James Gregg born 1827 Barr Ayrshire Scotland - Died 1910 Kansas USA
'Uncle Jimmy' Gregg, lovingly so called by his many nieces and nephews, fiends and neighbors, was a typical Scotsman-Jolly and with a brogue. William Kelly of Kansas City said, "he was a tall, a good sized man, rather bony-average face and thin whiskers kept trimmed fairly short". The picture used with his obituary shows a kindly face encircled with a short white beard. Born in Scotland 1827, died at his home 1910. He was twice married but had no family. The first wife Mary Ellis became his bride just the day before they left for America. That was a long trip in 1862 by sailing vessel, from Liverpool to New Orleans - weeks. Gregg was seasick 22 days. Four days before they were to land Mary was buried at sea in the Gulf of Mexico. Jimmy landed in America heart broken and penniless.
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Shannon
E Kelly tells us: The cabin is the 'Jimmy Gregg Cabin', that he first built
when he came to the Scotch Valley. It is still standing, but has been
moved to Pawnee City Nebraska. It was found INSIDE a house on the old
property. Apparently someone just built around it. I have been in it.
SMALL!
James Gregg was the youngest of the eleven boys and 5 girls, born to William Gregg, a blacksmith in southwest Scotland. James attended school a few months at the year and liked mathematics. Always the desire to come to America was in his mind. He was 25 when he came.
Following him to America were his sisters Sarah, Agnes and Janet. A niece Janet (daughter of his brother Andrew) came to America also with her Aunt Jennet.
From New Orleans, James Gregg went up to the Mississippi to a point somewhere in east Iowa or N.E Illinois. He married there 1855 at Dewitt Iowa, a Mrs. Janet Baird Anderson. There were a couple of years of farming and in 18577 they came to Kansas. It was a group of 3 Wagons, Gregg, John Baird his brother-in-law, and Mcaffrey. They went in groups those days as Indians sometimes made trouble. We do not know if they drove oxen or horses. It was spring into summer or July 1857,
James settled on the farm where he lived the remainder of his life.
Here in Kansas he bought homestead rights for $80.00.The perfected land title cost him $500.00. The final payment was made at the Kickapoo Land Office.
James Gregg had to borrow money, paying exorbitant rates 35% to 60%. This homestead was always his home. Even today some refer to it as the Gregg place. He increased his land holdings to 1200 acres, some of which he gave to his wife's nieces and nephews. After selling some of the land also, 440 acres made up the final farm home. How did he make the money to buy all these acres? Much of the farm was fertile bottomland. He was
a livestock producer. He raised and sold Clydesdale horses and had fine cattle,
he had much hired help, indoors as well as on the farm. William Beyreis and Rosetta Baker worked for Gregg as well as many nephews, nieces and his sister Jennet came in 1875 to help out in the home also. Mrs Gregg died in 1876. Jennet stayed with her brother until her death in 1899.
He was deeply interested in the little Church. He gave the land, he gave money. We know not the trouble that led to disbandment.
James Gregg joined a Seneca Church and when he was no longer able to attend he had his name taken from its roll. Politically he was a Democrat. He was treasurer of his township ten years. He was a Justice of The Peace and married 5 couples. He never had a trial in his court.
The Turkey Creek fair was held for many years. This was held on the north side of Turkey Greek in Section 21;
James was a booster for this event. People came from all directions to visit, to see exhibits, ride the merry go round which was powered with a steam engine.
He took his fine livestock for exhibit. The last fair was probably 1905 or 1906.
Death came to 'Uncle Jimmy' at his home July 17, 1910. He was almost 83 years old. He had cancer of the lower jaw. His niece Mrs John Kelly and nurses cared for him. The last time he went to Seneca was the year before at Thanksgiving time. He apparently had made some of the funeral arrangements. The service at the home by Rev, A. Payne of DuBois United Brethren Church and a male quartet . . .
http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/nemaha/nemaha-co-p8.html
William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas was first published in
1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL. From: NEMAHA COUNTY, Part 8:
JAMES GREGG, P. O. Seneca, is a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, born July 26,
1827. On his way to America, in 1852, his wife, formerly Mary Ellis, died while
crossing the gulf of Mexico. Mr. Gregg located in Lyons, Iowa; where he worked
three years on farms and railroads. July 3, 1857, was the date of his
settlement on his present farm, and while living in his log house, both wife
Janet and himself suffered six months with malarial fever. His crop of 1858 was
hauled to Atchison, fifty-eight miles, and sold at 2 1/4 cents per pound. In
Iowa Mr. Gregg married Janet (Anderson) Baird, a native of Perthshire,
Scotland. Her first husband, Alexander Anderson, died in Iowa they having come
to America in 1850. Mrs. Gregg died, childless, in March 19, 1876. Upon her
death Mr. Gregg gave to nephews of his deceased wife, 240 of their 1,000 acres
acquired since 1857.
Turkey Creek Fair - (Courier
Tribune Aug. 24, 1899)
'The Board of Directors of Turkey Creek Fair met last Monday at the home of Mr
James Gregg and reconsidered the accepting of bids for a shooting gallery and
all games of chance at the fair; and decided to not permit a gallery - any
chance games on the grounds. The solicitors are requested to meet at Mr Gregg's
Monday morning, Aug 28 at 9 o'clock sharp and be prepared to make a complete
report of their work.'
Nemaha Township: A report from the Seneca
Courier-Democrat June 29, 1900:
'Our next stop was at the fine home of Uncle James GREGG. Mr. GREGG was born in
Scotland in 1827 and emigrated to America in 1857, settling on the farm where
he still lives. At one time he owned over eleven hundred acres of fine Nemaha
land but with advancing age he found the work of looking after it all too much
for him and he has sold off until he has 438 acres left, which is, however, one
of the model farms of the county. He is a great horse fancier and has no doubt
done more than any other man to improve the stock of horses in this county. His
favorite breed of horses is the Clydesdale and he has at various times added
high priced imported Clydesdale stallions to his stud. he has at present two
fine specimens of the equine family, one of his own raising and the other a
two-year-old, foaled in Indiana, which promises to become the finest Clydesdale
stallion ever owned in the county'.