The old home farm of the GREGORY family is now owned and operated by Luke GREGORY. It is an excellent property of eighty acres situated on section 10, Whitefield township, and is now under a high state of cultivation, responding readily to the care and labor that are bestowed upon it. It was upon this farm that Luke GREGORY was born on the 3d of April, 1856. His father, Francis GREGORY, was a native of Ohio and came to Illinois in the '40s, settling in Peoria county, where he secured a tract of land and began farming. He lived there but a few years, however, and in 1850 removed to Whitefield township, Marshall county, where he spent his remaining days. He always carried on general agricultural pursuits in order to support his family and he gained a good living through his unfaltering industry and perseverance. He wedded Sarah BARRETT, a native of Virginia, and his death occurred on the 11th of August, 1874, when he was fifty-eight years of age. His widow still survives and now makes her home with her son Ross in Adams county, Iowa. In the family were five children, as follows: George, who carries on general agricultural pursuits in Iowa; Helen, also living in that state; Mary, who died at the age of ten years; Luke, of this review; and Ross, who is a stock farmer of Iowa.
Throughout his entire life Luke GREGORY has remained upon the old homestead farm and at an early age began assisting in the work of field and meadow. He also attended the schools through the winter seasons and after completing his education he concentrated his undivided attention upon the farm work, which he has since made his life occupation. The place comprises eighty acres of rich and arable land and the fields are now highly cultivated, so that good crops are annually harvested. The improvements, too, upon the place are of a substantial and attractive character, and the careful supervision of the owner is indicated by the air of neatness and thrift which pervades every department of the farm.
In 1878 Mr. GREGORY was united in marriage to Miss Jennie SMITH, of Whitefield, and they have one son, Clyde GREGORY, twenty-six years of age, who is living in Whitefield township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. He married Edith QUINN and they have one son, Lawrence. Mr. GREGORY has served as school director for three years and is interested in the cause of education and its advancement. His political support is given to the republican party and he is remiss in no duty of citizenship, but is alert and enterprising and endorses every movement that promises to benefit the community at large. A social, kindly nature has gained him many friends and he has become widely known in the county during a residence here of a half century, in which time he has witnessed much of the growth and development of this part of the state. He has seen many changes made in the methods of farming as the improved machinery of today has supplanted the crude implements of earlier years. He has also seen the pioneer homes replaced by fine farm residences, while the work of cultivation has gained for this district the reputation which is borne in other sections of the state, making Illinois one of the greatest agricultural districts of the Union.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau Putnam La Salle | |||
| Stark |
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| Peoria | Woodford | ||
