Biographical Sketch of John Gregg, Brown County, KSGenWeb Digital Library

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Biographical Sketch
of
John Gregg
Brown County, Kansas

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The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900. These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

John Gregg

Among the well known citizens of Mission township, Brown county, is John Gregg, who is regarded as a public spirited and progressive citizen, giving loyal support to every measure which he believes will prove of general good. The same loyal spirit was manifested by him when the country was engaged in Civil War, for at the call for troops he "donned the blue" and is now numbered among the valued heroes who aided in the preservation of the Union.

Mr. Gregg is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Washington county, on the 10th of October, 1830. His father, John Gregg, Sr., was a native of Sullivan county, Tennessee, and served as a soldier in the Indian War under Colonel Marsten Clark. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, frequently called him to public office, and he served in many minor township offices, and as one of the justices of the peace. He was called upon to administer several estates, a fact which indicated that he was regarded as a reliable business man.

He married Miss Julia King, also a native of Tennessee and they removed to Washington county, Indiana, where for many years they made their home. By occupation the father was a farmer and followed that pursuit throughout his active business life. His political support was given the Whig party. His death occurred in Indiana when he was sixty-three years of age, about 1848, after which his widow went to Illinois, where she died in the spring of 1865.

In their family were nine children, namely: Harvey, who had a son John, a member of the One Hundred and Second Illinois, was taken prisoner, confined in Libby prison, and died shortly after his discharge; James, Mrs. John Adams, Nathan, William, Mrs. Eliza Sicloff, Rachel and Amanda, both dying in infancy, and Samuel, who died in the service at Duvall's Bluff Arkansas, in 1864, a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry. His nephew, John Q. Adams, was also a member of the same regiment, and died in the service at Duvall's Bluff.

Nathan Gregg had two sons in the army who laid down their lives on the alter of their country, James, being a member of the Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteers; and William, who belonged to the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment.

John Gregg, whose name introduces this review, was reared in Washington county, Indiana, and aided his father in the work of the farm, following the plow and harvesting the crops through the spring and summer months, while in the winter season he attended the public schools. He first visited Kansas in 1858, coming to Brown county, but later he returned to Illinois, where he has lived at the
time when hostilities were inaugurated between the north and the south.

His patriotic spirit prompted his enlistment, and in August, 1861, he joined the Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry, under Colonel White, of Chicago, and Captain J. A. Jordan. He was first under fire at the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, where he received three distinct wounds, and was in hospital at Caseville, Missouri two months. Later he participated in a number of important engagements and skirmishes.

He took part in the capture of Fort Blakely, and was with General Banks at Yellow Bayou. His company remained in the south, doing service in Alabama and Texas most of the time. It was not until some months after the close of the war that he was discharged, receiving his papers at Springfield, Illinois in May, 1866.

Mr. Gregg then returned to his home in that state, where he remained until 1868, when he came to Kansas, locating near Kennekuk. In 1870 he took up his abode in Mission township, settling upon his present farm, two miles from Willis. He has here a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which is carefully cultivated, and the farm is well stocked with a high grade of horses, cattle and hogs. The residence is a modern one, and near by stands large barns and other good farm buildings.

He also owns an arable tract of land in Nemaha county, near Centralia. His methods of farming are progressive, and understanding fully the science of rotating crops he is enabled always to secure good returns for his labor.

In January, 1867, at Aledo, Mercer county, Illinois, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gregg and Miss Lucinda C. Sterns, who has proved to her husband an excellent companion and helpmate. She was born near Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, October 30, 1842 and is a daughter of C. B. Sterns, a native of Pennsylvania.

Her father was reared in the Keystone state, and having arrived at years of maturity he wedded Miss Sophronia Kimbal, a native of Vermont. He was a Whig in his political affiliations, and he died at the age of sixty-two years. In his family were four children: Jasper, of Muscatine county, Iowa; Lucinda, the wife of our subject; Mrs. Cynthia Beeding, of Rock Island county, Illinois; and Mrs. Helen Venable, of La Junta, Colorado. The mother is still living, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Gregg.

Our subject and his wife now have two children, Frank B. and Charles L. The elder son is living in Olathe, Johnson county, Kansas. He married Miss Olive Harpster, a daughter of J. D. Harpster, and they have three children - Nellie May, Albert B. and Charles Wesley.

The younger son, Charles L. Gregg, is living on the home farm. He wedded Miss Millie Elliott, a daughter of John Elliott, of Brown county, and they have three little daughters, Geneva, Edna and Ruth.

In his political affiliations our subject is a stanch Republican, and has filled the office of township treasurer. His word is as good as any bond that ever was solemnized by signature and seal, and those who know him esteem him highly for his sterling worth.

Last update: Friday, August 02, 2024 18:39:03

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