, Rose B. Greensweight. However, these are dated 1895 and 1896 and because Stephen died 25 Jan 1895, he is listed as “Plaintiff / Deceased” in both cases.
Revised, 15-JUL-2014, Bruce W. Christopher

Civil War [2266]
Draft Registration, May-June, 1863. [3033]
Private, Co. B, 84th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. [2273], [3013]
Mustered in 11-DEC-1861 (or 03-OCT-1861 [3013]). Discharged 16-DEC-1862 (or 17-SEP-1862 [3013]). [2274, p.1316]
Co. A, 16th Veterans Reserve Corp. (VRC), 04-SEP-1863 to 24-Nov-1865. [3013], [2266]
“Invalid” pension claim filed on the basis of “dropsy” aka edema. [2275], [3013] Received $4.00/month beginning April 1879.
Also reported with “dropsy” at time of enlistment in the VRC, and “Bright’s Disease” and Albuminuria. [2266]

Check land records of Phelps Co., Missouri.