Gregg Family Oral Interviews

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Collection SummaryVirgil Gregg, first came to Montana in 1907, and worked on Intake diversion dam on the Yellowstone River, near Glendive. In 1909, he returned and homesteaded in the South Valley of Burns Creek (near Bloomfield, MT). He also taught at several one room schoolhouses in the area. His future wife, Fern Moore came to Eastern Montana in 1911 as a school teacher. She also homesteaded in the same area. Their union celebrated 5 children. Mr. Gregg was very civic minded and was on several founding boards including: the Grain Association, Rural Electric & Telephone Coop and Agriculture lending institutions. His business dealings extended from the local communities of Bloomfield, Richey and Glendive. He was also instrumental in housing developments in Glendive, a direct result of growth due to both agriculture and oil. There is a local park in Glendive named in his honor. Fern who was born in 1889, the same year Montana became a state, lived to be 100 years old! She frequently shared stories of the early homesteading days, much of which her grandchildren and great grandchildren continue to share. Fern was interviewed by Ivan Doig and is mentioned in the Acknowledgments of his book ‘Dancing at the Rascal Fair.’ The Gregg family heirs, a fourth generation Montana family, continue to farm the original homesteads of Fern and Virgil, along with other neighboring parcels. In 1969, what started out as an 80th birthday party for Grandma Gregg started the tradition of a 5 year family reunion. This family reunion has continued to this day, at a camp located near these original homesteads. The oral interviews share interesting stories of early homesteading life, one room school houses and life on the prairie. Contributing InstitutionGlendive Public Library

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Gregg Family Oral Interviews

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