Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/438

 GREGORY

GRESHAM

GREGORY, John Munford, governor of Vir ginia, was born in Charles City county, Va.. July 8, 1804; son of John Munford and Letitia Power (Graves) Gregory. He was graduated from Wil- liam and JIary college, with the degree of LL. B. in 1830 ; was a member of the state assembly, 1830^1, and in the latter year became acting governor of Virginia, serving as such until 1843. He was U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, 1853-60, and judge of the fifth judicial circuit of Virginia, 1860-66. He died in Williams- burg. V:i.. in 18S7.

GREGORY, William, governor of Rhode Island, was born in Astoria, N.Y., Aug. 3, 1849. He en- gaged in the manufacture of worsted goods in Rhode Island ; became state senator in 1894 ; lieutenant-governor in 1898: and governor in 1900. He died in Wickford, R.I., Dec. 16. 1901.

GRENNELL, George, representative, was born in Greenfield, Mass.. Dec. 25, 1786 ; son of George Greunell. He was graduated from Dartmouth in 1808, and was admitted to the bar in 1811. He was prosecuting attorney for Franklin county, 1820- 28 ; a member of the state senate, 1824-27, and a Whig representative in theSLst, 22d, 23d, 24th and 25th congres.ses. He was probate judge for Frank- lin county, 1849-53. and was subsequently clerk of the Franklin county court. He was an incorpora- tor and the first president of the Troy & Greenfield railroad. He was a trustee of Amherst college, 1839-59. He died in Greenfield, Mass., Nov. 20, 1877.

GRESHAM, Walter, representative, was born in King and Queen coimty, Va., July 22, 1841; son of Edward and Isabella (Mann) Gresham, and grandson of Thomas Gresham. He was graduated from the University of Virginia in 1863, and served in the civil war as a private in the Confederate army. He was admitted to the bar in 1867, and removing to Galveston, Texas, began practice in that city. In 1872 he was elected district attorney. He served in the 20th, 21st and 22d legislatures of Texas, 1886-91, and was a Democratic representative in the 53d con- gress, 1893-95.

GRESHAM, Walter Quinton, statesman, was born in Lanesville, Harrison county, Ind., March 17, 1833; son of WiUiam and Sarah (Davis) Gresham; grandson of George and Jlaiy (Pen- nington) Gresham, and of John and Sarah (Lit- sey) Davis; and a descendant of Lawrence Gresham who came to America from England as a boy before 1750 in company with an uncle Gresham, a native of Virginia and descendant of the family that had previously settled in that colony. William Gresham was sheriff of Har- rison county, and was killed by an outlaw while endeavoring to effect his arrest in 1835. Mary Pennington was born in Washington county, Ky., and was still living in 1900, in her

ninety-fourth year. George Gresham removed from Virginia to Kentucky and thence to Indiana about 1800. Walter was taken with the entire family of eleven children, to Harrison county, Ind., about 1814, and was brought up with four other children by his mother, who continued to conduct the farm, assisted by her boys, who were brought up in the abolition faith, and as young men became active associates in operat- ing the "underground railroad '" through Harrison county.

When sixteen years old he obtained a clerkshiij in the office of the county audi- tor and his earnings enabled him to attend Corydon seminary for two years. He then took a preparatory coui'se at Indiana university, Bloomington, 1852- 53 ; entered the law office of Judge William A. Porter, and was admitted to the bar, April 10, 1854, entering into partnership with Judge Thomas C. Slaughter. He canvassed the district for Judge Slaughter as candidate of the anti- Nebraska hill ticket for representative in the 34th congress in 1854, against William H. English; canvassed the state for John C. Fremont in 1856, and in 1860 he was elected a representative in the state legislature, where he was chairman of the military committee, 1861, and drafted a bill to give to the governor the power to control the appointment of militia officers theretofore elected by the men, which was defeated in the senate, but became a law before the special session ad- journed. He incurred the ill will of Governor Morton by refusing to vote to displace the trus- tees of tiie blind and insane asylums for party reasons, and in a speech reported in the proceed- ings of the legislature attacked the " spoils " sys- tem. At the beginning of the civil war he offered his services to the government but was refused a commission. He then organized a com- p.any at Corydon and was elected its captain, sub- sequently accepting the lieutenant colonelcy of the 38th Indiana volunteers. He was promoted colonel of the 53d Indiana re,giment and was present at Shiloh, the siege of Corinth and the investment of Vicksburg. On the recommenda- tion of General Grant he was promoted brigadier- general of volunteers. Aug. 11, 1863. He was then assigned to Sherman's armj- and commanded the 4th division of the 17th corps at Atlanta. In the engagement at Bald Hill, Ga., July 20, 1864,