Butte County
Biographies
CLARENCE D. GRIDLEY
CLARENCE D. GRIDLEY.--Perhaps there is no resident of Butte County more familiar with its resources than Clarence D. Gridley, who, having spent the greater part of his life within its boundaries, is well qualified to judge concerning its progress, prospects and advantages. He was the sixth child in the family of George W. and Helen (Orcutt) Gridley, and was born on the home ranch five miles west of Gridley, April 23, 1867. His education was obtained in the country schools and he was reared on the ranch and early became used to the routine of ranch life. He was but fourteen years old when his father died, but he was able to do a man’s work and therefore assisted very materially to keep the ranch in operation and to help in its development. The place now comprises some nine hundred sixty acres which yield abundant harvests. In earlier days on the ranch there was considerable stock raised; Mr. Gridley also bought and sold stock to advantage. In recent years Mr. Gridley has turned the operation of these valuable acres over to his son, Samuel M., and his son-in-law, J. E. Schermer, and they are in every way as successful as Mr. Gridley has been. To aid in operations every modern machine and implement is used, including a Holt seventy-five horsepower caterpillar engine and a Holt Combined Harvester. In 1917 their crop amounted to fifteen thousand sacks of wheat and barley, the former running twelve sacks to the acre and the latter twenty sacks. The crop for 1918 was equally as good.
In
Gridley, occurred the marriage of Clarence D. Gridley
with Margaret Waeltz, a native of Illinois, and they have two children: Samuel
M. and Helen D., now the wife of John E. Schermer. Mr. Gridley is a member of
Buena Vista Lodge, No. 268, I. O. O. F., in Gridley. He is a very
public-spirited man and what success he has made is due to his own efforts and
perseverance. To advance the cause of education he served as a trustee of West
Liberty district for many years. He is a supporter of all movements for the
upbuilding of Butte County and the State of California, and he is highly
respected wherever he is known.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 1/11/08.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Page 617, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Vicky
Walker.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies