Hon. Eugene J. Gregory

 

Hon. Eugene J. Gregory is not only the Mayor of the city of Sacramento, but also occupies a leading and representative position asa young business man; is in fact one of the best examples that can be cited of what the younger generation of business men ought to be. The firm of Gregory Bros. Company, of which he is the head, has a reputation and a trade coincident only with the borders of the United States, and has aided no little in placing our California products before the world. The house was established in the year 1852 by Mr. Julius Gregory, a native of France, but a resident of California since the day of 49’. The members of the present firm are Messrs. Eugene J. and Frank Gregory, sons of Julius Gregory, who died in May, 1871, after a life of activity in more than one direction that proved beneficial not alone to this city and its growing trade interests, but as well to the community in general. Eugene J.  Gregory was born in San Francisco on the 15^th day of August, 1854, and is therefore a “native son,” both by birth and connection with the order of Native Sons of the golden West. He has grown up in this State, obtaining a thorough preparatory business and academical education in the schools of California. Ten years ago he assumed the management of the business of the firm of which he is the head, and has since that time been actively identified with the introduction of California products to other portions of the country. It is rather, however, in his public capacity as Mayor of this city, that we wish to speak of Mr. Gregory. He became a candidate for that office at the earnest and repeated solicitation of his friends, although contrary to his own private wishes in the matter, on the occasion of the municipal election in 1887. The party lines are usually drawn pretty close in Sacramento, and the party forces are also pretty evenly divided, majorities usually being very small.  Mr. Gregory, although, a Republican of decided yet liberal principles, was nevertheless elected to the position of Mayor by a majority of no less than 1,919 votes, the largest plurality ever secured in the city. His great popularity and the entire confidence reposed in him by the citizens of every class is the secret of this gratifying vote. His course as Mayor has justified the confidence of the people in the choice they made, as since his election to that post, the purity of subsequent elections, the rectifying of abuses in various departments, and the careful oversight of appointments to minor offices, have been in every instance secured. This is no wonder, for, as he himself stated to the writer, he believes in running the city upon the same principles he adopts in carrying on his private business. His prompt and decisive action has in more than one direction been the cause of saving large sums to the city.  Mr. Gregory is looked upon generally as a “coming man,” and if the feeling of this community, which knows him best, is any test, he will ere long be called upon to fill other posts of a more honorable, if not more responsible, nature. He is an active member of the Masonic order, in which he is Past Master, and also of the Odd Fellows, as well as others of the leading orders. Personally, he is a man of captivating presence; to meet him is to be his friend; possesses in the fullest degree the esteem and confidence of every one irrespective of sect or party, is an orator of no mean merit, is favored in social circles, and worthily wears his honors as Chief Executive of the Capital City. He was married July 3, 1874, to Miss Emma Crump, a native of Sacramento. They have one son, Julius, now nearly thirteen years of age.