Shirley D. Gregson, president of the Gregson Furniture Company of St. Louis, was born at Ava, Illinois, January 9, 1878. His father, James M. Gregson, was also born in Illinois and in 1888 removed to St. Louis where his remaining days were passed, his attention being devoted to various lines of business. His death occurred October 28, 1917. The mother bore the maiden name of Lou Barker and was twice married, being Mrs. Lou Brickey, a widow, at the time that she became the wife of James M. Gregson. She was born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, and married Mr. Gregson at Red Bud, Randolph county, Illinois, in 1874. She is living at the age of seventy-three years. By her former marriage she had a son, H. L. Brickey, and by her second marriage her only child is Shirley D. Gregson of this review.
Under the parental roof Shirley D. Gregson remained through the period of his boyhood during which time he was acquiring a public school education. In 1895 he started in the business world by handling household fixtures, etc., as a member of the firm of Gregson & Company and in 1913 this business was incorporated under the name of the Gregson Furniture Company, with S. D. Gregson as the president, Monroe Price vice president and J. A. Roof as secretary. The company today handles a large line of furniture and the business has become one of very substantial and gratifying proportions.
In St. Louis, in 1900, Mr. Gregson was married to Miss Jessie Fellows and they became the parents of two children, Don S. and Alice G. On the 11th of June, 1914, Mr. Gregson wedded Miss Bessie Liggett, a daughter of J. A. Liggett, and the family residence is at No. 5359 North Kings Highway. When leisure permits Mr. Gregson turns to baseball, to motoring and to reading for recreation and diversion. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and also of the St. Louis Credit Men’s Association, the Retail Furniture Dealers’ Association of St. Louis and the National Retail Furniture Dealers’ Association. In politics he is independent, voting according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. During the World war period he served as captain of a division of the North St. Louis district for the Liberty loan drives. His citizenship has always been characterized by loyalty and by progressiveness and the same spirit of advancement has manifested itself throughout his entire business career, so that step by step he has advanced until he is now at the head of a profitable and growing commercial enterprise of St. Louis.