Washburn County WIGenWeb Project

People Histories

Charles E. Gregory
(15 Mar 1856 - 04 Apr 1901¹)

-As transcribed from the "COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE UPPER LAKES REGION"

by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1905

page 470

Charles E. Gregory, for sometime a prosperous and public-spirited citizen of Shell Lake, was born in Lockport, N. Y., March 15, 1856. His parents were Henry Edson and Mary Ellen (Seaver) Gregory, both natives of New York State.

The paternal ancestors of Henry Edson Gregory came from Scotland before the Revolutionary war. The grandmother was a native of Ireland. Almon Gregory, father of Henry Edson, was a successful farmer, who passed his life in Lockport. Henry Edson Gregory moved to La Porte county, Ind., in 1873 and there passed the remainder of his life on a farm, dying in May, 1902, at the age of sixty-nine. Mrs. Mary Ellen (Seaver) Gregory, at the age of sixty-seven, is still living on the farm in La Porte county. Her parents passed away in New York State.

Charles E. Gregory attended the public schools in La Porte county and when twenty-one years of age went to Green Bay, Wis. There he was employed in the machine shop of a sawmill, and studied engineering under D. W. Lanigan, now chief engineer of the Twenty-second street station of the Chicago water works. After two years at Green Bay with Mr. Lanigan, Mr. Gregory came with him to Shell Lake, where spent three more years under his instruction. When Mr. Lanigan retired in 1890, Mr. Gregory succeeded him as master mechanic of the Shell Lake Lumber Co. He has invested to some extent in Washburn county lands, including an undivided half interest in a mile of lake shore property, destined to become very valuable. After the Shell Lake Lumber Co. ceased to exist, in February, 1904, Mr. Gregory accepted the position of master mechanic of the Nebagamon Lumber co. and has since resided at Lake Nebagamon.

In 1889 Mr. Gregory was married to Emma E. Galbreth, daughter of John and Rosetta Galbreth, of La Porte county, Ind. Mrs. Gregory and her father were both natives of La Porte county, the latter of Scotch descent. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gregory, as follows: Robert Luscombe; Ethel May; Kittie Evelyn; and Charles Edson, deceased. The family is connected with the Methodist Church of which Mr. Gregory is a trustee, and also president of the Epworth League. Fraternally he is a member of Shell Lake Lodge, No. 221, A. F. & A. M.; of Pokegama Chapter, R. A. M. at Rice lake, Wis.; and of Shell Lake Lodge, I. O. O. F. For many years Mr. Gregory was a Democrat in politics, but for some time past has supported the Republican party. He was one of the chief promoters for the project for the erection of the present county jail, one of the most substantial buildings in the city, which was built during his term as chairman of the county board of supervisors. In 1897 he became chairman of the town of Shell Lake and continued so until he left the town.

1 - Editorial Note - Mr. Gregory's death date was derived from the Washburn Co. Register of Deeds Death Index. The death record is on file at the Register of Deeds Office in Shell Lake, in Volume 3, page 90. His burial location is unknown (but perhaps is stated on his death record).