Yolo County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. GREGORY
WILLIAM H. GREGORY. As a judge of land values in the Sacramento
valley Mr. Gregory has become an expert through having passed his entire
life in this portion of the state and made a special study of properties and
their real worth. For years he has been
an influential resident of Winters, Yolo county, where he supplements dealing
in real estate with the writing up of insurance policies, the buying of grain,
the receivership and guardianship for a number of properties, the position of
administrator of the Henry Seaman estate of $100,000, and the offices of town
clerk, town recorder and town treasurer, as well as a member of the board of
directors of the Bank of Winters. Until
recent years he also engaged in the buying of fruit in large quantities for
shipment to the city markets.
In the county of Solano, not far from
his present home, Mr. Gregory was born December 31,* 1861, being
third among the nine children (three of whom died in infancy) comprising the
family of Thomas M. and Ualloe (Foster) Gregory,
natives respectively of Virginia and Lafayette county, Mo. From early boyhood his father was a resident
of Missouri, whither the family had removed from the Old Dominion and settled
in Jackson county.
During 1849 he became a member of a party that traveled overland, with
mule tams, to the mines of California, where an experience of a year in Nevada county proved unsatisfactory, for continuous illness left
him little time for work with his pick and shovel. When a year had ended he abandoned mining and
came to Yolo county, settling at Washington, across
the river from Sacramento. In that
little village he carried on a blacksmith’s shop for several years. From there he removed to the present site of Davisville and built a blacksmith’s shop, also took up and
operated a quarter section of land.
After having owned the property for about twelve years he sold both the
farm and the shop in 1870. With the
money thus secured he purchased real estate in Davisville
and erected dwelling houses, also bought the hotel, but leased it to another
party.
Upon disposing of all of his interests
in the town in 1873, Mr. Gregory bought three hundred and forty acres
seven miles west of Dixon, Solano county, and there he
labored assiduously in the improvement of an attractive homestead, remaining on
the place until his death, which occurred in 1890, at sixty-four years of
age. Until the sickness which resulted
in his death he had been unusually active and vigorous for one of his
years. In politics he had been a
constant supporter of the Democratic party and
fraternally was a charter member of the Silverville
Lodge at Dixon, F. & A. M. At the
time of his death his estate was valued at $25,000, all of which had been
accumulated through his unaided efforts and represented the attainment of an
encouraging measure of success. In his
dealings he showed a Christain[sic] spirit. No
undue advantage was ever taken of another.
In his life and actions he exemplified the teachings of the Golden
Rule. For years he officiated as a
deacon in the Baptist Church, in which both he and his wife were earnest and
liberal members. His wife had been a
resident of California from about 1858, having crossed the plains with her
mother and other members of the family, and making the journey by means of an
ox-team. For a time she lived in
Sacramento, thence removed to Yolo county and settled
at what is now Tremont Station. At the
time of her death, in 1889, she was fifty-four years of age.
After having completed the studies of
the common schools William H. Gregory attended for two years the Baptist
College then at Vacaville, but now at Berkeley.
Afterward he took a course in Heald’s Business College at San Francisco,
where he completed his studies at the age of eighteen years. For about eleven years he was employed as a
bookkeeper with Eppinger & Co., owners of
stores in Dixon, Solano county, and Germantown, Glenn
county. In the fall of 1890 he came to Winters, Yolo county, and with two brothers opened a general
mercantile store, but sold out in eight months, and then established the
real-estate and insurance business that he has continued to the present. May 10, 1890, he married
Miss Carrie Totten, who was born in Indiana, but has lived in California
ever since four years of age. The
children of their union are Thelma, Vivian, Meredith and Carolynn, all of whom
are being carefully trained for the responsibilities of life under the careful
oversight of their parents. Politically
Mr. Gregory votes in support of Democratic principles, and in fraternal
relations holds membership with Buckeye Lodge No. 195, F. & A.
M., at Winters, and Parlor No. 163, Native
Sons of the Golden West, at Winters. Included in his possessions are four farms
in Yolo and Solano counties, aggregating about one thousand acres of land, and
excellently adapted for the raising of alfalfa and of general farm products;
and in addition to these tracts he owns a large acreage in a subdivision, his
various properties representing the investments of a large amount of capital,
and indicating the generous measure of success that he has experienced.
* An obituary for W. H. Gregory was
found dated December 28th, 1928 which states he was born December 27,
1861 and died on his 67th birthday, December 27, 1928.
[Inserted by D.
Toole.]
William H.
Gregory
1891
Dec 8, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
W.
H. Gregory and wife returned to Winters from Colusa
county last Sunday, where Mrs. Gregory had been spending several weeks.
1893
Jan 5, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
<snipped>
W. H. Gregory, the local agent for Easton, Eldridge Col, the big real estate
firm doing business at 638 Market street, San Francisco, has made arrangements
for subdividing Ed. Wolfskill’s magnificent farm of
1000 acres one mile southeast of Winters, and selling it in small tracts and on
easy terms. The Wolfskill
ranch contains the most productive soil in the State and is especially adapted
to fruit culture. The land will be sold
at the remarkably low price of $125 per acre.
It is located in the earliest fruit belt in the State. Parties wishing to view the land are
requested to call on Mr. Gregory in Winters.
1893
May 26, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
All
Around the County
Daily
Contribution to the Current History of Yolo County
<snipped>
If W. H. Gregory, the enterprising real estate man,
could inspire all his neighbors with some of his enthusiasm, what lively times
we would have.
1893
Jun 19, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
The
sale of the Goodyear tract of land, comprising more than 1200 acres of good
land as is to be found anywhere on God’s footstool, is fraught with great
importance to this vicinity, if rumors are correct concerning the disposition
that is to be made of it. It is said
that the purchasers, Messrs. Borel and Lindsey, will
put it in the highest possible state of cultivation and improvement and sell it
in small lots to those who desire to surround themselves with “all the comforts
of home.” W. H. Gregory, our
enterprising real estate agent, played an important part in consummating this
transaction.
1893
Oct 27, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
Winters,
October 28 – The weather clerk is still on his good behavior.
W.
H. Gregory and wife went to Woodland yesterday and returned today.
<snipped>
W.
H. Gregory is subdividing about 200 acres of the Bonney
tract. It will all be plotted and maps
made of it in a few days.
1894
Aug 6, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
Mrs.
W. H. Gregory and children went up to Colusa last Monday to visit a few days
with relatives there. From Colusa they
will go to Sisson, Siskiyou county, where Mrs.
Gregory’s parents reside. They expect to
be away two months.
1897
Jun 23, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
A
Winters Couple Married in Woodland Today
In
the parlors of the Byrns Hotel, at 11:30 today, Mr.
Walter S. Humphrey and Miss Ora Gregory, both of Winters, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Mr. Schadle, of Winters, and the only persons present were Miss
Nellie Humphrey, a sister of the groom, Miss Mamie Garrett, of Sacramento, and
Mrs. and Mrs. Gene Merritt, of Capay.
Mr. Halsey, although the notice was short, served the happy people with
an excellent wedding lunch. The
newly-wedding couple left on the afternoon train for Sacramento and will go
thence to San Francisco, where they will spend a brief honeymoon, after which
they will return to Winters, where they will make
their future home. The groom is a
brother to Lee Humphrey and a member of the firm of Humphrey Bros., harness
dealers. He bears an excellent
reputation as a young man of sterling character and fine business ability. The bride is a cousin to W. H., J. M. and
Charles Gregory, and recently came from the East. Since her arrival in California she has made
her home with W. H. Gregory and family.
She is a young lady of many physical and mental graces and is held in
high esteem in Winters, where she is quite a social
favorite.
1897
Nov 4, Woodland Daily Democrat, P4, Woodland, California
Mrs.
W. H. Gregory is spending a week in Sacramento under medical treatment.
1898
Aug 13, Woodland Daily Democrat, P4, Woodland, California
W.
H. Gregory and family left Wednesday for Warmcastle,
Siskiyou county, where they will remain about a month.
1898
Sep 1, Feather River Bulletin, P3, Quincy, California
Meat
For Another Man
W.
H. Gregory and Wm. Minnick of this valley went out to Nelson Point last
Saturday in search of deer meat. Gregory
succeeded in shooting one of the forest beauties, but the animal ran a couple
of hundred yards and fell in a secluded spot and Gregory and his companion came
away without procuring their game. In a
few minutes another gentleman, who heard the shot, came along, found and
secured the venison, which the visiting hunters had been so kind as to kill for
him. Gregory, however, consoles himself
that, on the trip he secured forty trout.
1899
May 25, Feather River Bulletin, P3, Quincy, California
W.
H. Gregory returned Sunday from his trip to the North Fork. Before returning, he visited Oroville. He says that labor is in good demand in that
part of Butte.
1900
Mar 12, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Mrs.
Carrie Gregory and little son arrived Saturday from Winters
to visit relatives.
1900
May 26, Woodland Daily Democrat, P2, Woodland, California
W.
H. Gregory has had a photographer at work this week making views of the
country, orchards and farms surrounding Winters. It is his intention to submit them to an
artist, which, with a photograph of the town and a personal view of it, will
enable him to make a birdseye
view of this section.
1900
Jun 9, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
W.
H. Gregory did a pretty good business Wednesday. He contracted over 900 tons of apricots for
the canneries and closed a deal for the sale of a twenty-acre orchard. That’s a pretty good day’s work.
1900
Jun 19, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
W.
H. Gregory, of Winters, has been appointed a notary
public in and for Yolo county.
1900
Aug 4, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Mrs.
W. H. Gregory and family will leave on Monday evening’s train for Shasta county, Oregon, where they will remain a month with
relatives. Mr. Gregory will accompany
them as far as McCloud station. Dr. E.
K. Caldwell and family will also go on the same train to McCloud, and from
there they will take teams for Modoc county and spend
a few weeks with the doctor’s brother.
Monday afternoon next W. H. Gregory, Dr. Z. T. Magill,
R. L. Briggs, Frank Burr and Wm. Wolfskill
will leave for the Klamath Lake region, Oregon, where they will put in a month
at hunting and fishing and filling themselves with this fresh mountain
air. The party is composed of congenial
spirits and they are going where good game and fish abound and we shall expect
to see them return filled with big stories and good health.
1901
Apr 13, Woodland Daily Democrat, Woodland, California
Mrs.
Carrie Gregory and child arrived on the afternoon train Thursday, from Winters to be with her aunt, Mrs. BV. F. Wescott,
who is dangerously low. – Colusa Sun.
1901
May 24, Woodland Daily Democrat, P4, Woodland, California
Mrs.
Carrie Gregory and children arrived on the afternoon train from Winters to visit her uncle, M. B. Totten. – Colusa Sun.
1903
Jan 31, Woodland Daily Democrat, P2, Woodland, California
Mr.
and Mrs. P. R. Totten, Mrs. W. H. Gregory’s parents,
of McCloud, Siskiyou county, are visiting their daughter here.
1903
Apr 28, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
Real
Estate Transfers
Carrie Gregory to W. H. Gregory – Lots 1 and 2 of A.
H. Brunson’s sub.
of part of northwest 1/4 sec. 15, township 8 north,
range 1 west . . . 10.00
1905
Dec 2, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Another
Winters family, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gregory, will
become an acquisition to the population of this city sometime during the
present month. Mr. Gregory is already
here and his family will follow soon.
1905
Dec 12, Woodland Daily Democrat, P4, Woodland, California
W.
H. Gregory has leased the Freeman residence on Second street,
one door south of the J. W. Freeman residence, corner of Lincoln avenue and
Second street. Mrs. Gregory and the
children will remain in Winters until after
Christmas. After that time Woodland will
be the permanent home of the entire family.
The house is now undergoing a thorough renovation.
1905
Dec 30, Woodland Daily Democrat, P2, Woodland, California
Mrs.
W. H. Gregory and children arrived from Winters Thursday evening. A carload of furniture arrived on
Friday. Today it is being put in order
in the Freeman residence, one door north of the Lawhead
residence, on Second street, and in a few days Mr. and
Mrs. Gregory will be at home to their friends.
They will receive a hearty welcome from the people of this city.
1906
Apr 4, Woodland Daily Democrat, P2, Woodland, California
I.
Moody to Mrs. Carrie Gregory – Strip south, of lots 15, 14, 15, 16, block 3,
Winters. 20.00
Carrie
Gregory and husband to T. D. Parker – Lots 11, 12, block 3, and lot on creek
south of block 3 . . . 10.00
1907
Jun 22, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
John
Gregory of San Francisco is the guest of his brother, W. H. Gregory, and
family.
1907
Oct 26, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
All
Aboard for Europe
Ship
Weighs Anchor at the R. M. Brown Home
With
Mrs. S. J. Sill as Pilot, Eighty Ladies Sail, “Strange Countries for to See”
<snipped>
Mrs.
Carrie Gregory wired:
“Woodland, October 19th – Reserve passage on ship
that sails from Port Brown on Saturday, October 26th, 1907.”
1908
Mar 19, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Mrs.
W. H. Gregory is ill with the grip. The
disease has gone through the family and she was the last to be afflicted.
1914
Dec 31, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Miss
Vivian Gregory, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gregory, left today for Modesto.
1915
Aug 13, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
Miss
Vivian Gregory arrived Thursday from Modesto and will remain until Monday with
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gregory.
Miss Gregory, who is librarian at Modesto, is on a two weeks’
vacation. She spent the forepart of her
vacation seeing the Exposition in San Francisco.
1915
Oct 30, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
Mr.
and Mrs. W. H. Gregory have as their guests Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Richard of
Lincoln, Nebraska.
1915
Dec 20, Woodland Daily Democrat, P3, Woodland, California
Losing
control of his machine when a gear became disabled, W. H. Gregory crashed
through a fence two miles west of Capay Sunday, but escaped without serious
injury to himself or car.
1919
Aug 6, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
W.
H. Gregory returned home yesterday from a trip to San Francisco. He reports that Mrs. Gregory and their
daughter, Carolyn, are having a delightful vacation in the metropolis. Meredith Gregory, too, likes the big city and
holds a responsible position with the Studebaker distributers.
1919
Aug 14, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
Woodlander
to Wed Berkeley Girl
Miss
Louise Pew
H.
M. Gregory
Betrothal
cards have just arrived here telling of the engagement of Miss Louise Pew,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Pew of Berkeley, and Meredith Gregory, son of
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gregory of Woodland.
The wedding date has not been revealed.
The betrothal is the culmination of a friendship that began when Miss
[sic – text appears to have been omitted]
announcement. The groom-elect now holds
a responsible position in the Studebaker automobile service department, San
Francisco.
1919
Aug 21, Woodland Daily Democrat, P2, Woodland, California
Mrs.
W. H. Gregory has returned home from San Francisco, but Miss Carolyn is not
expecting to return until Friday. The
latter is doing some special high school work to obtain an extra credit in
science in order to qualify her for entrance at Mills College this next
semester. Mr. Gregory writes from
Chester, Plumas county, that he is enjoying his
camping trip with the Griffin and Wolfskill families
but has not been successful in bringing venison to camp.
1919
Sep 20, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
The
W. H. Gregory family is moving from their hone on Elm street
out to their ranch.
1920
Jan 23, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Phil
Smith, Yolo Ace Surprises Friends; Weds Miss Gregory
More
than passing interest is manifested in a surprise marriage in San Francisco
yesterday in which Phil Smith, an American ace who distinguished himself
overseas and one of the few flyers of the American forces to bring down an
enemy plane, was united in marriage to Miss Vivian
Gregory, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gregory of Winters. The bride is connected with the state library
in Sacramento and is a woman of rare intellectual attainments, aside from being
popular in educational and social circles in central California. Mr. Smith, before his distinguished career in
France, was connected with the H. B. Austin interests in this county,
later purchasing a tract of land southeast of Woodland which he developed and
on which it is understood the young swain will make their future home after a
honeymoon in other parts of the state.
None of the details of the marriage are known here, but it is understood
that it is more or less of a surprise to all who are close to the couple. Mr. Smith is a native of England, his people
residing there, but he has lived so long in this country and county that he is
regarded as one of its most respected citizens.
1922
Apr 26, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
Mr.
and Mrs. W. H. Gregory, now residing on their ranch near Winters,
are both recovering nicely from late sick spells, according to Mrs. J. D. Harling who visited them from here yesterday. Mr. Gregory has returned home from the
Woodland sanitarium, where he underwent an operation for appendicitis. Mrs. Gregory is convalescing after an attack
of influenza.
1922
Jul 5, Woodland Daily Democrat, P5, Woodland, California
Carolyn
Gregory Completes Studies
Miss
Carolyn Gregory has completed her two years’ course in the southern branch of
the University of California and is at home near Winters
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gregory. The former Woodland girl selected the
southern branch in order that she might be near her sister, Miss Vivian.
1923
Feb 6, Woodland Daily Democrat, P4, Woodland, California
Mr.
and Mrs. W. H. Gregory of Winters are the happy
grandparents of a little boy born to the Meredith Gregory household in San
Francisco last Friday. The mother is
remembered here as Miss Louise Pew.
1923
Apr 14, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
Mrs.
Meredith Gregory and son of San Francisco are guests at the home of the little
fellow’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gregory.
1926
Jun 18, Hayward Semi-Weekly Review, P2, Hayward, California
Mrs.
Carrie Gregory has returned from Yosemite after only a brief visit, as she
contracted a very heavy cold, and was obliged to return to her home before
completing her vacation. Mrs. Thomas is
taking care of her during her illness.
1926
Jul 16, Hayward Semi-Weekly Review, P2, Hayward, California
Mrs.
Carrie Gregory, who has been so ill for many weeks, is able to be up again and
is steadily improving. Mrs. Gregory, was taken ill in Yosemite Valley and had to be
brought home, has been very ill for the past month.
1928
Sep 7, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
Meredith
Gregory of San Francisco was a visitor here Thursday to see his mother, Mrs. W.
H. Gregory, of Winters. The latter is a patient at the Woodland
Clinic hospital. Meredith, a local high
school graduate, is service manager for the Chester Weaver Studebaker
organization in San Francisco.
1928
Dec 27, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
Gregory
Still at Death’s Door
No
encouragement was received today from the bedside of W. H. Gregory, who is critically
ill at the Woodland Clinic hospital. He
became unconscious Wednesday and remains in that condition. Little hope is held for his recovery.
1928
Dec 28, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, 4, Woodland, California
Wm.
Gregory of Winters Dies on 67th Birthday
William
Henry Gregory, retired realtor and prominent farmer of the Winters
district, passed away in this city Thursday evening on the 67th anniversary of
his birthday. He had been in failing
health for the last year or more. Seven
weeks ago he came to Woodland to seek medical attention. Though he received all the aid that medical
skill could devise he continued to grow weaker.
On Wednesday he became unconscious and never regained consciousness
again. Deceased was a native of Solano
county, born December 27, 1851. He was
the third among nine children, three of whom died in infancy.
Parents
Pioneers
His
parents, Thomas M. and Ualloe Gregory, resided in
Missouri for many years. In 1849 they
[sic] to California and first settled in Nevada county, where the father
engaged in mining. A year later they
came to Yolo county, first settling in Broderick. In 1873 Thomas Gregory purchased 340 acres,
seven miles west of Dixon, where he farmed until his death in 1890. The son, W. H. Gregory, was educated in the
Baptist College at Vacaville. Afterwards
he took a course in Heald’s Business college in San
Francisco, where he completed his studies at the age of 18. For 11 years he was employed as a bookkeeper
for Eppinger & Co. in Dixon and in
Germantown, Glenn county.
Wife
Died Recently
On
May 15, 1890 he was married in Germantown to Miss Carrie Totten. She passed away last October 8. Four children all of whom are living, were born to them.
They are Mrs. Paul Grant of Woodland, Mrs. J. R. Douglas
of Los Angeles, H. Meredith Gregory of San Francisco and Miss Carolynn,
who is a teacher in the schools of Woodland.
He is also survived by the following brothers: Luther of Winters; Albert of Oakland; Leonard
of Fruitvale; John and Charles of San Francisco. In the fall of 1890 Mr. Gregory came to Winters and with two brothers opened a general mercantile
store, but sold out in eight months, and then established a real estate and
insurance business. The family moved to
Woodland in 1905.
Lived
in Woodland
During
his residence here, Mr. Gregory was manager of the Yolo Consolidated Water
& Power company, and also president of the Yolo
Realty Syndicate. In 1919 he returned to
the Winters district, leasing a ranch four miles east
of Winters, which he continued to farm. Later he moved to Winters,
where he again engaged in the real estate and insurance business. His health failing him, he sold out about a
month ago to Irwin Baker of Winters. Gregory was a very active and influential man
in Winters. At
various times he served as town clerk, recorder, treasurer
and as a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Winters. For many years he was secretary of Buckeye
Lodge No. 195, F. & A. M., of Winters, under whose
auspices the funeral will be held at the Krellenberg chapel
in this city tomorrow at 2 p.m. After
the rites are held here the body will be taken to
Sacramento for cremation.
28
Dec 29, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
W.
H. Gregory Rites are Held
Funeral
services for W. H. Gregory of Winters, who died in
Woodland Thursday, were held at Krellenberg chapel
Saturday afternoon. Winters Buckeye
lodge No. 195 F. & A. M., conducted the services. Following the last rites, the body was taken
to Sacramento for cremation. Pallbearers
were R. L. Neimann, E. E. Baker, William A. Brinek and A. C. Sullivan of Winters and B. F. Hillhouse and J. L. Harlan of Woodland.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 503-504. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2017 Donna Toole.
Golden Nugget Library's Yolo
County Biographies