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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CHARLES BLAKE GREGER, fourth son and child of David and Catharine (Blake) Greger, was born on the family homestead near Blue Bell, Whitpain township, November 7, 1843.

He attended the public schools in the home neighborhood and at Mount Pleasant and Shady Grove, until he was fourteen years old, when his parents removed to North Wales. There the family occupied the Hurst farm, the house which now forms a part of the Main Street Hotel. At this place Charles attended the public schools for one winter. The next year the family again made a removal, this time to the Hallowell farm, on the Wentz road, and that winter Charles attended the Ellis school, on the state road, near Washington Square, having for his teacher Napoleon Holland, a capable pedagogue of the old-school type, who held to a firm belief in the necessity for and efficacy of the rod as an incentive to study. That one term was sufficient for the youthful student, and he was well pleased when his parents once more moved to a farm on the Morris road, near Franklinville. Here Charles aided his father in working the farm, and received three winters’ instructions in the district school. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age, when he engaged to labor for a person in Gwynedd township, with whom he remained until December 28, 1867, when his marriage occurred. His bride was Emma, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Heyen) Mills, her father being a farmer of Worcester township.

After his marriage Mr. Greger occupied various farms as a tenant. His home is in the meeting of the ways that divide that township from Whitpain and Gwynedd. He manages a fine farm tract of one hundred and fifty-five acres, a part of the Cox estate, devoting a large portion of his attention to the conduct of an excellent dairy of his own establishment, the product of which finds a ready sale in Philadelphia, where he also markets considerable quantities of grain and hay. Mr. Greger enjoys the confidence and esteem of his patrons and neighbors, and is recognized as one of the substantial men of his neighborhood. With his family he is a member of St. John’s Lutheran church at Center Square. In politics he is a Democrat, and has always taken an active interest in party affairs, but never as a self-seeker after even local political honors.

To Mr. and Mrs. Greger were born five children: 1. Iantha Rose, born February 26, 1869; she married John Shuttenheim, of Worcester township, and they reside in Philadelphia. 2. Estelle Delmain, born June 29, 1873; she married Robert Keppler, of Gwynedd township, and they reside in Ambler. 3. Clarence Melvin, born June 29, 1876; (see sketch elsewhere in this work); 4. Blanche Irene, born June 23, 1884; she married, January 4, 1902, George (Ludlow) Cook, and they reside in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. 5. Malvina Arlene, born July 7, 1886.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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