The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-11-29
THE LATE JOHN w, GREGORY.

child Of Dr. J. w. and Mrs. Caroline
GREGORY. was born in Meck!enburg cOun-
ty. Va. in the year 1917. In 1864. when
only ] Z years of age, he went with the
Junior Reserves into the war and until
its close in the ranks did his duty faith
fully and valiantly. Upon the death OF
his father he went west, spending some
wears teaching and merchandising III
Arkansas till his health was broken
down. after which he was in Colorado Tor
two years trying to rebuild his wasted
constitution. Returning east, on the
18th OF September, 1881, he and Miss
Cora Hight, OF Mecklenburg county, Va,
were married, and for more than two
and moved thence to Henderson, where
they were living at the time OF his death,
at 9 o'clock on the evening OF November
1st, 1894.
As a member Of the social body he
stood for all that makes good citizenship
in a right and stable society. He was
not a busy body in other mems mat
ters." As a prominent business man
said Of him. He attends strictly to his
own business and leaves alone the bust
ness of other people" adding, " that is,
after all, what makes the very best KIND
OF q man" Yet he met all the require
meuts that his relationship to society
imposed upon him; all his dealings with
his fellow men were frank fair and up
right: he met every obligation promptly
and faithfully. He held it but right = TO
owe no man anything, but to love one
anothcr,' and the debt Of love he paid
as fully and willingly as he did the debts
pecnniary. For he sympathized with
and gave help to those who needed, and
had hearty good will for all men.
| No boy or girl. no man or woman ever
| had a truer manifestation OF a brother =
| interest, love and help than that which
| was given to the brothers and sisters OF
Mr. Gregory. Though the youngest
child OF the family, it became his privilege
| to be of help to Others OF the family, and
readily and right manfully did he avail
himself of the privilege When his father
died he surrendered all his interest in the
| estate to the benefit OF two sisters at
that time unmarried, and went out
single-handed and almost penniess to
make his way in the world. And from
that time to the last days OF his life
whenever occasion arose, he befrlended
as far as he was able any of those of the
| house of his father.
But in his own home, with his faithful
|
| -four OF whom with the mother survive
| him) many of the finest elements of hi:
| character were seen at their best. Fol
them his most earnest thought and III:
most untiring energies were freely, yea
gladly given. His home was his castle
and the place to him of never ceasing de
light Here the cares OF life were driver
away by the innocent prattle OF his chill
dren and the deep sympathy OF his wife
Here love .reigned supreme and in thi
love he lived, for to him
Home was the resort
, OF love, of joy of peace and plenty, whe re
Supporting and supported, pOli5h'd friend
And dear relations mlngle into bliss.
Growing up in religious home Mr.
Gregory was always interested in tin
work of the Church of Christ, but owing
to his frequent moving from place tt
place he did not unite with the church
till 1881, when he Joined the Methods
Episcopal Church, South. SO faithful AM
earnest a supporter OF the work OF tn
! church was he that for the create
part of the time from his Joining till hi
death he was kept in official positions i
the church, and at the time OF his deaf
was Il steward and Il trustee of til
church, Mess there was sickness c
himself, or some member of his family
he was never absent from the Sunda
school or the service of the house OF Goo
No pastor had a more strenuous frien
and supporter than was found in MI
) Gregory For all this he was not simpl
a churchman, but Christian. He live
by the law of his God and entiOus
, met every requirement of that law
Christ was the light and power OF hi
life, and he did all things with regard t.
Christ 5 revealed will.
Ills life was gentle and the elements
So mixed in him, that nature might stan
up
, And say to all the world-7his is q man!
, His death was such as become such
man. Knowing the condition of hi
health, he had quietly gone forwar
making all necessary arrangements TO
his family and his business, so that h
might not, when the summons shout
come, have to tarrv with earthly cor
Germs. OF him it could be truly said:
GLOW blest the righteous when he dies,
When sinks weary soul to rest,
How mildly beam the closing eyes,
How gently heaves the expiring breast
$50 fades a summer cloud away:
SO sinks the gale when storms are DER
SO quietly shuts the eye of day
50 dies wave along the shore.
, " Life'S duty done, as sinks the clay,
! Light from its load the spirit flies.
. While Heaven and earth combine to say,
How bleSt the righteous when he dies .
Having served his own generation b
: the will of God, he fell asleep, and wa
| laid unto his fathers and there await
= the glad time when those who have gon
, before, and those who are to come afte
, shall with him have their happy re-unio
- in Our Fathers House in the Heavens.
G.