Reuel Colt Gridley

BIRTH-CHURCH-MILITARY-MARRIAGE-DEATH: EMINENT DESCENDANTS OF THE EMIGRANT THOMAS GRIDLEY of WINDSOR & HARTFORD, CT, Mauscripts of Thomas BOSLOOPER, PhD, CGS #12644, sent to Hubert GRIDLEY 24 Dec. 1992. In section on Reuel Colt GRIDLEY, Page 2-11. "Reuel Colt GRIDLEY, the grandson of Reuel & Millicant (COLT) GRIDLEY, was born in Hannibal, MO, on Jan. 23, 1829, the only son of Amos & Sally Ann (Sarah) Thornhill (THOMPSON) GRIDLEY." "As a child Reuel Colt GRIDLEY's family lived just two doors from Samuel CLEMENS ("Mark Twain") who came to Hannibal in 1839." "At age 17 Reuel Colt Became a Christian by confessions of faith and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in Hannibal." " At age 18 Reuel Colt enlisted in the Army and served in the Mexican War in 1847-48. He was stationed in Taos, NM." "Reuel Colt married Susan (Susannah) SNYDER on 9/19/1850 in Louisiana, MO. He was working, 15 miles away, in Bowling Green, MO. Susan was born 4/9/ 1831. The ceremony was performed by Minister of the Gospel, W. F. COWLES." "In 1852 Reuel Colt went to California via the Panama Overland Short-Cut. In 1854 his family joined him. His young family consisted of wife and children: Amos Brice, Clara E., Josephine, and Mary." "In CA he tried his hand at Journalism, Banking, & the Mail Express. In 1860-62 Gridley's express route operated from Oroville to Honey Lake Valley, CA. At Oroville it connected with Wells Fargo & Co.." "With the discovery of silver in Nevada Gridley left CA and settled in Austin, Leander Co., NV, where he became senior partner in the firm of GRIDLEY, HOBART, & JACOBS, the towns general store." "In 1868 Gridley moved to Paradise, Stanislaus Co., CA, where he operated a general store and was postmaster until his death in 1870. At his request he was buried in Stockton & was laid to rest in the gravesite of a friend" "Gridley was buried in a section of the Stockton, CA, Rural Cem. set aside for veterans of the Mexican War. In 1882 GAR Post 23 moved his remains and those of an infant daughter, who died July 28, 1868, to the present location in front of the [Reuel Colt GRIDLEY] monument." "Members of the Rawlins Post did managed to get special permission to have Susan (SNYDER) GRIDLEY laid to rest beside her husband on April 3, 1912." "Since the day of the dedication of the Gridley monument, each Decoration (or Memorial) day a Patriotic Service is held at the base of the statue." "Annually in June is the time when a festival is held, in Reuel Colt GRIDLEY's honor, in Austin NV."

HONORS: REUEL COLT GRIDLEY (1829 - 1870), manuscript, draft, copy from Dr. Thomas BOSLOOPER with letter of 21 July 1994 to Hubert GRIDLEY: "The (flour) sack was given to the Nevada Historical Society on Oct. 13, 1914, the 50th anniversary of Nevada's admission to statehood. Gridley's daughter, Mrs. Josephine WOOD of Modesto, California, made the presentation. The sack, ribbons and all, remain at the Nevada Historical Society Museum in Reno, Nevada."

BIRTH-MARRIAGE-OCCUPATION: Col.Wm.Seward GRIDLEY manuscripts. "b Jan. 23, 1829, Hannibal, MO,; m Sept. 19, 1850 to Miss Susan SNYDER; d Nov. 24, 1870." Account his efforts to raise money for Civil War. Concerns wager to carry sack of flour. JACKSON CITIZEN (MI) Newspaper article 7/1/1871 Occupation - Newspaper Enterprise in CA. Merchant and Banker. Father died when he was 4. He was 2nd child, only son, family of 4 children. Moved to Austin, NV, 1860-1866. Member firm GRIDLEY, HOBART & JACOBS. Member Meth. Episc. Chh. Hannibal, MO at 17 yrs In 1852 emigrated to CA and brought fam. in 1854. Returned to Stockton, CA, 1866. Moved to Paradise City, CA, 1868. Merchant."

ORGANIZATIONS: REUEL COLT GRIDLEY (1829 - 1870), manuscript, draft, copy from Dr. Thomas BOSLOOPER with letter of 21 July 1994 to Hubert GRIDLEY: "Reuel Colt GRIDLEY was a Knights Templar Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a devout Methodist."

SIBLINGS: REUEL COLT GRIDLEY (1829 - 1870), manuscript, draft, copy from Dr. Thomas BOSLOOPER with letter of 21 July 1994 to Hubert GRIDLEY: "Reuel had three sisters, one of whom -- Clarissa -- was the second white child born in northwest Missouri."

CHILD: Letter of 24 Jan. 1994 from Dr. Thomas BOSLOOPER of Palm Harbor, FL: "Reuel Colt GRIDLEY's daughter, Josephine, who was born in Nevada in Sept. of 1864, married William H. WOOD. Date of marriage I have not determined. William H. WOOD was born in California in December of 1860."

Died - City listed as Paradise City, could only find Paradise, Butte, CA

WILL-CHILDREN: REUEL COLT GRIDLEY (1829 - 1870), manuscript, draft, copy from Dr. Thomas BOSLOOPER with letter of 21 July 1994 to Hubert GRIDLEY: "Reuel Colt GRIDLEY's will was probated on Jan. 21, 1871, with his estate left to Susan GRIDLEY, Amos Brice GRIDLEY, Clara E. GRIDLEY, Mary GRIDLEY and Josephine GRIDLEY."

http://www.gordongridley.us/genealogy/gridleylo/pafn886.htm

History of Stanislaus County, California...page 207 gives a history of his life. (https://books.google.com/books?id=jms9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA201-IA16&lpg=PA...)