Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-03-27
FLAGS DIPPED
FOR PIONEER
j. O. GREGG, FORMER RESIDENT
OF GREAT FALLS, WAS OUT
STANDING CIVIL WAR HERO
Enlisted in Ohio Regiment and Was
Decorated With Congressional Medal
of Honor; Was Killed Recently In
Columbus, O., When Struck BY Car.

The flags of the 166th infantry,
Ohio national guard, were dipped i'll
honor of Brevet Major Joseph O.
Gregg, pioneer of Great Falls and an
outstanding veteran of the Civil war,
whose death occurred at Columbus, O.
From 1887 to 1904 this soldier Of
war and peace was known as Captain
Gregg to his many friends in Great
Falls. But in Columbus, O., where
he made his home for the last 26
years, he was known as Major Gregg,
honorary officer of the 166th Ohio
infantry, past department command
er G. A. r. of Montana and Ohio,
vice president of the Army of the
Potomac, doth corps, past vice COM
mander of the Congressional Medal of
Honor Legion and a member of the
Army and Navy Legion of Valor.
Captain Gregg came to Great Falls
in 1887 from Fargo, N. d. On his ar
rival he became interested in North
Great Falls and was one of the incOr-
porators of the toWnsite. At the time
the Fifteenth street bridge vas built
Captain Gregg and his associates in
the North Great Falls toWnsite, decided
to Cascade county lots valued at $4,000
in North Great Falls to assist in build
ing the bridge.
Interested In Transportation
Captain Gregg also was interested
in city transportation. Great Falls
was enjoying an era of prosperity and
expansion, and far-sighted citizens
were thinking of street cars, in the
terms of the horse-drawn vehicles. The
captain was not credited with the in
auguration of the first street car sys-
tenn in Great Falls, but he did at one
time OWn the street railway franchise
on First avenue north.
Captain Gregg, who served through
the Civil wal as a private, June l6
1864, was decorated with the con-
%gressional medal of honor, the highest
award conferred by the United States
government. In 1892 Captain Gregg
was chosen department commander OF
the G. A. r. of Montana. He served
two years, during which time he pro-
NOTED an idea which was to be COPIED
by many other cities in America. Thus
Great Falls has the distinction Of hav-
ing the first burial plot in the United
States on which a monument was
dedicated jointly to the union anC
confederate soldiers of the Civil war
The plot is in Highland cemetery, anc
is a national memorial.
City's Claim Challenged
The idea was promoted largely
through the efforts of Captain Gregg
A short time later an eastern city
challenged Great Falls distinction Of
being the first city in the land to pro-
vide such a burial plot. 1t became q
heated issue and Captain Gregg was
in the forefront to defend Great Falls
When the smoke cleared away anC
after newspapers had muffled Their
guns, Great Falls was awarded the
honor.
The Civil war veteran was instru-
mental in originating the Sons of the
American Revolution in Montana. In
Ohio, as well as in Montana, he spent
his years in behalf of his country
He is an instructor in patriotism
a Columbus newspaper said when he
was made brevet major, an honorary
officer Of the Ohio national guard. He
was then So years old.
Captain Gregg was struck by ar
automobile in Columbus and killed in
stantly. He was 80 years old Jan. S
Surviving Is his second wife, who re.
sides In Columbus.
James M. Burlingame Of Great Fall,
married . daughter Of Captain Gregg
She died In Great Falls 70 years ago