JAMES FRANCIS GREER WAS KILLED IN A RUNAWAY HORSE ACCIDENT IN WACO, TEXAS

JAMES FRANCIS GREER WAS KILLED IN A RUNAWAY HORSE ACCIDENT IN WACO, TEXAS

James Francis (24 January 1858 - 13 January 1907 in Waco, Texas) Greer who married Virginia Lee, a teacher in Waco, Texas. James Francis Greer died in a horse accident. He was a graduate of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and graduated first in his class of twenty (Baylor Roundup, 1896) was active at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He also received what is termed an A. M. which I assume is a Master's degree. He was a professor of Latin, German, and French at Baylor University. In 1893, he was elected Vice President of Baylor. Sue Harris has sent me his picture and he truly has the "forehead of a Greer"!

His daughter states he was a noted educator and scholar. He and Virginia Lee were married 19 June 1883.

James F. Greer was killed in an accident with a runaway horse, 13 January 1907. This is taken from the Waco Daily Times Herald 14 January 1907. His daughter, Miss Lillian, was "painfully though not dangerously, bruised. They were returning home from a funeral and the horse started running and finally nearly ran into another buggy. In order to prevent a collision, he turned sharply and the buggy overturned. He was "rendered unconscious and carried to the home of his brother-in-law, Nat Harris. He died within an hour. At the time of his death he was principal of Sanger Avenue Public School (Waco Daily Times Herald 14 January 1907).

The entire obituary reads:

One of the most disturbing accidents which has happened in Waco in a long while happened late yesterday afternoon, in which Professor J. F. Greer, principal of Sanger Avenue public school, was killed, and his daughter, Lillian, who was in the buggy with him was painfully though not dangerously bruised.

Professor Greer and Miss Lillian were returning home form the funeral of Miss Evelyn Kyger, and when they reached a point about two blocks to the other side of the South Waco Fire station, and near to the residence of Alderman Garrett, the horse began running being eager to get home. Professor Greer turned the horse on a cross street about two blocks the other side of the fire station, and the animal went running at a rapid gate towards Seventh street. Professor Greer held firmly to the lines, guiding the animal safely until about the time the vehicle reached Seventh street, when he met a buggy. In trying to avoid a collision with this buggy and to make the turn into Seventh Street necessitated a double turn and Professor Greer did his best to make it, but this was impossible as the curve was too acute and the buggy was overturned, throwing both of the occupants to the ground. Professor Greer struck on his head and was rendered unconscious. He remained in this state and never spoke afterwards, though breathing and circulation kept up for a little more than an hour. He was carried to the residence of his brother in law, Nat Harris who lived near the point of the accident and died there.

Miss Lillian was given attention at once, but it was found that she was not dangerously hurt. A peculiarly sad feature of the matter is that Bachman Greer, a 12 year old son of Professor Greer, lies at home very ill from typhoid fever, and has not been apprised of his father's death. The entire community will be shocked by the news when it reaches them and all who heard of it today expressed deepest sorrow. Professor Greer has been a resident of Waco since 1892 when he came here form Nacogdoches, and as a citizen and educator has won a place in the estimation of the people only good and desirable men can secure and hold. He was one of the foremost educators of the state and has had a wide experience in school matters. He held positions of responsibility in school matters before coming to Texas and was in charge of the school at Nacogdoches for four years. After coming to Baylor he was for several years professor of Latin in that institution being also vice president; he was later co-principal of of the Grayson College at Whitewright; he was also co-principal of the Lancaster Military Institute and at the time of his death, one of the proprietors of that institution.

At the beginning of the present term of the Waco Public schools, professor Greer was elected principal of the Sanger Avenue school and has been holding this place with the same marked outcome and ability which have characterized his past career. He was 52 years old (?) and leaves a family.

The funeral will take place at 4 o'clock this afternoon from the residence of Home Wells... Interment at Oakwood Cemetery...

The Sanger Avenue School will be dismissed for the funeral.


James Francis was the oldest son of Thomas Newton GREER. Thomas Newton was a son of James GREER who was, in turn, a son of Samuel GREER.

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