New Berne, North Carolina, April
2, 1845, of free parents. His father died in 1850, and his widow was
left to small resources in raising her family. But being an excellent
seamstress she did very well for her five-year-old son, while she had
an infant in her arms.

In 1857 Mrs. Green moved to Ohio and located at Cleveland. Her son
John was now able and willing to assist his mother some; and so as an
errand-boy he hired himself out for $4 per month. He obtained about a
year and one half of instruction in the common schools, and did well.
In 1862 he became a waiter in a hotel, and spent every leisure moment
in study. He succeeded in learning something of Latin and Algebra,
without a teacher.

Mr. Green had acquired an excellent style of composition, and to
secure funds with which to complete his education, he wrote and
published a pamphlet containing _Essays on Miscellaneous Subjects_, by
a self-educated Colored youth. He sold about 1,500 copies in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and New York, and then entered the Cleveland Central
High School. He completed a four years' classical course in two years,
two terms, and two months. He graduated at the head of a class of
twenty-three. He entered the law office of Judge Jesse P. Bishop, and
in 1870 graduated from the Cleveland Law School. He turned his face
Southward, and having settled in South Carolina, began the practice of
law, which was attended with great success. But the climate was not
agreeable to his health, and in 1872 he returned to the scenes of his
early toils and struggles. He became a practising attorney in
Cleveland, and in the spring of 1873 was elected a justice of the
peace for Cuyahoga County by a majority of 3,000 votes. He served
three terms as a justice, and in eight years of service as such
decided more than 12,000 cases. As a justice he has had no equal for
many years. In 1877 he was nominated for the Legislature, but was
defeated by sixty-two votes. In 1881 he was again before the people
for the Legislature, and was elected by a handsome majority.

Mr. Green is rather a remarkable young man; and with good health and a
fair field he is bound to make a success. He will bear comparison with
any of his associates in the Legislature; and, as a clear, impressive
speaker, has few equals in that body.

There are yet at least one hundred representative men of color worthy
of the places they hold in the respect and confidence of their race
and the country. Their numb