Surname: Gregory, Bergdoll, Bell, Mutch, Rice, Shipley, Kilgore, Templer, Madden History Of Delaware County Indiana 1881 T.B. Helm Surnames in this biography are: Gregory, Bergdoll, Bell, Mutch, Rice, Shipley, Kilgore, Templer, Madden, RALPH SHAW GREGORY was born February 28, 1846, in Niles Township, Delaware Co., Ind. His parents, Samuel and Mary (Braddock) Gregory, came to this county from Huntingdon County, Penn., and settled upon a tract of wild land in Niles Township, which the father entered at the land office at Fort Wayne in 1831. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation during his life. He died in 1813, having survived his wife eleven years. His children were six in number; five sons and one daughter. The daughter, Mrs. Margaret Bergdoll, now resides in Albany, this county; William is engaged in business at Topeka, Kan.; John and Frank are at Leadville, Cob. and Samuel is a farmer and stock-dealer near Wheeling, in this county. Ralph S. was horn and reared at the old family homestead, in Niles Township, and, until twelve years of age, his life was passed like that of the majority of farmer-lads—the routine of farm duty being varied by a short attendance at the district school during the winter. In 1858, in company with the Hon. Robert C. Bell, now of Fort Wayne, he came to Muncie and entered the select school conducted by Professors Ferris and Rice. Renting a room of Peter Mutch, an old German well known to the earlier citizens of Muncie, they began to pursue their studies in this “bachelor’s hail,” and the incidents of those days have not failed to supply material for pleasant retrospection and laughable anecdote in their manhood’s maturer years. Both boys started out with a laudable object in life, recognizing within themselves the possession of talents that could not find vent in the pursuit of farm life, and both have arisen to positions of honor. Later, in the year 1858, Mr. Gregory entered Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind., where he continued his studies until 1862. Unable to resist the promptings of patriotism, in that year he entered as a private soldier in Company B, Eighty-Fourth Indiana Volunteers. He was promoted to the rank of Orderly Sergeant, and, about two years subsequent to the date of his enlistment, was honorably discharged on account of failing health. He returned to college at Crawfordsville, and subsequently entered the senior year at Asbury University, graduating with high honor with the class of 1867. In 1868, he accepted the position of Superintendent of the High Schools of Huntington, Ind., and achieved great success in organizing the graded schools of that city, which now rank among the best in this State. He occupied this position during the years 1868 and 1869, and was subsequently identified with the Muncie schools in the same capacity. During his school days, he had decided to adopt the legal profession, and registered as a student in the law office of Canton E. Shipley, of Muncie. By diligent study he progressed rapidly, developing qualities that insured success in his calling, and while still acting as Superintendent of the Huntington schools, was admitted to the bar of Delaware County. He formed a partnership with his former preceptor, Mr. Shipley, with whom he practiced about a year, and at the end of that time formed partnership relations with Hon. Alfred Kilgore, which continued until the decease of ‘the latter in 1873, after which he entered into partnership with Hon. James N. Templer, which relation continued until January 1, 1881. His choice of vocation was fortunate, and he has made it a success. His keen, perceptive abilities, his excellent judgment of human nature, his eloquent pleading and logical address, all proclaim the thorough lawyer. He has an extensive practice in the Supreme, United States and all inferior courts, and has won enviable fame, both at home and a broad, as a criminal lawyer. By means of a lucrative practice, together with industry and economy, he has amassed a competence of worldly wealth, and, withal, has ever been a generous contributor to public enterprises having for their object the best interests of the city and county. While a very pronounced Republican, and an active worker in the interest of that party, he has never felt an ambition for political recognition, and it is not our privilege to record any public service on his part, save those in connection with the public schools. He was united in marriage, July 5, 1880, with Miss Anna Madden, of Muncie, and during his wedding tour visited various points in Colorado and all the principal cities of the West. He is a member of Delaware Lodge, A., F. & A. M., of the Knights of Pythias at Muncie, and of the Improved Order of Red Men, and has attained to positions of honor and distinction in each—having served the Improved O. R. M. as Great Sachem of the State of Indiana. In social and public life he is always the same agreeable gentleman, and his manly qualities and upright character have gained for him a large circle of friends, among whom he is honored and prized.