Alfred B. Greenwood

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Alfred B. Greenwood
Alfred B. Greenwood (portrait)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 1st district
In office March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Thomas C. Hindman
Commissioner of Indian Affairs
In office May 13, 1859 – April 13, 1861
Preceded by	James W. Denver
Succeeded by	William P. Dole
Member of the Confederate States Congress from Arkansas
In office 1862–1865
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	Alfred Burton Greenwood (1811-07-11)July 11, 1811 Franklin County, Georgia, U.S.
Died	October 4, 1889(1889-10-04) (aged 78) Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Sarah A. Hilburn ​ ​ (m. 1833; died 1884)​
Children	12
Alma mater	University of Georgia

Alfred Burton Greenwood (July 11, 1811 – October 4, 1889) was an American attorney and a politician; he was elected to the United States and Confederate congresses as a Democrat. In 1859 he was appointed under President James Buchanan as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and resigned when Arkansas seceded from the Union in 1861.

Early life and education[]

Alfred Burton Greenwood was born to Elizabeth (née Ingram) Hugh B. Greenwood in Franklin County, Georgia on July 11, 1811.^[1][2] He was educated in Lawrenceville, Georgia.^[2] He graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. He was admitted to the bar in 1832 and relocated to Decatur, Georgia^[1]

Career[]

In 1837, he was appointed as a quartermaster as part of the Cherokee removal. In December 1838, after seeing what Arkansas had to offer, he resigned his commission. He moved his family to Bentonville, Arkansas and became the small town's first attorney.^[2][3] He went into politics and was elected to two terms in the Arkansas legislature; serving from 1842 to 1845.^[1] He served as Arkansas's prosecuting attorney from 1845 to 1851 and the Fourth Judicial Circuit Arkansas from 1851 to 1853.^[2][1]

He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas, and served from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1859.^[1] He was appointed in 1858 as Commissioner of Indian Affairs by President James Buchanan.^[2][4] He served in that role from May 13, 1859 to April 13, 1861.^[1] He was offered the role of U.S. Secretary of the Interior after Jacob Thompson resigned, but declined the position.^[2]

With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Greenwood was elected to the Congress of the Confederate States from Arkansas and served from 1862 to 1865.^[1] In 1864 he was appointed tax collector for Arkansas.^{[2][citation needed]}

In 1873, Greenwood moved to Cassville, Missouri where he practiced law. He was elected as a judge and served in that role until he returned back to Arkansas in June 1879.^[3]

Personal life[]

Greenwood married Sarah A. Hilburn (1819–1884) of Union, South Carolina in 1833.^[2] Together, they had 12 children.^[2][4]

Death[]

Greenwood died on October 4, 1889 in Bentonville.^[1][2][4] He was interred at Bentonville Cemetery.^[1][2]

Legacy[]

Both Greenwood, Arkansas, and Greenwood County, Kansas, are named after him.^{[5][citation needed]}

References[]

• United States Congress. "Alfred B. Greenwood (id: G000436)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Greenwood County Historical Society (Greenwood County, Kan.) (1986). The History of Greenwood County, Kansas (Vol 1), p. 25. Josten's Publications, Wichita, Kan.

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