My Genealogy Hound

GREGG, SILAS, far., Sec. 14; P. O. Fort Madison; of English origin; his great grandfather was born in England; emigrated to America, and settled in Southwestern Virginia; there his grandfather, Gregg was born. Married Miss Comber, and settled near Knoxville, Tenn., where his father, Thomas Gregg, was born in 1798; when young, was taken by his father to Edwardsville, Madison Co., Ill., where they remained until the death of his parents, soon after which he returned to Sangamon Co., near Springfield, Ill., and in the spring of 1822, married Miss Keziah Roberts, born in Kentucky Nov. 23, 1806; had ten children; two sons and four daughters grew to manhood and womanhood, the most of whom are settled in the West; Silas, the eldest, was born near Springfield, Ill., July 25, 1823; at 4 years of age, moved, with his parents, to Adams Co., Ill., thence to Wisconsin, near Mineral Point; the fall of 1829, to Quincy, Ill.; the spring of 1837, they came to Lee Co., and settled at their present place of residence; he received his education at the common schools, with six months at Denmark Academy; the winter of 1844 and 1845, he taught the first school — a business he has followed in his own and adjoining districts, without intermission during the winter months, and has taught several terms of summer school by request. In November, 1848, he married Miss Abby A. Hornby, daughter of John H., whose biography is to be found elsewhere; she was born in Maine Sept. 17, 1823; he owns 110 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; they have three sons and one daughter; Sarah E., born March 3, 1851 — the wife of D. W. Bean, a farmer of this township; Oscar, born March 4, 1854; S. W., born April 18, 1859; George W., born Sept. 12, 1861. Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg, their daughter and eldest sons, are members of the Christian Church; has held office of Justice of the Peace for ten years; Township Clerk, and was Assessor for Denmark, Washington and Green Bay Townships; also took the United States census for Washington Township in 1865; Secretary of the Board of Education for a number of years; in 1870, was elected School Inspector, in which he served until that office was abolished by law.