The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-07-20

history of that small bag Of -four had but
just begun. 1t any one of that mass OF
people should have said to the other, that
this little merry making would result in
pouring into the treasury of the Sanitary
Commission the sum of 100000, or even
$4,000, he would very likely have been
securely fastened to the first tree, until he
could have been conducted to a place
where, under proper treatment, he might
be restored to right state of mind.
What would that crowd have said if they
had known that that twenty pounds of
Austin -four would be worth to the Com
mission on the Pacific coast alone $780,
900 in gold?
Gridley, with his now noted sack of
flour, travelled through California and
Nevada; the people turned out in great
masses to greet him, and to buy the sack
of flour. They formed great professions
which were Familiarity called the +" Army
of the Lord" The sack was sold at Vir-
ginia City for $4,000; at Sacramento for
| $4,000, and at Sacramento for about
$25, 000-all in gold. The procession in
San Francisco was the memorable event
of the times, Never before had Mont
gemery street presented a more impress
sive appearance. The youth, beauty and
fashion Of the city were there-and so
was Gridley, decked out in glorious ar
ray, "the observed of all observers" Who
would not have been Gridley, then
gazed at as the great man of the age !?
He drew the surplus cash from the peck
ct of a generous public, and did good SER
vice in the cause of humanity, justice
and freedom. Of the career of this dis
tinguished man on the Pacific coast the
newspapers were full at the time, He
was feted, and gazed at, and admired and
hurrahed, and printed in weekly pictori-
ais, and pulled and :joked.
The history of this small sack of -four
commenced at Austin-the grand finale
was 100000 poured into the Sanitary
Commission fund, and made the name of
Gridley immortal
DIR. Bellows, who was in California at
the time, wrote to Mr.. Gridley =" The
history of your sack of flour is undoubt-
eddy more interesting and peculiar than
that Of any sack recorded short of the
sack of Troy, and it would take another
Homer to write it. / rejoice that you
did not have to carry on your shoulders
| By the way, Nevada -four seems to rise
without yeast. Is there any connection
between Grid an affectionate title
hear used in addressing you, and griddle
cakes? and are they made of your flour
Testing apart, allow me to congratulate
you upon your splendid success in our
common cause. IF it goes no further it
will make Reese River and Nevada Ter
ritory shining parts Of the history of our
sanitary fund on the Pacific"
Reuel Colt Gridley, was born in Han
nibal, Missouri, January 23d, 1929; he
was the second child, and only son In a
family of four children. His father
Amos Gridley, was son of Reuel, grand
son of Abel, great grandson of Joseph,
great, great grandson of Samuel, great
great, great grandson of Thomas Gridley,
who came from England to America
about 1880 and settled at Hartford, Conn.
His ancestors having come to this coun-
try nearly two hundred and fifty years
ago, 1t may really be said of him, that he
was an American His ancestors for five
generations were born in Connecticut and
with the exception Of his father all died
there. Amos, his father, moved from
Missouri where he married in 1895, Sarah
Ann Thompson. He died at Hannibal,
May %, 1888, aged 80. He was a mer-
chant.
In June 1866, Reuel arrived in New
York city, and having learned of the
writer and that he was engaged in col
Letting and writing up the history of the
Gridley Family, called to see him. He
said his father having moved so far away
from all his kindred, and having also
died when he was but four years Of age,
he knew nothing about his friends or
ancestors, but was very anxious to learn
something about them he was unable
to tell the name OF his grandfather, but
remembered that his grandmother's name
was Colt and that she was a member of
the celebrated Colt family of Connect
cut A few moments search among the
records, letters and papers. at hand soon
gave him some knowledge concerning his
relations, none of whom he had ever seen
or heard of; having been furnished with
list OF them, he was greatly delighted,
and the following day left for Connect
cut, to pay them visit. There was great
rejoicing among his aunts to see the son
OF their only brother, long since deceased;
and when they also learned that he was
the hero of the celebrated sack of -four,
they rejoiced with exceeding great JOY,
for they loved their country and the brave
men who defended it. After short visit
to his friend, he visited several of the
larger cities of the East, in all of which
he was highly compimented by the press,
then he returned to California
He was married September 10th, 1850,
| to Miss Susan SNYDER, in Louisiana. and