Biographical Sketch of L. L. Gregg, Johnson County, Missouri, Jackson Township. >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** L. L. Gregg, a well known and prosperous farmer and stockman of Jackson township, is a member of a prominent pioneer family of Johnson county and a descendant of an old, historic family of Ireland. Mr. Gregg was born in Jackson county, Missouri in 1851, a son of Dr. John L. and Martha F. Gregg. The founder of the Gregg family in America was William Gregg, who emigrated from northeastern Ireland in 1682. The history of the Gregg family in Ireland recalls the unhappy event which occurred during the reign of James I of England. The last great triumph in Elizabeth's reign had been the putting down of the great rebellion in Ulster in northeastern Ireland, a rebellion led by Hugh O'Neill. When James I succeeded Elizabeth, he took a step fraught with disaster. He confiscated the northeastern districts of Ireland, con- stituting the province of Ulster, and in 1610 crowded the Irish out with no more said than that they must find subsistence elsewhere. Since that act an implacable hatred has existed between the oppressors and the oppressed. The ancestors of L. L. Gregg sought refuge in Scotland and then in Pennsylvania. Some time in their past history, the Greggs had embraced the Quaker faith and William Gregg was among the earliest arrivals of the sect of Friends to settle in William Penn's colony. William Gregg, the follower of Penn, was the father of John, who became the father of William Gregg, Jr., and to him was born a son, Jacob, who became the father of three sons: Harmon, William and David. Harmon Gregg was united in marriage with Susanna Smelser in Pennsylvania and to this union was born a son, Jacob, afterward the father of John L., the father of L.L., the subject of this review. In 1809, the three brothers, Harmon, William and David Gregg, moved from Pennsylvania with a train of emigrants to Illinois and three years later to the territory of Missouri. The Gregg brothers were inmates of Cooper's Fort at the time of trouble between the settlers and the Sac and Fox Indians in what is now Howard county, Missouri and William Gregg was killed by the savages while on a hunting expedition in Saline county. Dr. John L. Gregg came to Johnson county, Missouri in 1857 and began the practice of his profession in this county. He and Mrs. Gregg were the parents of two children, of whom L. L. is the sole survivor. When L. L. Gregg was a child two years of age, his parents and he made a trip across the plains in an ox-wagon to California. The journey was too much for the strength of the delicate mother and she died shortly after they had reached California. Father and son returned to Missouri in 1854 and located first in Jackson county coming thence to Johnson county in 1857. Dr. Gregg continued to practice medicine all his life. He won recognition solely on his own merits as a physician. Dr. Gregg poss- essed the power to inspire confidence and in many ways was an ideal family physician besides a highly respected citizen. He died in 1896. In 1878, L. L. Gregg and Anna E. Hill were united in marriage. Mrs. Gregg is a daughter of William Hill, an early settler of Johnson county Missouri. The Hills came originally from Tennessee. To L. L. and Anna E. (Hill) Gregg have been born six children: John and Mrs. Daisy E. Kreeger, of Lonejack, Missouri; Homer V., Nashville, Tennessee; Mrs. Mamie King, Oakgrove, Missouri; Luther L., Jr. and Mrs. Lydia E. Pem- berton, of Lonejack, Missouri. Luther L., Jr., is associated in farming and stock raising with his father on the Gregg homeplace in Jackson township. The son attends to the general farming and the father to the stock on the place. The Gregg farm comprises two hundred eighty acres of land in Johnson county. In the autumn, of 1917, the Greggs harvested seventy-five tons of hay and had fifty-five acres of the farm in corn land. Mr. Gregg is specializing in breeding and raising Shorthorn cattle and he has had uniform success with his stock. At the time of this writing, there were seven acres of the Gregg farm in navy beans which promised a splendid yield. A kindly man and good citizen, L. L. Gregg occupies a large place in the affection and re- spect of his acquaintances. Candor and probity have always marked his dealings with his fellowmen and his even temper and congenial qualities have made his company much sought. Those who know him personally have said, "He enjoys a good joke and a hearty laugh and has a host of warm personal friends." ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell ====================================================================