His father died in 1825, and his mother returned to England by herself, in hope of obtaining some property that she believed owned to her.

He assisted in Baker's office and was bookkeeper for Dr. Chapin—whom he lived with—to meet his expenses during that time.

[2] In Davenport, Iowa he was employed by David J. Owen, who was making a geological survey of the territory.

After this, he moved to Ivanhoe, Iowa and taught school while continuing his law studies.

[1] That year, he was chosen to represent Cedar, Jones, and Linn counties in the Council of the Third Legislative Assembly as a Democrat.

[4][6] In 1849, he became one of the founders of Cedar Rapids, Iowa by surveying and laying out the site of the town.

During this time, and several years later, he helped build the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad.

He returned to Cedar Rapids after this, and began practicing law with Judge Dudley and his son-in-law A. S. Belt.

He constructed several smaller railroads in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Kansas.

[6] Greene was also a mason and was first Past Master of Crescent Lodge #25, Cedar Rapids (1851–52).

He died in his home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 23, 1880,[7] and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.

[5] Harriet died in Dubuque on April 25, 1850;[5] Greene remarried on January 25, 1855 to Frances R. Graves, who was from Cooperstown, New York.