Notes

Note N398 Index

Family legend says that Lawrence Gresham was sent in 1759, at the age of six, to Virginia from England to live "indentured" with his uncle. Lawrence married Sarah O'Neal (or Neal), and their son George was born in 1776 near Petersburg, Dinwiddie Co., VA. The family joined the stream of emigrants pouring into Harrodsburg, KY about 1778. In Kentucky, George Gresham married Mary Pennington, the only sister of Dennis Pennington, a leading figure in the early history of Indiana, where George had moved ine family in 1809. His son, William Gresham, born in Mercer County, KY in 1802, married Sarah Davis and they went to live in a log cabin on land his father had entered near Lanesville, Harrison County, IN.

William Gresham, a cabinetmaker by profession, was elected by popular vote a colonel in the state militia and, while sheriff of Harrison County in 1834, was stabbed and killed by an outlaw whom he was attempting to arrest. Sarah continued to operate the farm with the help of her boys and later married Noah Rumley.

William's son, Walter Q., accepted the place of minute clerk in the office of his legal guardian, Samuel J. Wright, county auditor. He worked in various county offices, attended the State University at Bloomingon to study law. Walter Q. was active in local and state politics. In 1863, on the recommendation of Generals Grant and Sherman, he was appointed brigadier general and placed in command of the Natchez district.

Walter Q.'s political career continued to grow and in 1883 was appointed Postmaster General by President Arthur. In 1893 President Cleveland appointed him Secretary of State. While he was still holding this office he died in Washington, D.C. of pneumonia. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The early information on the Gresham family is taken from Matilda McGrain Gresham's book, "Life of Walter Quinten Gresham 1832-1895" (2 Vols. 1919) also, "Land Records, Dinwiddie County, VA 1752-1820". Another source of gresham information is "Dictionary of American Biography" Vol. 4, 1960.

Notes

Note N400 Index

Walter Gresham, 1832-1895

*GRESHAM, WALTER QUINTIN was born March 17, 1832, near Lanesville, Harrison County, Indiana. Losing his father before the age of two, Gresham was educated in a log cabin, a religious seminary, and the state university at Bloomington, Indiana. He was admitted to the bar in 1854 and elected to the Indiana State Legislature in 1860. He broke ranks with his fellow Republican, Governor Oliver P. Morton, over the patronage system. When the Civil War broke out Gresham asked the governor for the favor of a regimental command and was turned down. Gresham recruited his own Civil War military company (approximately 100 men) and was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 38th Indiana Infantry under General Benjamin Scribner. Gresham became commander of the 53rd Indiana (1000 men) in March 1862. His unit was not in the Shiloh, Tennessee, battle but Gresham was in the presence of Ulysses S. Grant at the Cherry Mansion at Savannah, Tennessee, during the days preceding the battle. Gresham's regiment served proficiently in the capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in July 1863 and Gresham was rewarded with a brigadier general's star a month later. He led
a brigade in General William T. Sherman's Meridian (Mississippi) Campaign and during the early stages of the Atlanta Campaign he commanded a division. At the battle of Peachtree Creek, Georgia, Gresham was wounded in the knee by a sharpshooter's bullet, thus ending his military career. He returned to his law practice in New Albany, Indiana, on crutches.
Gresham subsequently ran twice for the House and once for the Senate, all unsuccessfully. He was appointed Postmaster General in 1883 by Chester Arthur and was responsible for curtailing the Louisiana Lottery. Gresham was then appointed Secretary of the Treasury, and later a U.S. Circuit Judge. He considered a run for the presidency in 1884 and 1888 as a Republican and then again in 1892 with the Populists. He died on May 28, 1895, of pneumonia while serving as Secretary of State in the Cleveland administration and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. "

Information from:
http://www.mach500.net/liggetkw/incw/hoosier/gresham.htm

       Gresham, Walter Quintin (1832-95), American public official and secretary of
       state in President Grover Cleveland's second administration. He was born
       near Lanesville, Indiana, and educated at Indiana University. He served
       briefly in the Indiana legislature and subsequently fought with the Union
       forces in the American Civil War. He was postmaster general under President
       Chester Arthur in 1883-84 and was secretary of the treasury in 1884. He
       resigned that post after a month to accept appointment to the circuit court of
       appeals. He sought the Republican presidential nomination unsuccessfully in
       1884 and 1888, after which, disagreeing with Republican tariff policies, he
       became a Democrat. In 1892 he supported the campaign of former president
       Cleveland. From 1893 until his death, Gresham served as Cleveland's
       secretary of state.

       "Gresham, Walter Quintin," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000
       http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.