Frank A. Gregory, Superintendent of the wheel department of the spoke factory of Yost, Bigelow & Co., at Metropolis, Massac county, is a son of Nehemiah Gregory, a native of Ohio, who was a man of excellent education and was brought up to the business of banking in Cincinnati. He afterward removed to Indiana and engaged in the confectionery business at Logansport, where he died August 30, 1880. He was a successful business man and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all. He was twice married, first to Kate Miner, by whom he had five children, viz: Louisa, wife of Dr. Ball, of San Francisco, Cal.; Cynthia and Mollie, deceased, Nora, wife of Charles E. Bradwell, of Detroit Mich., and Richard. The mother of these children died in Ohio, and Mr. Gregory married Rachel L. Lambert, of Salem, N.J., who is still living.

Frank A. Gregory is the only child born to the second wife of Nehemiah, and was born at Cheviot, Hamilton County, Ohio, August 22, 1865. He attended the public schools in his native State until he was thirteen years of age, and a portion of this time worked in a grocery store. Being apt at learning and quick to understand, he early acquired a fair education and considerable knowledge of business. He worked for a time at the wheel-wright trade, mastering the details of that trade while yet quite young. When he was fifteen years old his father died, and he soon afterward came to Illinois accompanied by his mother. They settled in Metropolis with but $15 in money as a start, but our subject soon engaged to work for Yost, Bigelow, & Co. in their wheel department, and after a time rose to the head of this department, a position which he still retains. He is now a skillful workman, and the fact of his being so long retained and of his being promoted to his present position shows that he is held in high estimation by the company.

Our subject was married December 20, 1888, to Lillie Atwell, daughter of a prominent citizen of Massac County, whose biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Gregory is a Democrat in politics and a member of the order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the Egyptian Encampment. Mrs. Gregory is a member of the General Baptist Church, and the mother of one child, Olive Anna. Mrs. Gregory is an agreeable and accomplished lady, and an excellent musician, as is also her husband, who is a performer on several musical instruments, and they are thus enabled to pass many a pleasant and profitable hour. Their home is a model of comfort and happiness, and both are highly respected by their neighbors and friends.