Thomas Gregory

	This biography appears on pages 1025-1026 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	THOMAS GREGORY, who is incumbent of the responsible position of 
state mining inspector, is a native of Devonshire, England, where he was 
born on the 24th of July, 1862, being a son of John and Jane Ann 
(Sergeant) Gregory, the former of whom was born in Devonshire and the 
latter in Cornwall, while the paternal grandfather of the subject, 
William Gregory, was likewise a native of Devonshire, where the family 
has resided for many generations, the name being closely identified with 
the mining industry in that section of the "right little, tight little 
isle." The father of the subject was in his younger days engaged in 
farming, but later became concerned in mining, being in the employ of 
the Devongrate Consols Mining Company, a large and important concern, 
engaged in the mining of copper, and with the same he continued until 
his death, by accident in the mine, in 1888, while his devoted wife 
passed away in 1870. They became the parents of eight children, of whom 
five are living at the present time. 

	Thomas Gregory passed his boyhood days in his native county, where 
he secured his education in the common schools, and while a boy he 
entered the copper mines, in which he advanced through various grades of 
promotion until he held responsible positions. He was employed in the 
mines of Devonshire and Cornwall for varying intervals until March, 
1884, when he came to America. He first went to California, and after 
passing about fifteen months in gold mining at Plymouth, Amador county, 
he came thence to the Black Hills. Here he entered the employ of the 
Deadwood Terra Mining Company, at Terraville, whose properties were 
later purchased by the Homestake Mining Company, which still controls 
the same. He was thus engaged until 1893, having in the meanwhile been 
successful in various contracting enterprises which he undertook in an 
incidental way. In the year mentioned the mine was closed down and Mr. 
Gregory then made a visit to his old home in Devonshire, England, where 
he remained eight months, after which he returned to the Black Hills and 
again entered the employ of the Deadwood Terra Mining Company, and about 
four months later entered the employ of the Homestake Mining Company, in 
whose service he continued, a valued and trusted employe, until April 1, 
1901, when he was appointed state mining inspector, with headquarters at 
Lead. He gave most able and satisfactory service and was appointed as 
his own successor on the 1st of April, 1903, being the first incumbent 
of the office to thus receive appointment for a second term in this 
state,—a fact which is duly significant without further testimony or 
endorsement. In politics Mr. Gregory gives his allegiance to the 
Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of 
Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Shortly after 
his arrival in the Hills Mr. Gregory organized a cornet band at 
Terraville, and the headquarters of the same were transferred to Lead at 
the time of his removal to this point. He has been the leader and 
instructor of the band from the start and it has now attained a high 
degree of proficiency, having about twenty pieces represented in its 
instrumentation, while it has the distinction of being the official band 
of the Second Regiment of the Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias, 
in which connection its services have been in requisition in the most 
diverse sections of the state. 

	Mr. Gregory has been twice married, first in 1884. A son John, was 
born of this union, who at present resides in Plymouth, England, and is 
apprenticed to the brass fitter's trade. The second marriage of Mr. 
Gregory occurred in 1900.