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         DENNIS GREGORY, a pioneer settler of Louisa County of 1841, now residing on section 17, Morning Sun Township, was born in Harrison County, Ind., in September, 1817, and is a son of William and Lucy (Jones) Gregory, who were the parents of ten children, four of whom are now living, three sons and a daughter: David, who resides in this county; Milton, who is living in Morgan County, Ind.; Eliza D., wife of William Edwards, of Morgan County, Ind.; and Dennis, the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Gregory was reared on a farm in Morgan County, Ind., where his parents had removed when he was a lad, and received his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he left the parental roof and made a trip to Louisa County in 1840, settling here permanently in 1841. He was united in marriage in 1843, becoming the husband of Miss Sarah Price, and by their union ten children have been born, six of whom are now living, four sons and two daughters: Mary, who is at home; Francis A., who was educated at Howe’s Academy at Mt. Pleasant, is now a minister of the Baptist faith, in Chicago, Ill.; William P., who was also educated in Howe’s Academy, is an attorney-at-law of Yates Center, Iowa; David is residing at home; Hiram Madison is engaged in farming in Christian County, Ill.; and Artie is the wife of John See, of this county.

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory have been lifelong members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In early life he was a Whig in politics, and a great admirer of Henry Clay. In 1840 he cast his vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison, and on Nov. 6, 1888, he voted for the grandson of that gentleman, Hon. Benjamin Harrison, the nominee of the Republican party for President. Mr. Gregory has been a liberal supporter of schools and religious institutions, and is ranked as one of Louisa County’s best citizens. For forty-seven years he has been a resident of the county, and has shared all the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. He was a poor man at that time, his capital consisting only of a horse and the sum of $5 in money, which he loaned, but which was never returned to him. Possessing a robust constitution and determined to succeed, by his energy, fair dealing and good management, he has accumulated a comfortable competency, has provided educational advantages for his children, and to-day is one of the well-to-do farmers of the community. His farm, comprising 240 acres of land, 200 of which are under cultivation, is valued at $30 per acre. Little can the children of the pioneers, who laid the foundation of the country’s present prosperity, realize the disadvantages and trials which come to those who found homes in the new and unbroken country. Mr. Gregory had to carry his grain to market at Burlington, and oftentimes only received forty cents a bushel for wheat and ten cents for corn. Pork was sold at $1.25 per hundred, and for everything else he received prices in proportion. His first house in Louisa County consisted of a rude log cabin, 14x16 feet, the chimney made of mud and sticks. He manufactured his own stools and tables, and in one end of the building was the huge fireplace, before which he baked his Johnny-cake, one of the staple articles of diet of those days. Though . . .

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. . . there was much that was unpleasant in this pioneer life, there were also many pleasures, and the land, which was then wild and unbroken, constitutes one of the finest farms in the community.