Edward L. Gregory (1848-1931)

GREGORY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 19:47:32

Edward L. Gregory
(January 31, 1848 – April 9, 1931)

Edward Gregory, who is familiarly called Ed. by his numerous friends in Calhoun County, has been a resident of this section of the state since 1876 and now makes his home on section 13, Elm Grove Township, where he is successfully engaged in general farming. He is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in America's metropolis on the 31st of January, 1848. He was only about six years of age when he became a resident of Wisconsin, locating there in Grant County. He obtained his education in the common schools and in an academy and was thus well fitted for the practical and responsible duties of life. He was only sixteen years of age when, on the 16th of August, 1864, he joined Company H, of the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry. This regiment was attached to the army of the Tennessee in which he served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Johnsonville, Nashville and a number of skirmishes. He was never ill or wounded and was always found at his post of duty, whether on the picket line or the firing line. At length he was honorably discharged in Milwaukee in July, 1865, and with a creditable military record returned to his home. His valor and bravery were equal to that of many a veteran of twice his years. He remained in Wisconsin until 1873 when he came to Iowa, settling first in Sac County where he remained for three years, during which time he engaged in teaching school for two terms. In 1876 he came to Calhoun County where he began working by the month as a farm hand, being thus employed for several years, when with the capital he had acquired through his industry and economy, he was enabled to purchase his first eighty acres of land in 1881. With determined purpose and marked energy he began the development of his farm and in the course of time richly cultivated fields were seen in the place of the wild prairie. Success attended his efforts and as he increased his financial resources he made additional purchases until his farm now comprises two hundred acres of valuable land, well adapted to the raising of grain. His home is a beautiful and commodious residence in the rear of which stand good barns and substantial outbuildings that in turn are surrounded by well tilled fields. Fruit trees also yield their products in season and many shade trees adorn the place, protecting the home from the hot rays of the summer sun. After resettling in Iowa for a time, Mr. Gregory returned to Wisconsin and was there united in marriage in Grant County on the 9th of July, 1884, to Miss Maggie Lewis, a native of that state, where she was reared and educated. She is a graduate of the State Normal school and was a competent teacher in Wisconsin for a number of years, after which she taught successfully in Calhoun County for several years. They have a very pleasant home in Elm Grove Township and enjoy the warm regard of many friends and neighbors. Mr. Gregory is a Republican, having supported the party since casting his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1872. He keeps well informed on the issues of the day and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the Republican Party. He has been a delegate to both county and state conventions and aided in nominating Cummings for governor in 1901. His support is given the party because of a firm belief in its principles and not from any desire for official reward for his services. He has served as a member of the school board of which he is now secretary, but otherwise has held no political office. For years he had been identified with the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company, in which he has long served as a director. He aided in its organization and has been an active factor in maintaining the existence of this enterprise which has been of marked benefit to the people of the community. Both he and his wife are members of the Lake City Presbyterian church, and he belongs to Lake City Lodge, No. 320, I. O. O. F. Calhoun is one of the later settled counties of Iowa, but marked progress has been made along all lines of material activity and of intellectual and moral development, so that the position of the county is now a permanent one in the commonwealth. To this end Mr. Gregory has contributed and as a public spirited and progressive citizen he has co-operated in many measures for the public good. He and his estimable wife enjoy in high degree the respect and esteem of all who know them and well do they deserve mention in this volume. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.565]