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SAMUEL S. GREGG, M. D.
Vol. 3, p. 1027, 1028

Although one of the youngest of the states, Oklahoma is one of the
most progressive and up-to-date. This she owes to the ambitious and
energetic character of her citizens, who, coming from the various
other states of the Union, have succeeded in a remarkably brief time
in building up a great and flourishing commonwealth. Among these
energetic citizens was the late Dr. Samuel S. Gregg, one of the
principal founders of the Town of Capron, Woods County. Doctor Gregg
was born on the homestead of Robert Washington, cousin of George
Washington, near Wheeling, West Virginia, on January 23, 1846, and
died at Capron, Oklahoma, June 13, 1911, when in his sixty-sixth
year. Reared on the old Washington plantation near Wheeling, he
showed remarkable proficiency in his studies, graduating from the
high school at the age of eleven years. At the outbreak of the Civil
war he enlisted in Company I, Twelfth Regiment of New Jersey
Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He was with Sherman on
the march to the sea, and was in many important engagements, but was
never seriously wounded. During the greater part of his service he
was attached to the medical corps, acting as a sergeant. At the close
of the war he made a prospecting tour to the West Indies.

On his return from this trip he entered the medical department of
the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated
after a four years' course. He then located in Lincoln, Nebraska, but
in 1871 removed to McPherson County, Kansas, and participated in the
organization of that county, being a member of the original town site
company of McPherson. He was the first physician there and
established the first drug store in the town. He shot buffalo on the
town site and was thoroughly identified with the pioneer life of the
vicinity. In 1882 he removed to Harper, Kansas, where he was engaged
in medical practice for one year. At the end of that time he removed
to Attica in the same state and there practiced his profession until
1893, also conducting a drug store.

In the last mentioned Doctor Gregg was one of those who participated
in the rush for land in the newly opened Cherokee strip, and secured
a tract now occupied by a part of the Town of Capron. He was the
first physician in the town, which was originally named Warren, and
was one of its builders, as already mentioned. Owing to the confusion
resulting from the existence of another town with a similar name, the
name of Warren was afterwards changed to Virgil, in honor of a son of
Doctor Gregg. Later it was changed to Capron for a similar reason.
Benjamin Gregg, a brother of the doctor, was the first postmaster.

Doctor Gregg was married, December 24, 1875, at Newton, Kansas, to
Miss Mary A. FINNAN, eldest daughter of James and Katherine (WHEELER)
Finnan, and who was born at Des Moines, Iowa, June 28, 1856. Her
father was a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of Boston,
Massachusetts. Two children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Gregg -- Virgil
Hugh and Maude Alma.

Virgil Hugh Gregg, born at McPherson, Kansas, October 23, 1878, was
educated at the University of Kansas and became a musician. In 1897
he enlisted as such in the United States army and spent two years in
the Philippine Islands as instructor in the Thirty-second Regimental
Band, having the rank of corporal After his discharge from the army
he was one of eighty out of 500 who passed the examination for
teacher in the Philippine service. After teaching two years at Canton
he became principal of a normal school at San Fernando, and was later
supervisor of schools of the Island of Cebu, spending in all thirteen
years in the service. He was married in 1914 to Miss Lulu May REID,
of Salt Lake, Utah, in which city he now resides, being business
manager of the Utah Mining News.

Maude Alma Gregg, born January 23, 1884, at McPherson, Kansas, was
graduated in 1898 from the high school at Attica, that state, and in
1901 from the University of Illinois. She is now a registered
pharmacist, and a landscape artist of ability. She was married,
October 8, 1913, to Guy C. BOLING, who was born and reared in this
town. He is a descendant of the Boling family of Virginia, and is one
of the founders of the Kansas Rural Credit Association of
Emporia, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Boling make their home with her mother.

In 1915 Mrs. Gregg laid off Gregg's Second Addition to Capron, and
now owns 640 acres adjoining the town on the east. Her residence is
one of the most modern and finely appointed in Woods County, being
supplied with a private electric light plant, sewerage and other
modern facilities. A lady of refinement and education, she is also a
first class business woman and is widely know and respected
throughout the county. Her chief pride is in the memory of her
husband's character and achievements, and in her two children, who
have reflected credit upon their upbringing.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Lee Ann Collins, March 9, 1999.