David H. Gregory, Sheffield Township
(Source - Combination Atlas Map of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Kingman Brothers, 1878, pg 49)

"David Gregory, the father of the gentleman whose name appears above, was a native of Virginia.  During his residence in that
 State he married Miss Margaret Warwick, also a native Virginian.  Shortly after his marriage, he moved with his wife to
 Kentucky, and became identified with the early settlement of that  State.  They were members of the colony that followed the 
renowned Col. Daniel Boone, and formed the "Boone Settlement."   Some years later, while still residing there, he purchased
 420 acres on the Big Miami River, in Butler County, Ohio, but was deterred from locating upon his newly purchased farm by 
the hostility of the Indians surrounding it.  A treat of peace was finally effected, and he moved his family to that point on a 
keel-boat, pushed up river by means of long poles.

During his residence at this point, the noted "Mad Anthony Wayne" was a frequent guest at his cabin, on his route from Fort
 Greenville to Hamilton; and in the labor of felling trees Mr. Gregory often received valuable assistance from a squad of Gen. 
Wayne's soldiers.  He decided to make this settlement permanent, and with this view continued steadily to improve his farm.
  Here he reared a family of two sons and four daughters, all of whom arrived at maturity, but of whom only David H. and 
Margaret now survive.  Their names were William, Mary, Margaret, Annie, Nancy, and David H.

The latter, who is a subject of this sketch, was born in Butler County, Ohio, on the 30th day of January, 1801.  At the age of 
eighteen months, he was left an orphan by the death of his father; and as soon as his strength became sufficient for the task, 
he gave his time to the support of his mother by working on the farm.  Before he was 21 years old, she too, was called away by 
death. Shortly after her decease, David, with his brother-in-law Jesse Wilson, took a contract for digging a section of the Miami 
Canal, performing their labor to the entire satisfaction of the Company.

At the age of 24 years he married Miss Maria Wilson, a native of Virginia.  Three years after his marriage, he conceived a desire 
to move further west, and accordingly started with his wife on a journey to Indiana.  To this point his cousins and his brother 
William had preceded him, and through their kind forethought a comfortable cabin was ready to receive the weary immigrants at
 the end of their tedious journey.  This cabin was located in the central part of the present town of Dayton, although the name of 
Dayton had not then been given to the town.  Being the proprietor of a large tract of land, adjacent to the towns of Marquis and
 Fairfield, he divided a large portion of it into the town lots, and the three towns were united under the name of Dayton.  This 
name was conferred by Mr. Gregory, in memory of Dayton, Ohio.  Here, after clearing a large tract of land, he entered upon the
 life of a farmer, happy in the enjoyment of a quiet little h   [lost in translation]

 For a period of fifty years, Mr. Gregory has been a resident of Sheffield Township, having entered upon his residence here in 1828,
 at a time when but few families had found their way to this point, and when it frequently became necessary for those living here
 to unite in defense of their poultry or pigs against the ravages of the wolves and foxes. He has witnessed the various stages of
 progress through which his township has passed, and in these improvements he has been an active participant, always 
contributing liberally toward the advancement of enterprises calculated to promote the interests of his township.  Until the election
 of James Buchanan, he acted and voted with the Democratic party, but during his administration his political principles became 
changed, and he has since supported the Republican party.

 The infirmities of age have made themselves apparent in his heretofore vigorous constitution, and for several years he has lived a 
life of quiet repose among his grandchildren.  In his religious views he is a Universalist, having been converted to that faith at the 
age of 17 years.  He is a diligent student of the Scriptures, and has learned the great lessons of charity, so essential to a 
Christian life".