George Ervin ("Erve") Green was born July 2, 1886 to George Washington Green and Amanda A. Hickam. He was reared in Camden County, Missouri, where his family had been for four generations. Erve was baptized in 1902 at Sunnyside Christian Church. He married Rhoda Maria Brown on November 28, 1909, with her cousin Reverend William Robert Brown performing the ceremony. Erve and Maria had five children: Glenna Irene, Sylvia Lucille, Emma Ann, Blenda Paulina, and Leslie Ervin. The family lived in California twice, the first time around 1910-1912 in Whittier, where the first two daughters were born. The family then returned to Missouri and had their last three children there. The family moved permanently to California in 1934, settling in Long Beach. George Ervin Green died at Long Beach Hospital in Whittier, California September 26, 1949.
After 3 years of marriage, Erve and Maria bought 40 acres for $645 on February 1, 1912. Their home had no inside plumbing or electricity, and their water came from an artesian spring located some distance from the house. As the children became older, it was their task to carry water to the house for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Lighting was provided by two kerosene lamps.
Erve farmed the land and raised most everything needed for food for the family and livestock, which included horses, milk cows, and pigs. He also maintained a fruit orchard which yielded apples, peaches, and cherries. During the growing season, his wife, Maria, planted and cultivated a vegetable garden. Weekly Erve took his wife to Lebanon, Missouri in a horse-drawn wagon to purchase staples such as flour and sugar which could not be raised on the farm. As the years passed, this trip was made in the family's Model T Ford.
In addition to running the farm, Erve eventually became a U.S. mail carrier, running a route in his Model T between Lebanon and Old Linn Creek before the Bagnell Dam was built to create Lake of the Ozarks and that town was relocated to higher ground. Along his mail route, Erve would buy produce such as eggs and milk and animal furs from the local farmers, then resell them to the warehouses in Lebanon. He also helped his only son, Leslie, build rabbit traps and purchased Leslie's pelts for 5 cents each.
Erve and son, Leslie, enjoyed hunting together -- squirrels during the summer and possums during the winter. The family also took many trips to the river for swimming and fishing.
The Greens had no radio and television did not even exist in those days, but Erve was an excellent fiddler and was often invited to play for barn dances. During long evenings on the farm, he entertained the children with his fiddle music while daughter Emma played the guitar, and Sylvia played the organ. Sometimes on Saturday night, the family would visit relatives to listen to the Grand Ole Opry on their battery-powered radio. Erve later brought home an RCA Victograph which played cylindrical records, and the children were delighted. They listened to country music by such artists as the Carter family, Jimmy Rogers, and Roy Acuff. Erve and his musical daughters would emulate the music and songs they heard. The children fondly remembered the excellent fiddle-playing of their father's brother, Mont Green, too. Mont was left-handed but would play a right-hand-tuned fiddle "over the strings". Another intriguing memory is of a family friend with only one arm who joined in these jam sessions; he played his fiddle upside down with his one arm by holding the handle under his chin and pressing the base to his knee; this friend also could roll his own cigarettes by cradling the cigarette paper in his shirt sleeve while sprinkling on Bull Durham tobacco with his one hand, which greatly fascinated the children.
In 1934 the Greens decided life might be easier if they moved to town, so the family relocated to Lebanon. Erve gave up his mail route and started a repair shop, working primarily on farm machinery, but business was not very good. He learned from relatives in California that opportunity existed there, and the family sold out everything in Missouri, piled in the family automobile, and headed west. The trip itself presented several challenges including car trouble, sleeping in the car when motels were unavailable, and paying a fine and being forced to purchase a car registration in Arizona, but soon they arrived. Erve found work, and the children were enrolled in school in Long Beach. The Green family remained in California from then on.
Erve suffered a cerebral hemorrage (stroke) September 26, 1949 in his home, at age 63, and died in the Long Beach Hospital. Both Erve and Maria are buried at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier. His obituary reads as follows:
"GREEN - George E. green, 63, of 735 Sunrise Blvd., died this morning at a Long Beach hospital. He was born in Lebanon, MO, and came to California in 1912 residing at Whittier before moving to Long Beach in 1934. He was a construction worker. Surviving are the widow, Maria; a son, Leslie Green of Hollydale; three daughters, Mrs. Glenna Organ, Mrs. Sylvia Brown, and Mrs. Emma Lorenz, all of Long Beach; three brothers, Reg Green of Bakersfield; John Green of Decatur, MO; and Mont Green of Camdenton, MO; a sister, Mrs. Grace Baker of Joplin, MO; five grandchildren. (Joan Bradley)
After 3 years of marriage, Erve and Maria bought 40 acres for $645 on February 1, 1912. Their home had no inside plumbing or electricity, and their water came from an artesian spring located some distance from the house. As the children became older, it was their task to carry water to the house for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Lighting was provided by two kerosene lamps.
Erve farmed the land and raised most everything needed for food for the family and livestock, which included horses, milk cows, and pigs. He also maintained a fruit orchard which yielded apples, peaches, and cherries. During the growing season, his wife, Maria, planted and cultivated a vegetable garden. Weekly Erve took his wife to Lebanon, Missouri in a horse-drawn wagon to purchase staples such as flour and sugar which could not be raised on the farm. As the years passed, this trip was made in the family's Model T Ford.
In addition to running the farm, Erve eventually became a U.S. mail carrier, running a route in his Model T between Lebanon and Old Linn Creek before the Bagnell Dam was built to create Lake of the Ozarks and that town was relocated to higher ground. Along his mail route, Erve would buy produce such as eggs and milk and animal furs from the local farmers, then resell them to the warehouses in Lebanon. He also helped his only son, Leslie, build rabbit traps and purchased Leslie's pelts for 5 cents each.
Erve and son, Leslie, enjoyed hunting together -- squirrels during the summer and possums during the winter. The family also took many trips to the river for swimming and fishing.
The Greens had no radio and television did not even exist in those days, but Erve was an excellent fiddler and was often invited to play for barn dances. During long evenings on the farm, he entertained the children with his fiddle music while daughter Emma played the guitar, and Sylvia played the organ. Sometimes on Saturday night, the family would visit relatives to listen to the Grand Ole Opry on their battery-powered radio. Erve later brought home an RCA Victograph which played cylindrical records, and the children were delighted. They listened to country music by such artists as the Carter family, Jimmy Rogers, and Roy Acuff. Erve and his musical daughters would emulate the music and songs they heard. The children fondly remembered the excellent fiddle-playing of their father's brother, Mont Green, too. Mont was left-handed but would play a right-hand-tuned fiddle "over the strings". Another intriguing memory is of a family friend with only one arm who joined in these jam sessions; he played his fiddle upside down with his one arm by holding the handle under his chin and pressing the base to his knee; this friend also could roll his own cigarettes by cradling the cigarette paper in his shirt sleeve while sprinkling on Bull Durham tobacco with his one hand, which greatly fascinated the children.
In 1934 the Greens decided life might be easier if they moved to town, so the family relocated to Lebanon. Erve gave up his mail route and started a repair shop, working primarily on farm machinery, but business was not very good. He learned from relatives in California that opportunity existed there, and the family sold out everything in Missouri, piled in the family automobile, and headed west. The trip itself presented several challenges including car trouble, sleeping in the car when motels were unavailable, and paying a fine and being forced to purchase a car registration in Arizona, but soon they arrived. Erve found work, and the children were enrolled in school in Long Beach. The Green family remained in California from then on.
Erve suffered a cerebral hemorrage (stroke) September 26, 1949 in his home, at age 63, and died in the Long Beach Hospital. Both Erve and Maria are buried at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier. His obituary reads as follows:
"GREEN - George E. green, 63, of 735 Sunrise Blvd., died this morning at a Long Beach hospital. He was born in Lebanon, MO, and came to California in 1912 residing at Whittier before moving to Long Beach in 1934. He was a construction worker. Surviving are the widow, Maria; a son, Leslie Green of Hollydale; three daughters, Mrs. Glenna Organ, Mrs. Sylvia Brown, and Mrs. Emma Lorenz, all of Long Beach; three brothers, Reg Green of Bakersfield; John Green of Decatur, MO; and Mont Green of Camdenton, MO; a sister, Mrs. Grace Baker of Joplin, MO; five grandchildren. (Joan Bradley)
George Ervin ("Erve") Green was born July 2, 1886 to George Washington Green and Amanda A. Hickam. He was reared in Camden County, Missouri, where his family had been for four generations. Erve was baptized in 1902 at Sunnyside Christian Church. He married Rhoda Maria Brown on November 28, 1909, with her cousin Reverend William Robert Brown performing the ceremony. Erve and Maria had five children: Glenna Irene, Sylvia Lucille, Emma Ann, Blenda Paulina, and Leslie Ervin. The family lived in California twice, the first time around 1910-1912 in Whittier, where the first two daughters were born. The family then returned to Missouri and had their last three children there. The family moved permanently to California in 1934, settling in Long Beach. George Ervin Green died at Long Beach Hospital in Whittier, California September 26, 1949.
After 3 years of marriage, Erve and Maria bought 40 acres for $645 on February 1, 1912. Their home had no inside plumbing or electricity, and their water came from an artesian spring located some distance from the house. As the children became older, it was their task to carry water to the house for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Lighting was provided by two kerosene lamps.
Erve farmed the land and raised most everything needed for food for the family and livestock, which included horses, milk cows, and pigs. He also maintained a fruit orchard which yielded apples, peaches, and cherries. During the growing season, his wife, Maria, planted and cultivated a vegetable garden. Weekly Erve took his wife to Lebanon, Missouri in a horse-drawn wagon to purchase staples such as flour and sugar which could not be raised on the farm. As the years passed, this trip was made in the family's Model T Ford.
In addition to running the farm, Erve eventually became a U.S. mail carrier, running a route in his Model T between Lebanon and Old Linn Creek before the Bagnell Dam was built to create Lake of the Ozarks and that town was relocated to higher ground. Along his mail route, Erve would buy produce such as eggs and milk and animal furs from the local farmers, then resell them to the warehouses in Lebanon. He also helped his only son, Leslie, build rabbit traps and purchased Leslie's pelts for 5 cents each.
Erve and son, Leslie, enjoyed hunting together -- squirrels during the summer and possums during the winter. The family also took many trips to the river for swimming and fishing.
The Greens had no radio and television did not even exist in those days, but Erve was an excellent fiddler and was often invited to play for barn dances. During long evenings on the farm, he entertained the children with his fiddle music while daughter Emma played the guitar, and Sylvia played the organ. Sometimes on Saturday night, the family would visit relatives to listen to the Grand Ole Opry on their battery-powered radio. Erve later brought home an RCA Victograph which played cylindrical records, and the children were delighted. They listened to country music by such artists as the Carter family, Jimmy Rogers, and Roy Acuff. Erve and his musical daughters would emulate the music and songs they heard. The children fondly remembered the excellent fiddle-playing of their father's brother, Mont Green, too. Mont was left-handed but would play a right-hand-tuned fiddle "over the strings". Another intriguing memory is of a family friend with only one arm who joined in these jam sessions; he played his fiddle upside down with his one arm by holding the handle under his chin and pressing the base to his knee; this friend also could roll his own cigarettes by cradling the cigarette paper in his shirt sleeve while sprinkling on Bull Durham tobacco with his one hand, which greatly fascinated the children.
In 1934 the Greens decided life might be easier if they moved to town, so the family relocated to Lebanon. Erve gave up his mail route and started a repair shop, working primarily on farm machinery, but business was not very good. He learned from relatives in California that opportunity existed there, and the family sold out everything in Missouri, piled in the family automobile, and headed west. The trip itself presented several challenges including car trouble, sleeping in the car when motels were unavailable, and paying a fine and being forced to purchase a car registration in Arizona, but soon they arrived. Erve found work, and the children were enrolled in school in Long Beach. The Green family remained in California from then on.
Erve suffered a cerebral hemorrage (stroke) September 26, 1949 in his home, at age 63, and died in the Long Beach Hospital. Both Erve and Maria are buried at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier. His obituary reads as follows:
"GREEN - George E. green, 63, of 735 Sunrise Blvd., died this morning at a Long Beach hospital. He was born in Lebanon, MO, and came to California in 1912 residing at Whittier before moving to Long Beach in 1934. He was a construction worker. Surviving are the widow, Maria; a son, Leslie Green of Hollydale; three daughters, Mrs. Glenna Organ, Mrs. Sylvia Brown, and Mrs. Emma Lorenz, all of Long Beach; three brothers, Reg Green of Bakersfield; John Green of Decatur, MO; and Mont Green of Camdenton, MO; a sister, Mrs. Grace Baker of Joplin, MO; five grandchildren. (Joan Bradley)
After 3 years of marriage, Erve and Maria bought 40 acres for $645 on February 1, 1912. Their home had no inside plumbing or electricity, and their water came from an artesian spring located some distance from the house. As the children became older, it was their task to carry water to the house for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Lighting was provided by two kerosene lamps.
Erve farmed the land and raised most everything needed for food for the family and livestock, which included horses, milk cows, and pigs. He also maintained a fruit orchard which yielded apples, peaches, and cherries. During the growing season, his wife, Maria, planted and cultivated a vegetable garden. Weekly Erve took his wife to Lebanon, Missouri in a horse-drawn wagon to purchase staples such as flour and sugar which could not be raised on the farm. As the years passed, this trip was made in the family's Model T Ford.
In addition to running the farm, Erve eventually became a U.S. mail carrier, running a route in his Model T between Lebanon and Old Linn Creek before the Bagnell Dam was built to create Lake of the Ozarks and that town was relocated to higher ground. Along his mail route, Erve would buy produce such as eggs and milk and animal furs from the local farmers, then resell them to the warehouses in Lebanon. He also helped his only son, Leslie, build rabbit traps and purchased Leslie's pelts for 5 cents each.
Erve and son, Leslie, enjoyed hunting together -- squirrels during the summer and possums during the winter. The family also took many trips to the river for swimming and fishing.
The Greens had no radio and television did not even exist in those days, but Erve was an excellent fiddler and was often invited to play for barn dances. During long evenings on the farm, he entertained the children with his fiddle music while daughter Emma played the guitar, and Sylvia played the organ. Sometimes on Saturday night, the family would visit relatives to listen to the Grand Ole Opry on their battery-powered radio. Erve later brought home an RCA Victograph which played cylindrical records, and the children were delighted. They listened to country music by such artists as the Carter family, Jimmy Rogers, and Roy Acuff. Erve and his musical daughters would emulate the music and songs they heard. The children fondly remembered the excellent fiddle-playing of their father's brother, Mont Green, too. Mont was left-handed but would play a right-hand-tuned fiddle "over the strings". Another intriguing memory is of a family friend with only one arm who joined in these jam sessions; he played his fiddle upside down with his one arm by holding the handle under his chin and pressing the base to his knee; this friend also could roll his own cigarettes by cradling the cigarette paper in his shirt sleeve while sprinkling on Bull Durham tobacco with his one hand, which greatly fascinated the children.
In 1934 the Greens decided life might be easier if they moved to town, so the family relocated to Lebanon. Erve gave up his mail route and started a repair shop, working primarily on farm machinery, but business was not very good. He learned from relatives in California that opportunity existed there, and the family sold out everything in Missouri, piled in the family automobile, and headed west. The trip itself presented several challenges including car trouble, sleeping in the car when motels were unavailable, and paying a fine and being forced to purchase a car registration in Arizona, but soon they arrived. Erve found work, and the children were enrolled in school in Long Beach. The Green family remained in California from then on.
Erve suffered a cerebral hemorrage (stroke) September 26, 1949 in his home, at age 63, and died in the Long Beach Hospital. Both Erve and Maria are buried at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier. His obituary reads as follows:
"GREEN - George E. green, 63, of 735 Sunrise Blvd., died this morning at a Long Beach hospital. He was born in Lebanon, MO, and came to California in 1912 residing at Whittier before moving to Long Beach in 1934. He was a construction worker. Surviving are the widow, Maria; a son, Leslie Green of Hollydale; three daughters, Mrs. Glenna Organ, Mrs. Sylvia Brown, and Mrs. Emma Lorenz, all of Long Beach; three brothers, Reg Green of Bakersfield; John Green of Decatur, MO; and Mont Green of Camdenton, MO; a sister, Mrs. Grace Baker of Joplin, MO; five grandchildren. (Joan Bradley)
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