A Pioneer Family called Gregory
 by George Crout, Middleton, Historian
(Source - newspaper article, undated, from the Middletown Diary)
Middletown Journal April 27,  1996                    Updated 7/2009
Transcribed by  Tracey Saucy
 
	"Their name still remains on a river that flows northward to enter the Great Miami at LeSourdsville.  Gregorys' Creek received its name from the pioneer family that first purchased the land along its banks in both Lemon and Liberty townships.
	The first members of the family to settle on it were David and Margaret Gregory, arriving there in 1791.  At the time, only one other family had settled north of Fort Hamilton - Enos Potter and his wife, Rhoda Miller Potter.  Mrs. Potter was the first white woman to live north of the fort, and Mrs. Gregory was the second.  Daniel Doty came by the station in 1791, going on to claim land that became Middletown.
	The new Indians in the area were the fierce Shawnees, their warriors intent on keeping the settlers out, and their frequent attacks led to this being known as the "Miami Slaughter House."  So it was necessary to construct fortified stations, usually with a blockhouse, enclosed by palisades with settlers' cabins within the enclosure.   Such settlements were usually named for the owner of the land on which they stood, as was the case of Gregorys' Station, located atop a hill overlooking the valley of the creek, near its confluence with the Great Miami.  From this strategic point, soldiers, unobserved, could go to check Indians' canoes going down the river hea 
	Other stations in this area were Freemans' at LeSourdsville, Morrells' at Middleton, and Holes' at Miamisburg.  However, Gregorys' was the most strategic and where Gen. Wayne kept his largest contingent.  Since Gregorys' cabin was one in the compound, Wayne became friends with them, and evidently, according to Mrs. Gregory's epitaph, shared meals with them.  How many soldiers were stationed at the stockade is not known.
	David Gregory had purchased two tracts of land from Jonathan Dayton, a representative of the owner, John Cleves Symmes.  His deed was for 412 acres located in Fractional Section 5, Township 2, Range 3 in Lemon Township, with some in the adjoining township.  The military trail from Fort Hamilton ran through the Gregory property on the way to Morrells' Station.  It was cut 66 feet wide and was the forerunner of the present Hamiton-Middletown Road.
	The site of Gregorys' Station is now occupied by the LeSoursville Village Mobile Home Park.  The owner of the park has reserved a small memorial site where the graves of the Gregory's are preserved.  It is at the end of Parkwood Drive.  Watching over it is resident-historian Fred Harding Pierce.  He noted that the Gregory burial site was once part of an old Indian burial ground - there being a Miami
	Pierce also recalls there was an ancient barn on the site when he first moved to the park, with 16- by 16-in walnut and oak beams with "not a nail in it."  Just a Pierce had arranged to tear down and preserve it, arsonists struck.  By following Flint street in the subdivision, one can look up and view the old site of the station.  Permission to visit the historic site may be obtained from Superintendent William Jennings.
	The epitaph on Margaret Gregory's marker reads: "Here lies the woman, first save one/ Who settled on the Miami above Fort Hamilton/ Her table was spread with that of the best/ And Anthony Wayne was often her guest." (Margaret died Aug. 12, 1821, at age 66)
	The Dr. Louis B. Gaker farm along LeSourdsville-West Chester Road also contains part of the Gregory land.  Mrs. Gaker has done extensive research on the Gregory family.  She found they emigrated west from Alexandria, Va., where David had married Margaret Warwick, who were family friends of the Washingtons.  David died at age 34, on July 9, 1802, leaving his widow and several children.
	Gaker's research found that some neighbors, such as the Potters, were envious of the Gregorys for the soldiers at their station had helped in planting and harvesting crop, buying some produce for Fort Hamilton.  After David died, Mrs. Gregory ran the farm, but encountered legal problems with title hiring famous Cincinnati lawyer Nicholas Longworth to assist her.
	About a mile south of Ohio 4 along Gregorys' Creek is an old log house, which was built by a Gregory early in the 1800's.  It is thought that Margaret Gregory may have lived in it, perhaps with a son or relative in her later years.  David Kern, longtime Liberty Township trustee, state that during his tenure land was obtained for a new township park to which it is planned to move Gregorys' log house.  It was on the farm owned by James Dudley, who protected it and insisted it be saved.  Mrs. Gaker is hoping it is soon to be kept for posterity.