Thomas Gregg (1814 - 1888)

GREGG, SHEPHERD

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 11/24/2021 at 15:47:11

Osceola Weekly Sentinel , Osceola, Iowa
1888, April 12 , page 1

Thomas Gregg died March 31st, aged seventy-three years, three months and fourteen days. He and his wife (Miss Isabella Shepherd) were born, raised, and always went to the same school in Jefferson county, Ohio. After marriage, they came to Illinois and lived eight years, then to Lee county, Iowa, and lived eight years, coming to Clarke county in the fall of 1851.

He lived in his old home over thirty-six years. He was always of an emigrating spirit and often expressed a desire to go still farther west. He was converted and joined the church at the early age of thirteen, and has ever since thrown his influence on that side. Over sixty years a soldier for Jesus, he never grew tired of the way and in his last hours being asked if he wanted anything answered, “Nothing but Jesus.”

His life went out calmly and sweetly, closing his own eyes as if in sleep. His last quotation he tried to make was, "What is all this world if we miss Heaven?" but was too weak to finish it. Through life he had been a great lover of music, and said he wanted it to be the last on earth and first to greet him in Heaven. So after he failed to speak but his eyes showed he was still conscious, his neighbors sang, “O sing to me of Heaven, when I am called to die.” A song he had often sung in the family circle, and expressed a desire to have sung while he was dying. He smiled as the song was being sung and it remained on his countenance after the song was sung.

His daughter took him by the hand and said” “Goodbye, Father, you’re almost home, ain’t you?” In recognition he pressed her hand and tried to shake it, and each ember took his hand in succession, and then a few motions of the hand as if in prayer, and his hand lay motionless. A few hours before this he clapped his hands several times and said, “ I am almost home.”

Thursday before he died, he talked to all his children, (all being present but his son Cyrus,) and his grandchildren who were with him, and sent messages to the absent ones, also messages to the friends and brethren in the neighborhood of Osceola where he had lived last summer, last of all, to his neighbors, and said he had naught against anyone, and wanted them all to meet him in Heaven. He then said,
“farewell, farewell.”

He was a great lover of Sabbath and its enjoyments, and would always go to meetings when he was able, the last place being to a meeting in Hopeville, and hearing his old brethren speak, and being anxious to encourage them, arose and spoke four times during the meeting.

He was brought home sick and never left his home until he was carried by his old pioneer neighbors to his own graveyard (Gregg Cemetery), a selected spot he had given for a burial ground when he first settled in this present home. Having come to this county in the year of ’51, he endured all the privations of a pioneer life, and being anxious to have the county settled, spent a great deal of time showing the new-comers land, and his house was always open to lodge the weary and feed the hungry, and especially he loved to have the ministers come. He loved all who are “striving His will to know,” and was always ready to give a prayer or encouraging word to any who was in need.

His talk we have not more, but his counsel still lingers in our hearts. Rev. Haines, the circuit minister, conducted the services taking for his text, the 87th chapter and 23rd verse of Psalms, and for the lesson, 91st Psalm. Singing favorite songs; 332, in Gospel Hymns, also 121, then came his special favorite, “Tarry with me.”

Gravestone at Findagrave
 

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