Gridley Community News - McLean County Illinois Genealogy & History

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Gridley Community News
McLean County, Illinois
(Surnames listed as applicable)

1876
March 22, 1876 - Gridley, Illinois - It is not often that we are reported in The Inter-Ocean. We are always doing something to show progress. The Congregational church is being reseated and otherwise improved and the foundations of several dwellings and one or two stores will be laid as soon as the mud dries up. Last year one store and a half dozen residences were leading improvements. This is a wonderful trading point. People on the north come a distance of thirteen miles to make their purchases. When the going is good it is not unusual to see 150 teams in town at one time; yet we have hardly 600 inhabitants. It is not an uncommon thing to take in 2,500 or 3,000 bushels of grain a day, brought in by teams, and once 7,200 bushels were received in two days -- most of it corn. We are on the Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw Road, seven miles east of El Paso, and are the third shipping point of grain between Peoria and the Indiana State line. One firm here shipped 22,000 dozen of eggs last year. Among the many dealers in this article is G. W. Kent, news-dealer. He has no trouble in disposing of fresh eggs and fresh Inter-Ocean. Several noted cattle-dealers live south of Gridley, and two or three in town. Among these dealers are John Gregory, James Moon, E. & J. J. Kemp, W. H. Boies and R. Breese. Some of these men are known all over the State and at the Chicago Stock Yards. They are active, enterprising, thrifty men, like the merchants of our town.
[The Daily Inter-Ocean Tuesday Morning , March 28, 1876]

1901
28 Jun 1901 - (Source: "Yesteryears in Gridley..."; Gridley Village Times, 23 Jun 2011)

A son was born to Mr and Mrs N T Duncan on June 21.
The Gridley baseball team, known as the Maroons, has been reorganized.
G W Michell is home from the medical college in Chicago, enjoying a respite from study.
Miss Maude Taplin, of Fairbury, and R B H Drum of Gridley, were married at Decatur on Friday.
According tot he school census, taken by Director J R Huston, there are 194 children of school age in this district, and 87 children under school age.
Agent Ulbright sold 16 tickets to Chicago on Saturday. He sold 17 tickets to Peoria on Sunday.

1911
Abraham L. Coyle, at Gridley, Illinois, in place of Abraham L. Coyle. Incumbent’s commission expired January 9, 1911.
[Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. Volume XLII, Sixty-first Congress, third session, from December 5, 1910, to March 3, 1911, with index. Executive Journal page 118]

1915
David Wilson to be postmaster at Gridley, Illinois, in place of Abraham L. Coyle. Incumbent’s commission expired January 19, 1915.
[Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. Volume XLVIII, Sixty-third Congress, third session, from December 7, 1914, to March 4, 1915, with index. Executive Journal page 175]

1918
17 October 1918 - There were 535 names registered here on Tuesday. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
17 October 1918 - Joseph A. Zehr died at this home north of Gridley on October 12, aged 50 years. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
17 October 1918 - Edward Kinsella has sold his cafeteria in Bloomington. He and his family will move at once to the farm owned by his father, four miles south of Gridley.
[Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]

1919
David Wilson to be postmaster at Gridley, Illinois, in place of David Wilson. Incumbent’s commission expired February 25, 1919.
[Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America volume LIV, sixty-sixth Congress, first session, from May 19, 1919, to November 19, 1919. Executive Journal page 155]

1921
30 Jun 1921 - (Source: "Yesteryears in Gridley..."; Gridley Village Times, 23 Jun 2011)

Newton Kemp, formerly of Gridley, died at his home in Peoria on Monday, aged 59 years.
A daughter was born on Thursday to Mr and Mrs George H Stieglitz, residing east of this city.
Emil Neuhauser, while working on Tuesday in teh carpenter shop of Imthurn & Neuhauser, had a part of the middle finger of his right hand cutt off by an electric planer.
Silas H and Theodore S Rich have purchased of Chris Bucher and Peter and Joseph Funk what is known as the company threshing outfit, and will thresh the run south of Gridley this year.
Many of the farmers of this vicinity finished laying by their corn on Thursday, June 23. A few completed the job as early as Tuesday of last week. Those who have not yet plowed their corn the third time will probably not be able to do so, as the maize is getting too tall. Farm vegetation now looks the best in years.

1928
18 October 1928 - Mrs. and Mrs. John F. Rinkenberger, residing south of Gridley are the parents of twin girls born on Friday. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
18 October 1928 - William Sprague of Bloomington has been awarded the contract for graveling in Gridley township. He is to receive $1.35 per cubic yard. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
18 October 1928 - L. T. Fruin, of Gridley, a sophomore at the University of Illinois, was initiated on last Thursday night into the Illinois Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, an international honorary scholastic fraternity. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]

1931
2 Jul 1931 - (Source: "Yesteryears in Gridley..."; Gridley Village Times, 23 Jun 2011)

Ten Gridley merchants have agreed to close their places of business on the Fourth of July. They will all be open, however, on Friday evening, July 3, to enable their customers to stock up for the Fourth.
Miss Adelaide McNaught, sister of the late Charles McNaught, died June 23 at the home of a niece, in Pasadena, California. Miss McNaught was born in the south part of Gridley township, the daughter of James and mary Ellen Gilmore McNaught. She was the last of her family to depart this earth.
Mr and Mrs George W Freed, residing east of Gridley, are the parents of a son, born June 26.
Jacob Salathe, formerly of Gridley, died at his home in Roanoke Sunday evening. He was born in Holdenburg, Switzerland, on March 26, 1848, the oldest son of John and Marie Salathe. He was united in marraige in January 1874 to Anna Weyenett, who preceded him in death on July 3, 1903. To this union were born six children. In 1906 he married Eliza Spahr.
Mrs Catherine Finck died at her home on South Center Street this mroning. Her maiden name was Miss Catherine Rihl. She was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, on January 18, 1860, the daughter of Christian and Catherine Kohler Rihl. She was married to George Finck in 1879 and they came to the United States in 1906, settling in the vicinity of Gridley. Her husband died in 1923. They had 10 children, 4 dying in infancy. Burial will be in the Gridley Cemetery.

1938
18 October 1938 - An oyster supper will be served by the Gridley Sportsman’s Club at the Firemen’s hall on October 25. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
18 October 1938 - Illinois Corn, thousands of bushels, is being used to make new alcohol gas, now being burned daily in motors in 35 counties, according to announcement by C. J. Mosiman, director of the Alcohol Motor Fuel Association. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
18 October 1938 - Mrs. and Mrs. Charles Stahl are the parents of a son, Larry Charles Stahl, born Wednesday. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]

1941
26 Jun 1941 - (Source: "Yesteryears in Gridley..."; Gridley Village Times, 23 Jun 2011)

Mr and Mrs Charles Finck, of Cullom, formerly of Gridley, are the parents of a son, Raymond Charles, born on Monday, June 23.
Miss Mary Florence Cleary, daughter of William J Cleary, of near Gridley, and Clarence Jones, son of Mr and Mrs H K Jones, of Morrisonville, were united in marriage on June 14 at St. Mary's Church in El Paso.
Miss Geraldine Dooley, daughter of Mrs. Hazel Dooley, of LeRoy, and Reginald E Meeker, son of Mr and Mrs E L Meeker of Pontiac, were married Sunday at the home of the bride's mother.
Miss Vera Stalter, daughter of Mr and Mrs Christian Stalter, of Gridley, and Lloyd Schertz, of Low Point, were married Sunday at the home of the bride's parents, north of Gridley.
Miss Marie Witzig, daughter of Mr and Mrs J A Witzig of Gridley and Robert Kaufman, son of Mr and Mrs Albert Kaufman, of Cissna Park, were married Sunday.
Miss Thelma Mary Slagell, daughter of Mr and Mrs Ray Slagell, of Gridley became the bride of Donald Lee Ives, of Chicago, on Saturday, at the home of the bride's parents, north of Gridley.

1948
21 October 1948 - The Community Welfare Club observed its 35th year of organization on last Wednesday evening at the opening of the year’s activities, with a banquet held in the social rooms of the Methodist Church. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
21 October 1948 - Miss Lena L. Kuster, daughter of Mrs. Mabel Kuster, of Chenoa, became the bride of Louis W. Phillis, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Carl Phillis of Gridley, October 17 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, near Chenoa. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
21 October 1948 - When Roger Helbling awakened at 8 p.m. on Wednesday to find he was in the Brokaw hospital, he wondered how he got there. Roger, a freshman at ISNU, was playing grab football at the university that afternoon, when he was struck on the mouth and knocked unconscious. He was taken to the hospital where he was given treatment and two front teeth were removed, which were embedded in the gums by the blow. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]

1951
28 Jun 1951 - (Source: "Yesteryears in Gridley..."; Gridley Village Times, 23 Jun 2011)

Paul McKey, of Gridley, and Miss Amy Mae Alexander, of Loami, were married June 17 at the Baptist Church in Loami.
Tuesday afternoon at the Congregational Church of Gridley, Miss Jane Cornwell, daughter of Mr and Mrs R A Wahls, of this city, became the bride of Dr. Harry G Kroll, son of Mr and Mrs Harry W Kroll of Rockford.
Mr and Mrs Christian Stalter of Gridley, announce the marraige of their daughter, Ruth to John C Combes, sun of the late Mrs Elizabeth Combes, of Chicago, on June 16 at the home of the officiating minister.
C R Hughes had the entire front of his plumbing shop building in Gridley rebuilt last week and painted white, and new windows installed, giving the building a nice modern appearance.
Tyrus Kaufman was graduated at the University of Illinois on June 17 with a Bachelor of Law Degree and is now back at the university for six more weeks of reviewing for his bar examination, which he will take the first of August. Tyrus is the son of Mr and Mrs E E Kaufman.
Miss Nancy Ingold, daughter of Mr and Mrs Edward Ingold, of Flanagan, became the bride of Lyle Zehr, son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Zehr of Gridley on June 24 at the Flanagan Mennonite church.

1958
16 October 1958 - Walter F. Graton, 68, died Saturday. Burial was in Gridley Cemetery. He was retired, but had been in the contracting business in Gridley for 18 years and prior to that had been manager of the Kent Lumber and Coal Company for 20 years. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
16 October 1958 - Marlene Stoller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ezra D. Stoller of Gridley and Mr. Tom Leman of Roanoke, were united in marriage Sunday at the Apostolic Christian Church in Gridley. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
11 December 1958 - The Gridley FHA’s Miss Snowflake dance is set for December 20 at the high school. Ten candidates are vying for the title of Miss Snowflake 1958. Five finalists will be chosen on a penny-per-vote basis. The winner will be selected by vote of the student body. [The Pantagraph - How Time Flies - By Jack Keefe]

1961
29 Jun 1961 - (Source: "Yesteryears in Gridley..."; Gridley Village Times, 23 Jun 2011)

Gridley's 8th Annual Horse Show will be held Sunday, July 23rd at the Gridley Athletic field. Chairman this years are L E Roegge and Harold Freed.
The Board of Education has chosen Mr William Ward of Maywood, Illinois to teach English and Speech in the high school for the coming year.
The death of Gilbert C Slagel of Flanagan was ruled accidental by a coroner's jury Monday. He was found dead with a .38 caliber bullet through his heart after he had been target shooting near Flanagan. He was found by Kenneth Simpson, lying face down over a railroad track with a powder burn on his chest.
Donated labor is needed at the new pool project. Help is needed to erect the fence, build the office, haul fill gravel and general work on the dressing rooms.

1968
17 October 1968 - A newly constructed building which will house a car wash, is Gridley’s latest business venture. The business will be owned and operated by Al Ringger of Meadows and will be in operation in the near future. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
17 October 1968 - Two law officers shared $1,000 reward for the part in the capture of the robber who held up the State Bank of Gridley and the Windsor State Bank last year. The reward was approved by the Illinois Bankers’ Assn. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]

1983
Dec. 12, 1983: Virgil Reeves now has his own caboose on his farm between Gridley and El Paso. When he heard the TP&W Railroad was selling off equipment, he bid on the caboose and got it. About 100 people came to a caboose-warming at the farm yesterday.
[The Pantagraph - How Time Flies - By Jack Keefe]

1988
20 October 1988 - David Klein and Dee Hauser were crowned the 1988 Homecoming King and Queen. Crown bearers were Ambre Marr and Tyler Hoobler. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
20 October 1988 - Gridley Grade School’s Good Guys and Gals this week were: Paul Laiming, Trisha Umland, Carmen Fields, Jaimie Hoobler, Heidi Maurer and Ken Hall. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
20 October 1988 - Gridley’s Senior class float won first place at the parade. It was titled, “Breathing Down Their Necks.” The Sophomore’s “Huff & Puff & Blow Em Away” won second place. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]

1998
22 October 1998 - A Gospel Concert presented by The Weavers from Apple Creek, Ohio, will be held at the Waldo Mennonite Church Sunday. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
22 October 1998 - Gridley Cub Scouts will hold their 3rd Annual Haunted House at the Gridley Community Building October 30 and 31. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]
22 October 1998 - Douglas Ray Raber of rural Gridley and Amy Beth Gahlbeck of Rockford were united in marriage on July 18, 1998 at Belvedere. [Yesteryears in Gridley - Gridley Village Times - 23 October 2008]

Date Unknown
Funk, Elsie Caroline Moncelle
Driver Escapes Truck Before Train Strikes - Gridley Woman Unhurt After Wreck Tuesday - GRIDLEY -- Mrs. Henry Funk, of east of Gridley, narrowly escaped injury at 3 p.m. Tuesday when athe truck she was driving was struck and badly damaged by a T P & W freight train at the main crossing in downtown Gridley. Mrs. Funk was driving south in a 1942 Chevorlet truck, loaded with four tons of cobs, as the freight approached the unprotected crossing from the west. The driver failed to see or hear the train until the truck’s front wheels were on the track. When her attempts to put the truck in reverse gear failed, Mrs. Funk jumped from the cab and ran to safety. The diesel locomotive struck the truck, which had rolled farther onto the tracks, spun it around and deposited it on the north side of the tracks heading northward. Truck’s front wheels were knocked 30 feet farther east and cobs were scattered for 200 feet along the tracks. According to a village board member, both the board and the Gridley Community Club recently requested installation of flasher signals at the crossing, scene of two train-auto collisions since the first of the year.
[date unk - The Daily Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois] (Moncelle Family Records - with photo)

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