Wellington in Loraine County Ohio was the home of artist Archibald Willard, 1836-1918. Willard is considered the possibly the least known painter who pained the most well-known work of art in the United States, “The Spirit of ‘76.” Wellington is also the home of Gordon and Ilarae Greene.     (Family photo Gordon and Ilarae with son and daughter – In Back; left –Gordon; right – Clifford – In front; left – Patricia; right – Ilarae Greene)   Although Gordon Greene is not of the direct Greene family in Washington County, he took the time to respond to our invitation to the Greene Reunion.   Gordon writes: “We live and own the farm where Freeman Greene lived, -then his son George W. Greene. When my grandfather, George married Minnie Wood, they named the farm Greene-Wood Farm, and we have the same sign on the barn after all these years. –same sign but different barn.             “The old picture is of my father G. Clement Greene in front of the old barn we tore down. I think it is ironic that we have the same name as when the First Reunion was held.”             “Our grandson Nathan Willis Greene is a music teacher in Marietta Schools. We have a daughter, Patricia Seaburn. She and her husband, Albert, live in Clyde.”   Above:  Photos of G. Clement Greene with old barn – and current barn       “The Spirit of ’76” painted by Archibald Willard The story behind the famous painting from “The Spirit of ’76 …and American Portrait” by Willard F. Gordon “Holidays were always special times for most of the folks in Wellington. One of the favorite occasions was the Forth of July Celebration. The very popular music band, led by Hugh Mosher’s fife, highlighted the day. [Archibald] Willard stated: “He could play the fife better than any man I ever knew of.”             “Mosher’s favorite drummer was Freeman Greene, who was irreverently nicknamed “Three Fingers Dick.” An earlier hand injury had disqualified Greene from service in the Civil War. Despite the handicap, according to [J.F.] Ryder, Greene could “vary the roll by beating intervals upon the chime of his drum instead of the head. He was in the habit of throwing his sticks into the air to perform a succession of summersaults and be caught in the way down and driven into the roll again without missing a note as if nothing happened.”             “Freeman Greene Was indirectly identified with Mosher in Willard’s original Yankee Doodle cartoon. In fact, the drummer even posed for a few photographs at Sawtelles. Unfortunately for Greene, fate chose not to bring him fame.”             J. F. Ryder suggested that Willard “work up something for the Centennial.” The work started in Wellington with many photographs, Greene posing with his drum. By the time Willard was ready to complete the final portrait, he had moved his work to Cleveland. “Freeman Greene could not take the time form his business obligations to travel to Cleveland to pose as the old drummer. Willard sent for his [own] father to replace [Greene].”              To see more on “The Spirit of ‘76”    http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/thumbnail42.html     Freeman Greene (Daniel, Nathan, Robert)   Born April 26, 1822 Whitingham, Vermont. When Freeman was twelve, he moved with his father, mother and two sisters to Brownhelm, Lorain County, Ohio. He married Lucy M. Bristle of Henrietta, Ohio on May 2, 1943.   Their Children: Calista M. Greene, born November 18, 1844 Fannie S. Greene, born October 2, 1847 Henrietta A, born August 23, 1849 Lucy M. Bristle Greene died between 1849 and 1853. Freeman Greene married Mary Jane Fenn on June 8, 1853. Many Jane was born in Connecticut, and moved to Ohio with her parents. She taught school.   Their Children: Charles F. Greene, born September 28, 1857 Mary Eva Greene, born May 4, 1860 George Willis Greene, born June 10, 1862 Arthur O. Greene, born April 22, 1866, died January 4, 1879, diabetes. Both Charles and George were drummers.