Henry Calvin Gresham had limited school advantages before the war, and when that struggle was precipitated schools were practically discontinued in that section of Virginia. About the close of the war he attended a little country school taught by a woman and acknowledges that she gave him some of the best training he received from books. Too young to be a soldier he nevertheless gave his aid in proportion to his strength while the war was on, and after its close, he earned much of the money to give him a further education. In the general poverty of the country following the war he had to consider himself and act like a man in years and responsibilities. Before reaching his majority he was earning his own way and managing his own affairs. He learned something of business working in a country store in his native locality, and after a time he went to Mississippi, securing better wages in a store there. The money he saved from this he spent in going back to Virginia to study arithmetic, a subject in which he was weak. He even borrowed some money to complete this phase of his education. His wage in Virginia was but twelve dollars and a half, while in Mississippi he was paid sixty dollars a month for similar work. From 1870 to 1874 he was in business as a clerk at Crystal Springs, Mississippi. Later he engaged in business at a little country place called Matapike, where he was associated with R. B. Hart in the firm of Hart & Company. His interest was small and the business as a whole was also small. He performed the inside while Mr. Hart had the outside duties. The firm handled and shipped wood brought in from the mountains and shipped on the Mattaponi River. This phase of the business was looked after by Mr. Hart while Mr. Gresham took care of the sale of the goods and the accounts. The partnership continued for about three years and Mr. Gresham accumulated a little capital in this way.

Selling his interest to his partner he started for Texas with less than four hundred dollars. Fifty dollars of this was expended on the journey. He made the trip by way of Richmond, then to Wheeling, West Virginia, by boat from there to Cincinnati, and by train to Fort Worth, and was a passenger on the old Johnson stage to Cleburne where he arrived September 15, 1877, thus beginning a permanent residence that has continued now forty-four years. He went to Cleburne because the only man in Texas whom he knew was located there, J. S. Taylor, an old Cleburne merchant. The day after his arrival he was clerking in Mr. Taylor's store and continued in his employ for nine years. On leaving he and two other clerks of Mr. Taylor, Nix, and Baird joined in establishing a business of their own in 1885, and the firm, Nix, Baird & Gresham and later Nix & Baird, continued in business until 1899. Mr. Gresham left this firm to spend a few years recovering his health much of the time in travel through new districts in Virginia and North Carolina. With restored health he returned to Texas and resumed business as a real estate operator, opening up additions in Cleburne and putting the property in the hands of a real estate firm that sold the lots. At the same time, he was a stockholder in the Heron-Hodge estate operations until 1913 when the Home National Bank was organized with him as one of the original stockholders. He was the second president chosen to guide the affairs of the bank and was active in the management for three years, and has since been chairman of the board of directors.

As an influential and old time resident Cleburne owes Mr. Gresham its chief debt for the constructive efforts he has put forth in matters of improvement and upbuilding. He has provided the capital and enterprise for the building of many homes and has thus afforded adequate facilities for the increasing population of the county seat. His interests and means have been liberally bestowed upon urban matters of the town and have been a genuine contribution to the substantial welfare. This has been in the nature of public service, while formal politics and public office have had no attraction for him. Neither has he been a fraternity man since his interests are primarily those of the home and his own fireside. He is a member of the First Baptist Church and during World War I was a bond buyer and contributor to other patriotic causes.

SOURCE: History of Texas. Fort Worth and the Texas Northwest Edition. Edited by Capt. B.B. Paddock, Volume III. The Lewis Publishing Company. Chicago and New York. 1922