Naperville Area Farm Families History

              Harry R. and Gretchen Gregory
Harry Reynolds Gregory was born in Birchinol, Iowa on September 19, 1887. On February 11, 1913, he married Gretchen Keeler, who was born in Money Creek, Minnesota on December 1, 1891. They met when she was attending Normal School in Mason City, Iowa. She began teaching at the age of 18 in a country school before their marriage. Their wedding trip brought them to Wheaton, Illi¬ nois when they started farming. Harry rode in the cattle car with his cows and Gretchen rode in the passenger car In 1929 they moved to the farm west of Naperville, at the northwest and southwest cor¬ ners of Route 59 and Aurora Avenue (now New York Street). This property is now Fox Valley Shop¬ ping Center
During the depression the Gregorys tried various enterprises to help make ends meet. They butch¬ ered and sold sausage by the pound in offices in Chicago. Also they raised peonies and sold the flowers in the spring and the roots in the fall. These jobs benefited the community. Six children were
born to them: Kermit, Gordon, Everett, Harry (killed in Worid War II), Eleanor and Larry. A niece Ruth Rowe Gregory Erb, was raised by the Gregory family.
Harry was a progressive farmer interested in new ideas. During the 1930's he heard about the devel¬ opment of hybrid seed corn. He had the first acre grown in Northern Illinois on his farm. The follow¬ ing year he planted 5 acres, which led to the forma¬ tion of Pfiester Associated Growers. This company has since evolved into Agrinetics, He served on the board of Edward Hospital, the Rural Fire District board and was also President of the DuF^ge County Farm Bureau. Harry R. Gregory died on March 5, 1968.
Gretchen Gregory served on the Edward Hospi¬ tal Auxiliary, the Wheatland Salem U.M. Church as a Sunday School teacher and the Womens' Group and the Homemakers Extension Association, as well as her family and friends. She passed away on July 21, 1980.
Gordon and Florence Gregory
Gordon Arthur Gregory was born in Wheaton on May 8, 1916, the son of Harry and Gretchen Greg¬ ory. Florence Fraley was born on January 23, 1925, on the Fraley farm. They met at church and were married August 28, 1945, right after the war They ran the Gregory farm with his parents for 27 years. Four children were born to them: Harry, Phillip, Carol and Joe. Harry and Lori have two boys, Aaron and Jason. Phil has two girls, Jennifer and Melissa. Carol and Mike Kucera have Lisa and Joshua. Joe is in college.
Gordon served the church and the community. He was a 4-H leader for 15 years, a Sunday School Superintendent, on the school board 25 years, on the DuPage County Fair board, the Rural Fire Dis¬ trict board and the Lions Club. He was also a graduate of the University of Illinois.
Gordon Arthur Gregory died from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis on April 19, 1982. He will long be remembered for his love of God, his Christian ex¬ ample in adversity and his concern for others.
Homer Burton Grommon
Homer Burton Grommon came to live on the Mungo Patterson farm, located on Book Road, 7 miles south of Naperville, when just a young boy. He was described as a thin, pale city boy who could outrun anyone in school. Mungo Patterson started farming on this prairie land in 1845.
Homer attended the country school and proved to be an apt pupil and was well liked by his peers and the Patterson Family.
When he was 21 years old he married Agnes Clow Patterson, youngest daughter of Mungo Patterson and took over the operation of the farm. Mr Patterson had retired from active participation some years before. Three children were born: Sarah Lucia Grommon—unmarried, Frank P, and Agnes Clow Grommon (Mrs. Frank Boughton). His wife
died giving birth to Agnes. Later he married Nellie Agnes Wightman. One daughter, Helen W. Grommon was born. She married Frederick F. Web¬ ster Helen is a retired school teacher They had three children: Sarah Webster (Mrs. Franz Wasser- mann) Frederick G. Webster and John F Webster Helen, still living, resides with her son Frederick, in Xenia, Ohio.
Mr Grommon proved to be a good farmer and astute businessman—always looking for better ways to do things. He planned and installed a drainage system that made the slough on the 80 acres at the N.W. corner of Book Road and 104th Street useable farm land. He first plowed the virgin prairie on that 80 acres. He and a brother-in-law, John Patterson, who had drained his own farm in Indi-
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