William S. Gregg, p. 1267

WILLIAM S. GREGG. Among the early settlers of Washington county, Penn., whose deeds are an undying monument to their memory, were the ancestors of the well-known family, of which the subject of this memoir is a worthy representative.

In 1790 three brothers Henry, William and John Gregg left Ireland, the country of their birth, for the shores of Columbia. After a voyage of sixteen weeks, they all came to Washington county, Penn., and settled in East Pike Run township. Of these brothers William was the great- grandfather of our subject, and his son Henry secured a tract of 349 acres called "the Burning Mine," in East Pike Run township, now owned by a Mr. Duvall. This Henry Gregg served as a justice of the peace in 1796. He was married to Jane Dowler, and they had children as follows: John, Henry, Thomas and Edward. The parents of this family died in 1834, in West Pike Run township. John Gregg, the youngest of the three who came to America in 1790, was twice married, his second choice having been Miss Nancy Gregg, a native of Ireland, to whom he was married in 1794. Their children were: James, born August 8, 1795; Eleanor, born May 22, 1797; Andrew, born April 8, 1799; Mary, born September 8, 1801; Henry, born April 28, 1804; Sarah, born September 8, 1806; Ann, born November 9, 1808; John, born January 23, 1811; Margaret, born February 8, 1813; and Elizabeth born February 11, 1815. The father died July 20, 1841, followed by the mother April 14, 1844. She was a member of the M. E. Church. The three brothers who first settled in America were all members of the M. E. Church, and in politics affiliated with the Whig party.

William Gregg, another son of the pioneer William, married Ruth , who bore him the following children: Henry, John, William, Andrew, Robert, Christina (wife of John Crow), and another daughter (who became the wife of a Mr. Jackman).

Robert Gregg, son of William and Ruth Gregg was born in 1808 in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn. He lived on the home farm during early life, and February 8, 1821, was married to Mary West, who was born in 1812, in this county. They were the parents of six children, namely: William S., West J., Robert J. (living in Coal Centre, this county), Matilda, Francis and Ruth A. The father was a practical, energetic farmer. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, and held various township offices. He died in 1874, and in 1890 the wife and mother was laid beside him. They were members of the Presbyterian Church at Coal Centre.

William S. Gregg was born July 4, 1847, in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., where his boyhood was passed. In 1872 he married Sarah J. Lutes, who was born in 1852, in Washington county, a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. Lutes, representative of an old family. Four daughters were born to this union, namely: Nora, Estella J., Laura (deceased) and Mary A. (deceased). The mother, who was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Coal Centre, died in 1886, and in 1891 Mr. Gregg married Mrs. Mary E. (Wright) Newman, daughter of Isaac Wright. Her father was born in 1813, in Washington county, Penn., and was married to Mary J. Long, a native of this county, born in 1818. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright: Eliza (deceased); William H. a resident of Fayette county, Penn.; Luke, living in East Pike Run township; Samuel; Lizzie, wife of Samuel Worrell, a farmer of East Bethlehem township; Mary E., wife of William S. Gregg; Molissa; Matilda; Mary C.; Joseph; Thomas J. and John. Of this family the six last mentioned are deceased. The father passed his life on the home farm, where he died in 1885, having been preceded by the mother in 1859. In politics he is a Republican. In 1878 Mary E. Wright was married to John Newman, a native of Washington county, Penn., and they settled in Beallsville, same county, where he carried on a general merchandise business, and died in 1885. Mrs. Newman was afterward married to William S. Gregg, and to the latter union one son, Harry, was born July 21, 1892. Mr. Gregg owns fifty-seven acres of highly cultivated land, and conducts a general farming business. He is a member of the Coal Centre Presbyterian Church, while his wife is identified with the M. E. Society, at Coal Centre.

Text taken from page 1267 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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