California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


WILLIAM ALLISON GREER.� A responsible position with the Asso- 
ciated Oil Company, at Coalinga, Cal., is filled by W. A. Greer, the efficient 
superintendent, who, in length of service, is one of the oldest superintendents 
in the Coalinga oil field. "Al" Greer, as he is familiarly called, is an exception- 
ally well posted oilman and has large responsibilities, which he discharges in 
a manner satisfactory to the company. Pennsylvania is his native common- 
wealth and Florence. Washington County, was his birthplace, and there he 
first saw the light of day on January 26, 1875. Fie is a son of Joseph A. Greer, 
a native of the same place, who moved to the Bradford oil-field, McKean' 
Count}', where he was an oil-operator until his death. 

W. A. Greer attended the public school at Bradford, and from a boy of 
eleven years he assisted his father in the oil-fields until he was of age. In Janu- 
ary, 1900, he came to Coalinga, Cal., where he secured employment with the 
Whale 8 Oil Company, remaining there six months, when he left for Bakers- 
field, and for a short time was located on the West Side, in the McKittrick 
field. Later on he went to the Cholame Valley, San Luis Obispo County, 
where he assisted in putting down a wild-cat well, returning to Coalinga 
eight months later where he has resided ever since. Mr. Greer was the driller 
of the first and second wells for the El Capitan. He next drilled for the Xo. 
28 Oil Company, and for the Oil City Petroleum Company, the two latter be- 
ing under the same management. lie was interested in and employed by the 
Montana Oil Company and also by the Arlene Company. In April, 1906, W. 
A. Greer entered the employ of the Associated Oil Company as a driller on 
National 30. It was in 1908, that Mr. Greer became superintendent of the 
Coalinga division for the company, and since then both the production and 
development of this- division are under his able management. That his serv- 
ices have greatly aided in the development of the company's business, is at- 
tested by the fact of his holding this responsible post for eleven years. 

Mr. Greer was united in marriage with Miss Ethel McFee, a native of 
Los Angeles, the ceremony being solemnized at Bakersfield on December 8, 
1909. They have two children, Elinor and Pauline. Mrs. Greer's father, Wil- 
liam J. McFee, was born near St. John N. B. where he followed railroading. 
In the early seventies he came to California and for more than thirty years 
was agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad, until he was retired on a pen- 
sion. He spent his last days in Coalinga, passing to the Great Beyond in 
1908. His wife was Margaret Price, born in Fredericton, N. B., and at her 
death, in 1906, she left six children, Mrs. Greer being the youngest. 

Fraternally, Mr. Greer was made a Mason in Welcome Lodge, No. 225, 
F. & A. M., at Lemoore, and is also a member of Coalinga Chapter, No. 114, 
R. A. M., Hanford Commandery K. T., and Los Angeles Consistory, Scot- 
tish Rite, and, with his wife is a member of Eschscholtzia Chapter No. 276, 
O. E. S., at Coalinga, of which Mrs. Greer is Past Matron. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Coalinga Lodge of Odd Fellows. He was active in the Coalinga, 
district in the various bond and war fund drives, and is a member of the 
Growlers Club.