Frank Gregory, a clerk in the county recorder’s office at Sacramento, is one of the well known business men of this city, and the name has been associated with the various departments of civic and commercial activity in Sacramento for over thirty years. One of the largest and best known fruit and produce houses of the city, in existence for almost a half a century, was established and conducted for many years by Mr. Gregory’s father, and Sacramento claims as one of her most public-spirited and capable executive heads Mr. Gregory’s brother. The family has always been known for its business ability, its integrity, and its honorable endeavors in every relation of life, and Mr. Frank Gregory is a worthy representative of the name and is held in unequivocal esteem wherever known.
Frank Fregory has born in Sacramento, February 22, 1863. His father, Julius Gregory, was born in Cette, southern France, and was a pioneer to California of 1849. He was engaged in business in San Francisco for a few years, and in 1852 came to Sacramento and established the produce business whose trade was one of the most extensive in the west. He also was a successful miner in Mon county, California, and at the time of his death, in May, 1871, he left a large estate. His wife was Mary E. Gregory, a native of England, and who died in 1899. She was prominent in the social and business circles of Sacramento, and showed remarkable talent as a business woman, having extensive dealings with railroads and navigation companies. There are three daughters in the family: Mrs. Daisy L. Schindler, Miss Amelia and Miss Malvna, all residing in Sacramento.
Frank Gregory was educated in the public and high schools of Sacramento, and then in private schools, concluding his education at the age of twenty-three. He had clerked in his father’s store, and later, with his brother, E. J., whose history is given below, succeeded to the business. They carried on the store with good success until about 1896, and then in making large shipments of green fruit to eastern markets lost heavily and were compelled to wind up their business. After going out of the mercantile business, Mr. Gregory embarked in the hop brokerage business and had extensive dealings with London markets for several years. At the death of his mother he was appointed executor of her estate, which consisted principally of large real estate holdings, much of it in Sacramento. He put the affairs in good shape and managed the distribution of the property, and then obtained a position as clerk for the Late Colonel J. B. Wright, superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
Mr. Gregory is a Republican, and has been a considerable factor in city and county politics. He has been active in the first ward, where he has his residence, and is now a county central committeeman of the first district. He has been to a number of county conventions, and although he has repeatedly been urged to accept nominations, he has always preferred the appointive positions. He has never married. he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar and a Shriner, and is a prominent member of the Eagles.
Source: Leigh H. Irvine; A History of the New California Its Resources and People, 2 Volumes; New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1903.