Life History

Notes

• 1880 Federal Census, Fleming County, Kentucky, 7 June, District 28, page 9 (scan 458A), Hse/Fam #76
  Skeans, David A  W M 55 Head Farmer VA SC VA [b abt 1825]
  Skeans, Nancy  M  W F 55 Wife Keeping House  VA -- VA [b abt 1825]
  Skeans, Sariah [Sarah] W F 22 Dau Single VA VA VA [b abt 1858]
  Skeans, Mary W F 18 Dau Single VA VA VA [b abt 1862]
  Skeans, Charly  W M 15 Son Single VA VA VA [b abt 1865]
  Skeans, Wesley  W M 1 Grandson KY KY VA [b abt 1879]
  
  Wesley appears to be Sarah's son, later known as John Wesley Gregory, stepson of Sarah's husband Jefferson Preston Gregory.  Since Sarah is reported as single, it would appear that Wesley was born out of wedlock.  No information has been found on Wesley's biological father.
  
  U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  John Wesley Gregory
  Birth 2 Mar 1878 Hillsboro, Kentucky
  Father Jeff Gregory
  Mother Sarah Skeenes
  SSN 328106834
  Dec 1936 Name listed as JOHN WESLEY GREGORY
  
  1900 Federal Census, Fleming County, Kentucky, 15 June, Hillsboro, District 44, page 9A-9B (scan 141), Hse #165, Fam #171
  Gregory, Jeff Head  W M July 1870  29 Married 17 yrs KY KY KY Farmer Rents [this birth date and age is about 10 years too young!]
  Gregory, Sallie Wife W F Feb 1869  31 Married 17 yrs 8 children/7 living KY KY KY [this birth date and age is about 10 years too young!]
  Gregory, Charley [John Wesley] Stepson W F Mar 1878  21 KY KY KY Day Labor
  Gregory, Wesley [Charles/Charley] Son W F Feb 1884  16 KY KY KY Day Labor
  - page 9B -
  Gregory, Ruth Dau W M June 1886  13 KY KY KY
  Gregory, Timithy [sic] Son W M May 1889  11 KY KY KY Day Labor
  Gregory, Lula Dau W M Sept 1891  8 KY KY KY
  Gregory, Sherman Son W M Aug 1897  2 KY KY KY
  
  Nathan Gregory reports on Sarah's FAG memorial that she had 8 children all together, 7 after marrying Jefferson.  The first on Nathan's list of the seven is Wesley.  But in Wesley's FAG, the manager of that memorial refers to Jeff as Welsey's step-father.  This is consistent with the birth date in his SS record above, 2 March 1878.
  
  Census ages are not much help, as Wesley Skeans was reported in 1880 as 1 year old, born in 1879 or so.  But then again, this matches Charley Gregory, reported in 1900 as the stepson of Jeff Gregory.  In the same 1900 census Wesley is reported as the son of Jeff, age 16, so born about 1884, a year after Jeff and Sarah married.
  
  This would make one think the Wesley Skeans in 1880 was named Charles Wesley Skeans. and the Wesley Gregory in 1900 could be John Wesley or Wesley something else.  However, John Wesley Gregory's grave (grave name John W Gregory) has his birth date as 1877, while his death certificate has the date 2 Mar 1878.  This makes him match Wesley Skeans of the 1880 census.
  
  But a simple solution presents itself.  It is likely the enumerator confused the names of Charley and Wesley and switched the names on their entries.  If we switch the names in the 1900 census, then their profiles match the other data and records.
  
  -----------------
  John Wesley Gregory
  Birth 2 Mar 1878 Hillsboro, Fleming County, Kentucky
  Death 1957
  
  John's step-father was Jefferson P Gregory, FAG #32863925.  He has several siblings; half-brother Milner Smith Gregory signed his burial certificate, FAG #32876893.  Parents and several siblings are buried in Hillsboro, Ky. John and Ina were married in 1904.
  
  Parents:
  Jefferson P Gregory (1858 - 1916)
  Sarah Skeans Gregory (1857 - 1928)
  
  Spouse Ina D Gregory (1881 - 1951)
  
  Siblings:
  Nellie Ruth Gregory Workman (1887 - 1979)
  Milner Smith Gregory (1889 - 1962)
  Thomas Sherman Gregory (1898 - 1968)
  
  Burial Graceland Cemetery, Decatur, Macon County, Illinois, USA
  
  Created by kpet Aug 10, 2011
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #74723347, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=74723347
  -----------------
  

Sources

• 1. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• 2. 1880 Federal Census, Fleming County, Kentucky
  • 7 June, District 28, page 9 (scan 458A), Hse/Fam #76
• 3. 1900 Federal Census, Fleming County, Kentucky
  • 15 June, Hillsboro, District 44, page 9A (scan 141), Hse #165, Fam #171
• 4. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 5. Kenucky Marriages