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Gregg Family Papers

Family and legal papers, 1839-1983

Manuscript collection MC 1000


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GREGG FAMILY

Lafayette Gregg (1825-1891) was an attorney, soldier, banker, and a founder of the Arkansas Industrial University (University of Arkansas). He was born in Alabama and moved to Fayetteville in 1849. After receiving his preliminary education at the Ozark Academy, Gregg studied law in the office of William D. Reagan and opened his own practice which lasted until his death. He served as Colonel of the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry (Union) during the Civil War, and afterwards helped rebuild northwest Arkansas by working to establish the Arkansas Industrial University at Fayetteville and founding the Bank of Fayetteville. Married in 1852 to Mary A. Shreve, Lafayette Gregg had five children: Lafayette, Alfred, Henry, Andrew, and Ida Gregg. Andrew S. Gregg (1857-1938) became a prominent Fayetteville physician, practicing medicine for nearly fifty years in the town. Alfred W. Gregg (1854-1880) was one of the first graduates of the Arkansas Industrial University in 1876. Henry Lincoln Gregg (1868-1946) lived most of his life in Fayetteville and Little Rock, investing in zinc mining among other business interests. Henry's son, Russell Cravens Gregg, served as a Lieutenant in the 346th U.S. Infantry during World War I. Ida Gregg, who never married, inherited the family mansion on 339 Gregg Street, Fayetteville, and lived there for the rest of her life. A complete family tree is included in the hardcopy finding aid.
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THE COLLECTION

Family and legal papers pertaining to the Lafayette Gregg family of Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas, were donated to Special Collections by Mrs. Emily Gregg Pritchard on March 11, 1991.

The Gregg papers have been divided into three series and several subseries. The family papers consist of letters, biographical materials, invitations, diplomas, poetry, tax receipts, deeds, financial papers, and newspaper clippings. Of particular interest in the family letters are those written by Russell Cravens Gregg while serving with the U.S. Army at Camp Pike, Arkansas, and in France during World War One. The legal papers consist of court papers, promissory notes, deeds, and other materials pertaining to the law practice of Lafayette Gregg and his son, Lafayette W. Gregg. The majority of the legal papers concern the settlement of the estate of William F. Wilson (1815-1882) a prominent Washington County farmer. Originally from Kentucky, Wilson settled in Washington County and married a widow, Matilda Barren Phelan, in 1827. In addition to her five sons from her first marriage, Matilda had three children with Wilson: Andrew, George, and Elizabeth (Lizzie). When he died in 1882, Wilson named Lafayette Gregg as the administrator for his estate and guardian of his children. Andrew died shortly thereafter, George remained at home with his mother, and Lizzie eventually married a man named Gabbert. In 1888, the Wilsons directed Gregg to sell $18,000 in U.S. Bonds in order to increase their quarterly income. A dispute over the handling of these and other funds arose after Lafayette Gregg's death in 1891, and the Greggs were sued by Lizzie Wilson Gabbert. In the course of the settlement, Lafayette W. Gregg divided all of the expense receipts as falling before or after November 15, 1888 and presented them to the court. The arrangement of the Wilson legal papers preserves this original order. Other files included in the legal and professional papers pertain to the Bank of Fayetteville, Emma Cardwell, J.S. McDaniel, William Genn, and Lafayette Gregg's Civil War service. The third series consists of photographs of the Gregg family.

Processed by Kim Allen Scott, December 1989. Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

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Contents of Collection (3 boxes)
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    Series 1. Family Papers, 1852-1983. Boxes 1-2.

    Correspondence, biographical materials, tax receipts, legal documents, certificates, invitations, and other materials pertaining to the families of Lafayette Gregg, Andrew S. Gregg, and Russell Cravens Gregg, arranged in 11 subseries.

    Subseries 1. Family correspondence, 1885-1963.

    Letters to and from various members of the Gregg family and friends of the Gregg family. In general, only those letters dealing with family concerns have been included with this subseries. Legal correspondence pertaining to cases handled by Lafayette Gregg have been placed in appropriate case files in Series 2. Of particular interest in this subseries are the letters of Russell Cravens Gregg written in 1917-1919 which document his activities as a lieutenant with the United States Army both at Camp Pike, Arkansas, and on duty in France. Letters dating from 1950 are mostly from Russell Gregg to his aunt, Ida Gregg, who at that time lived in the ancestral home at 339 Gregg Street, Fayetteville. These letters contain much information on the upkeep of the house and related expenses. Other materials pertaining to the property can be found in subseries 10, Gregg House Materials. The letters in this subseries have been arranged chronologically.
    Box 1
  1. 1885-1895.
  2. 1900-1905.
  3. April-June, 1917.
  4. July-December, 1917.
  5. January-February, 1918.
  6. March-April, 1918.
  7. May-June, 1918.
  8. July-August, 1918.
  9. September-October, 1918.
  10. November-December, 1918.
  11. 1919.
  12. 1920-1939.
  13. 1940-1949.
  14. 1950-1951.
  15. 1952-1956.
  16. 1958-1962.

    Subseries 2. Biographical materials, 1876-ca. 1923.

    Genealogy notes; handwritten travel journal kept by Alfred W. Gregg during his graduation trip to the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; autograph album kept by Henry Lincoln Gregg while he was a student at the Arkansas Industrial University during 1880-1881.
    Box 1 (cont.)
  17. Genealogy notes, ca. 1923.
  18. Travel journal, 1876; autograph album, 1880-1881.

    Subseries 3. Cards and invitations, 1881-1947.

    Invitations, calling cards, valentines, and greeting cards exchanged by members of the Gregg family and their friends.
    Box 1 (cont.)
  19. 1881-1918.
  20. 1922-1947.

    Subseries 4. Diplomas and certificates, 1868-1955.

    Diplomas, membership cards, membership certificates, and awards presented to various members of the Gregg family. Included in this subseries are: Lafayette Gregg's appointment to the Arkansas Supreme Court, 1868; a translation of the Latin diploma of the St. Louis Medical College issued to Andrew S. Gregg, 1881; Andrew S. Gregg's appointment to the Volunteer Medical Service Corps, 1918; certificates of membership in various fraternal organizations of Andrew S. Gregg and other members of the Gregg family. Some of the certificates are oversize and have been removed to the Special Collections oversize manuscript drawer in the reading room map case.
    Box 1 (cont.)
  21. Diplomas and certificates.

    Subseries 5. Poetry and recipes, n.d.

    Undated poetry, probably written by Nora Cardwell Gregg in the early twentieth century, dealing with a variety of topics.
    Box 2
  1. Poetry and recipes.

    Subseries 6. Tax receipts, 1870-1957.

    Real estate and poll tax receipts pertaining directly to the Gregg family and the estate of Lafayette Gregg. Other tax receipts which name families other than the Greggs have been placed in series two. The receipts have been chronologically arranged.
    Box 2 (cont.)
  2. 1870-1879.
  3. 1880-1889.
  4. 1890-1899.
  5. 1900-1957.

    Subseries 7. Land deeds, 1852-1946.

    Chronologically arranged land deeds, mortgages, and indentures for property purchased by the Gregg family. Deeds pertaining to other families who may have been clients of Lafayette Gregg have been placed in series 2. Some of the documents in this series have been placed in the Special Collections oversize manuscripts drawer in the reading room map case.
    Box 2 (cont.)
  6. 1852-1873.
  7. 1877-1946.

    Subseries 8. Financial papers, 1875-1902.

    Promissory notes, statements, and financial memoranda pertaining to the Gregg family and the settlement of the Lafayette Gregg estate. Included are computations of rent and labor costs associated with farm property owned by Lafayette Gregg. In general, only those papers which relate directly to the Gregg family have been included in this subseries. Financial papers which pertain to other families have been placed in series 2.
    Box 2 (cont.)
  8. Financial papers.

    Subseries 9. Wills and contracts, 1890-1938.

    Chronologically arranged contracts and wills pertaining to the Gregg family, including: lease agreement for mineral rights on property owned by Lafayette Gregg to the Washington County Mining Company, 1890; agreement between Lafayette Gregg and Lafayette W. Gregg for office expenses, 1891; contract with the U. S. Army issued to Andrew S. Gregg, 1918; will of Caroline T. Cravens naming Lelia V Gregg as one of her heirs, 1925; will of Andrew S. Gregg, 1938.
    Box 2 (cont.)
  9. Wills and contracts.

    Subseries 10. Gregg house materials, 1927-1983.

    Miscellaneous notes, receipts, and memoranda pertaining to the ownership and maintenance of the Gregg ancestral home at 339 Gregg Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas. A large drawing of the house and grounds, done by Ross J. Prichard, Jr., in the 1980s has been removed to the Special Collections oversize manuscript drawer in the reading room map case.
    Box 2 (cont.)
  10. Gregg house materials.

    Subseries 11. Newspaper clippings, ca. 1880-1940s.

    Obituary notices and miscellaneous family news articles pertaining to the Gregg family.
    Box 2 (cont.)
  11. Obituary notices.
  12. Miscellaneous news items.
    Return to "Contents of Collection"

    Series 2. Legal and professional papers, 1863-1896. Box 2.

    Deeds, contracts, statements, tax receipts, and other papers pertaining to the professional activities of Lafayette Gregg as a lawyer, banker, and soldier. Arranged in seven subseries.

    Subseries 1. Wilson estate, 1881-1896.

    Probate court records, circuit court records, promissory notes, tax receipts, and miscellaneous financial memoranda pertaining to the settlement and administration of the estate of William F. Wilson. The Wilson estate papers include the probate court record, papers from the suit filed by Lizzie Wilson Gabbert in circuit court, receipts for payments made to the Wilsons prior to and following November 15, 1888, tax receipts, and financial memoranda pertaining to the case.
    Box 2 (cont.)
  13. Probate court, 1883-1893.
  14. Circuit Court, 1896.
  15. Matilda Wilson receipts, prior to 11/15/1888
  16. Lizzie Wilson receipts, prior to 11/15/1888
  17. George Wilson receipts, prior to 11/15/1888
  18. Matilda Wilson Receipts, after 11/15/1888
  19. Lizzie Wilson Receipt, after 11/15/1888
  20. George Wilson Receipt, after 11/15/1888
  21. Wilson family tax receipts, 1880-1896
  22. Financial memoranda.

    Subseries 2. Bank of Fayetteville, 1888-1895.

    Contracts, financial statements, board minutes, and a savings passbook pertaining to the Bank of Fayetteville and the activities of Lafayette Gregg and Lafayette W. Gregg as bank officers.
    Box 3
  1. Bank of Fayetteville, 1888-1895.

    Subseries 3. Civil War papers, 1863-1865.

    Travel pass issued to Lafayette Gregg to visit Governor Harris Flanagin in May, 1863; medical deferment issued to Lafayette Gregg in January, 1863; military orders issued to Lafayette Gregg from headquarters, Post of Little Rock, April 25, 1865; appointment approval for officers of the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry issued by the War Department, Washington, D.C., March 16, 1865; honorable discharge issued to Lafayette Gregg on June 30, 1865.
    Box 3 (cont.)
  2. Civil War papers, 1863-1865.

    Subseries 4. Emma Cardwell, 1875-1878.

    Land deeds pertaining to the Cardwell family of Washington County, Arkansas.
    Box 3 (cont.)
  3. Emma Cardwell, 1875-1878.

    Subseries 5. J.S. McDaniel, 1891-1893.

    Land deeds and correspondence pertaining to J.S. McDaniel of Bonner Springs, Kansas.
    Box 3 (cont.)
  4. J.S. McDaniel.

    Subseries 6. William Genn, 1887-1891.

    Land deeds and receipts pertaining to William Genn of Washington County, Arkansas.
    Box 3 (cont.)
  5. William Genn.

    Subseries 7. Miscellaneous legal papers.

    Letters, promissory notes, memoranda, and other legal papers pertaining to a variety of northwest Arkansas residents who may have been clients of Lafayette Gregg.
    Box 3 (cont.)
  6. Miscellaneous legal papers.
    Return to "Contents of Collection"

    Series 3. Photographs, ca. 1850s-1960s. Box 3.

    Photographs of Gregg family members and friends. Photograph numbers 3 and 4 are cased ambrotypes and have been stored with other cased photographs of the Special Collections Picture Collection. Photograph 19 is oversize and has been placed with other oversize Gregg materials in the Special Collections oversize manuscript drawer. Photographs 23-30 are a selection of unidentified people who posed for Fayetteville photographers C.C. Cook, C.E. Watton, Mrs. Young, and the Dunlap Brothers during the 1890s. All these subjects are likely members of the Gregg family.
    Box 3 (cont.)
  7. Photographs.
  8. Photographs.
  9. Photographs 23-30.
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