He subsequently served as Speaker pro Tempore of the Kansas House of Representatives.

He ascended to the Governorship when Crawford resigned to join the military a little more than two months before the inauguration of governor-elect James M. Harvey.

He also served as a regent of, and taught military drill tactics at, Kansas State Agricultural College.

After several years outside politics, Green was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1880 and served as Speaker pro-tem until 1882.

He died in 1890 from lingering complications from his Civil War illness, and is buried in Manhattan's Sunset Cemetery.