A. J. Gregg, p. 1262

A. J. GREGG. Among the early settlers of Washington county, whose deeds are an undying monument to their memory, were the ancestors of the well known family, represented here by the gentleman whose name here appears.

In the year 1790 three brothers Henry, William and John Gregg left Ireland, the country of their birth, and crossed the ocean to America. After a voyage of sixteen weeks they all came to Washington county, Penn., and settled in East Pike Run township, where Henry secured a tract of 349 acres called the "Burning Mine," and now owned by Mr. Duvall. Henry Gregg served as justice of the peace in 1796. He was married to Jane Dowler, and of their children whose names are given are John, Henry, Thomas, Edward, Seth and William. The parents died in 1834 in West Pike Run township. The second brother of the three who emigrated from Ireland was William Gregg, and he was married in the old country to a lady who bore him the following children: Henry, John, William, Andrew, Robert, Christina (wife of John Crow) and a Mrs. Jackman.

Robert Gregg, son of William, was born in Ireland, and was about twelve years of age when the parents and uncles came to America in 1790. He attended the subscription schools of Washington county, Penn., and in early manhood was married to Ann, daughter of John Robison, a native of Ireland, where he was married. Coming to America in an early day, he opened the first tavern on the old Washington road in Pennsylvania. His children were Joseph, John, William, Susan, Sarah and Ann (Mrs. Gregg).

Robert and Ann Gregg resided on the home place until his health failed, when they moved to Greenfield (now Coal Centre), where he died. He was a pilot on the Monongahela, Ohio and Mississippi rivers. In politics he was actively identified with the Democratic party, and served for years as supervisor, as well as in other township offices. The children of this family were born as follows: John R., William, Mary, Jane (wife of Daniel Williams), Andrew J., Ann (married to Thomas Huggins) and Matilda. Of these Andrew J. and Ann are yet living. Robert Gregg helped to build the first steamboat launched on the Monongahela river. His son, John R., started the first general store in Greenfield in 1835, which he kept for fifty years. He, in partnership with Hiram Smith, loaded the first coal boat there, and ran it by hand to Cincinnati. Boats in those days were loaded three feet deep, and were sixty-five feet long, and he lived to see his son W. H. Gregg load boats six and seven feet deep and 165 feet long, and towed by steamboats.

Andrew J. Gregg was born in November, 1817, in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn. and attended the pioneer schools of the period. On July 6, 1852, he entered matrimonial life in company with Mary A., daughter of James Ailes, who was a son of Amos Ailes, whose father was Stephen Ailes, a native of Chester county, Penn. Amos Ailes was born in 1751, and grew to manhood in his native county. In early life Amos Ailes was married to Ann, daughter of Joseph Brown, a farmer of Chester county, Penn., and soon after their marriage they came to Washington county, locating on a tract of land in East Pike Run township, which had then been in the possession of Joseph Brown for about two years. At the time Amos Ailes settled upon it, the place was an unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by wild animals and wandering Indians. Two young girls named Scott were killed by the Redskins about this time, and Mrs. Ailes shot a deer in the door-yard soon after their arrival. In this wild forest home children were born to these pioneers, and reared, as follows: Joseph, Stephen, Aaron, Mary (wife of Eli Gause), James, Sarah (wife of John Waites), Isaac and Amos. Mr. Ailes was a Whig in politics, and in religion a member of the Society of Friends. He died in February, 1835, and was buried by the side of his wife in the Westland cemetery, in East Bethlehem township, Washington county. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg resided on the home place for three years after their marriage, then purchased and moved upon an adjoining farm. They finally settled on the Ailes homestead, and in 1889 erected their present residence. In addition to general farming, Mr. Gregg has conducted a gristmill for the past few years. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and has held various local offices. He is a member and ardent supporter of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 1262 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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