Hiram Gribble

 

Hiram Gribble, one of the well-known capitalists of Sacramento, is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Pine Grove, Cumberland County, November 25, 1825, his parents being Abner and Catharine (Bumbaugh) Gribble. In Pennsylvania the father had charge of the wood-chopping for an iron-smelting establishment. When Hiram Gribble was in his sixth year the family removed to Logan County, Ohio, and located on a farm. The subject of this sketch learned the saddler’s trade at West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio, and followed it there until 1852. In that year he went to St. Louis (having determined to go to California), and there met a party of eleven from Michigan who were also bound for the new El Dorado, and joined them. Proceeding to St. Joseph, they outfitted there, and started with ox teams, one team of horses, an extra horse and three wagons. They crossed the Missouri River at a point four miles above St. Joseph, and went into camp for the night on the west side of the river, on the night of the 23d of April. One man was taken sick there. They traveled all the next day, and at night encamped at an Indian mission, and two men were taken down with sickness on the way. A doctor at the mission said that the disease was small-pox, and the whole party except Mr. Gribble and the captain were vaccinated. The next night their camp was pitched on the Nemaha Creek, and the first sick man, named Cox, sat in one corner of the tent. They remained there eight or nine days nursing him, and finally concluded to resume the journey, and leave two men to care for the sick one. This was done, and eight days later Cox died, and his two nurses came on with the remaining team. When they came up with their comrades they had nothing but their team and the running gear of the wagon, the remainder having been thrown away. Other teams passing by would not allow them to travel with them on account of their having had small pox aboard. The party made good time, and when they reached the Humboldt, passed wagons that had gone by them on the Big and Little Blue. Their route was by Sublette’s cut-off, Soda Springs, Steamboat Springs, Wadsworth and Truckee. From Reno they went to Sierra Valley (then Beckwith’s Valley), and thence to Nelson’s Creek in Plumas County. They went to mining in Little Meadow Valley, below Spanish Ranch, and remained there until the middle of September, when they proceeded to Marysville. Mr.  Gribble came to Sacramento, arriving the latter part of September. He remained there until the fire of November, 1852, and a few days later went to work at Madison’s harness and hardware store, corner of Sixth and J streets, the only place left standing by the fire. He remained there until September, 1853, when he went to San Francisco, boarded a steamer and went back to Ohio, via Panama and New York. In the spring of 1854 he went to Westport, Missouri, and remained there that summer, again returning to Ohio. In the spring of 1858 he again went to New York, and on the 6^th of March left for California on the steamer St. Louis. He crossed Panama and came on to San Francisco on the steamer John L. Stephens.  He came to Sacramento and resumed work at the old place, which was then run by Smith & Wagonblast. He eventually bought out the business, and conducted it for four years; then in partnership with William Joseph embarked in the grocery business on the corner of Twelfth and E streets.  Eleven months later they built on the corner of Front and I streets, and went into business there. The firm carried on the business there from May, 1869, to 1880, then built farther up on I street. In June, 1883, they went out of the business, having rented out both places. Mr. Joseph died in 1888. Mr. Gribble has been associated with business circles in Sacramento for many years, and though not actively engaged in trade at this time, yet has important interests here which require his attention. Many changes have occurred since he first set foot in Sacramento; in fact there is nothing here now to remind one of those times except the topography of the land and water courses, and even in this respect there have been great changes. Mr. Gribble’s mother is still living at West Liberty, Ohio, aged eight-four. His father died about 1860. Of their nine children the subject of this sketch was the second in order of age, and all are yet living but one.