Wilson, Douglas L., ed; Davis, Rodney O., ed. 'Register of Informants' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: history]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon737.html

Greene's family moved from Tennessee to what became Menard County, Illinois, when he was nine. In 1831 he was AL's helper in Denton Offutt's store at New Salem, marking the beginning of a lifelong friendship. "Bill" Greene was a member of the volunteer militia that chose AL as their captain for the Black Hawk War. He attended Illinois College at Jacksonville from 1833 to 1836. After college Greene left Illinois to teach briefly in Kentucky and Tennessee and to pursue business ventures in Mississippi and Memphis. Returning to Illinois in 1845, he engaged in farming, stock dealing, banking, and railroad development, earning the reputation for sharp business practices and becoming one of the wealthiest men in the area. During his presidency, AL appointed Greene collector of internal revenue in his district. WHH suspected Greene of exaggerating his knowledge of AL. (CG; BEI; HMMC)