TheLifeandTimesofJeremiahGrady
ByJamesWood
Published2016
AllrightsreservedunderCopyrightlaw.
PREFACE
Oneday,amannamedJerryFaytookmeintohisbarnandwithasmile
pickedupalargepaintingoftheGradyfarm.Hesaiditwasdonebya
well-knownartist,andthatasecondpaintinghunginamuseum
somewhereinManchester.ButtothisdayIcannotlocateit.Thefarm
wasbuiltbyhisgrandfather,JeremiahGrady,inthemid-1800s.It
appearstohavebeengiventoorboughtbyJerryFaysometimeafterhe
finishedhighschool.
Thelargepaintingofthefarmwasdestroyedinafire,alongwithallthe
personalpropertybelongingtotheGradys,aswellasJerry'ssports
memorabilia.Thisincludedhispigskinhelmet,shoulderpads,shoes,
newspaperarticlesabouthim,letters,andsomuchmore.Jerryhadplay
playedprofessionalbaseballandprofessionalfootball,shortlyafterthe
warhadended.Butbecauseofthisfire,allofhissportsphotosaregone.
Whatashamethatsomeonewouldsetafiretosuchahistoricplace.
Still,Iwillalwayshavethosememoriesofanoldfriendandofthetime
wehadspenttogether.
ItwasmyfriendshipwithJerryFaythatencouragedmetowritethis
short,yetpowerfulstory.Atfirst,IhadnoideawhoJerryFay’s
grandfatherwas.AsIbeganmyresearch,Ifoundmyselfdrawnbackin
timetoamorepracticalwayofliving.Workwasallthesepeopleknew.
Throughtheirhardworktheyhadachievedtheultimateprize,the
Americandream.Thisdream,however,wasneverfree;ithadtobe
earned.Whenitwas,amancouldleavethisworld,knowinghehad
donehisbest,andhadleftsomethingworthitsweightingold--agood
reputationandafamilyhistoryworthnoting.
AnotherreasonIwantedtowritethisstorywasbecausenooneelsehas
toldit.Themenandwomenofthecurrentgenerationcouldlearna
thingortwofrommenlikeJeremiah“Jerry”Grady.Theimmigrantswho
helpedshapetheStateofConnecticutallhadastorytotell.TheGrady
storyisjustoneofthem.Wehaveallcomefromimmigrantswho
wantednothingmorethantoprovidefortheirfamiliesandtopractice
theirfaithopenly.Theimmigrantfamilieswereescapingpersecutionor
theIrishfamine,buttheirgoalswereallthesame.Americawasthatone
placewheredreamscouldcometrue.
2
TheGradystoryisnowanAmericanstory,onethatwillforeverbe
rememberedbythosewhoreadthisbook.
JimWood
Author’sBiography
JamesH.Wood
IwasborninHartfordConnecticutonacoldJanuarydayin1960.Myparentshad
movedtoHartfordfromOldTown,Mainein1956.Eventuallytheywouldhavefour
children,includingmyself.IwastaughtbytheConnecticuteducationalsystembut
haddroppedoutmyfirstyearofhighschool.IwasgoingtoRockvilleHighSchoolat
thattime.MyfamilymovedtoMainein1977.
EventuallyIstudiedforandreceivedmyG.E.D.Thenin1992,IearnedanAssociates
DegreeinBiblicalStudiesfromtheHarvestChristianSeminaryandCollegein
Florida.SincethenIhavebecomeaGenealogistandawriter.InowliveinMaine
withmywifeandtwoboys.
3
AcknowledgmentandDedication
ThisnationwassettledbyimmigrantpioneerslikeJeremiahGrady.He
wasamanofperseverance,humility,andintegrity.Buthewasnotalone
inthisendeavor;hewasjustoneoutofthousandswholeftIrelandto
pursuetheAmericandream.Thisbookisdedicatedtothoseemigrants.
OurgreatcountryhasbeenasafehavenforemigrantseversinceGod
ledthePilgrimstoitsshores.Earlyinitshistory,thisnationhadbecome
alightuponahillforalltosee.
Althoughtheyhadlittle,peoplecominghereleftbehindaheritagethat
cannotbemeasuredbyworth.Theirtoilshavebroughtustothisplace
ontheworldstage,aplaceofglobalrecognitionandrespect.TheGrady
familytookholdoftheAmericandreamandneverlookedback.
ThelifeandtimesofJeremiahGradyisabookthatcapturestheupsand
thedownsofIrishimmigration.Historicalinformationhasbeenadded
tohelpthereaderunderstandthetimesinwhichthisfamilylived.Itcan
alsobeusedbygenealogiststofurthertheirresearchregardingthe
Gradyfamily.
AspecialthankyoutoGenealogistNoreenPalladinoCullenwhohas
helpedmeputthisinterestingstorytogether.Shehasbeenablessingin
thisendeavorandapleasuretoworkwith.NoreenPalladinoCullenhas
contributedhertimeasaGenealogist,makingthisprojectpossible.She
hasassistedthisauthorwithtime-consumingresearch,uncovering
informationandvitalrecordsimportanttothiswork.Shehasalso
workedasEditorforthisproject.
ThankyoualsotoTriciaLeeMileska,whogenerouslysharedher
family’sphotographsandknowledgeoftheLeefamily.
4
Contents
ChapterOne:Background–Page6
ChapterTwo:JeremiahGrady–Page9
ChapterThree:TheGradyHomesteadinVernon–Page18
ChapterFour:TheFightingIrish–Page40
ChapterFive:HomesteadinginNebraska–Page57
ChapterSix:ChildrenofJeremiahandHonoraGrady–Page63
ChapterSeven:LineageofHannah(Honora)GradyLeeand
FrancisPatrickLee–Page91
ChapterEight:TheRedFarmhouse–Page102
ChapterNine:JerryFay’sBaseballYearsandSportsCareer–
Page111
ChapterTen:GradyFamilyTimeline–Page123
5
ChapterOne:Background
TheUnitedStateswasfoundedonChristianvalues.Ithadbecomeasafe
havenforthoseseekingreligiousfreedom.Manyofourcountry’s
founderswereEnglishemigrantswhocameheretoescapepersecution.
Americaseemedtobechosenforthem,aplacewheredreamscouldbe
realized.Soonotheremigrants,alsoseekingreligiousfreedom,arrived
fromvariouspartsoftheworld.Inthoseearlydays,theBritishwerein
controloftheColonieshere,butin1776thatwouldchange.The
AmericanRevolutionsetthisnationfreefromEngland'sgrasp,and
alloweditspeopletoserveGodwithoutpersecutionorfearof
retaliationfromtheirformerking.Americahadbecomealighthousein
themidstofadark,corruptworld.Ournation’sfirstdocument,the
MayflowerCompact,clearlyrevealsthenewlyfreedAmericans’faith
andtheirplansforthiscountry.Theirverybeingcenteredontheword
ofGodandHispromisetoblessthosenationswhoservedHim.Asa
result,wehavebeenblessed,perhapsmoresothananyothernation,
withtheexceptionofIsrael.CatholicismarrivedintheColonialera,but
mostoftheSpanishandFrenchinfluenceshadfadedby1800.The
CatholicChurchgrewthroughimmigration,especiallyfromEurope,
GermanyandIrelandatfirst,andin1890-1914fromItaly,Polandand
EasternEurope.TheGradysweremembersoftheCatholicChurch,as
manyoftheIrishwere.TheIrishhadexperiencedperiodsofreligious
tensions,greedylandlords,andfamineintheirhomecountry.
InIrelandduringthe1800's,thepoorofthatcountrywerehitthe
hardestwhenthepotatofaminedestroyedtheircrops.Butthatwasjust
thebeginningoftheirtroubles.Manylandlordsweremistreatingtheir
tenants,slowlyforcingthousandstoseekabetterlifeelsewhere.The
Gradys,alongwithotherIrishemigrants,lefttheirhomelandbecauseof
thesituationthere,somelandingattheportinBoston’sHarbor,others
inCanada.ThedifferencebetweenIrelandandMassachusettshadto
intimidatetheemigrantsastheysteppedofftheshipandsawthebig
cityforthefirsttime.Insomecases,theywouldstayinsmalldirty
rooms,orinwhatevertheycouldfindthatwasavailableatthattime.
Seekingemploymentwouldbenextontheirlist,which,asonecan
imagine,washardinitself,asmoreemigrantsfollowedbehindthem
andbegancompetingforthesamejobs.WhetherornottheGradyshad
6
moneybackinIrelandorwhentheyarrivedinNewEnglandisstill
unknown.
JeremiahGradywasahard-workingfarmerwhoobviouslytook
whateverworkhecouldfind.Buthemayhavelandedajobcutting
stoneforthequarries,asothersdid.Intimehewouldfindworkasa
mason,perhapswhileheandhiswifeHonorawerestillinBoston.They
wouldeventuallyfindthemselvesinKeene,NewHampshire,where
Jeremiahworkedfortherailroad.Althoughwedonotknowagreatdeal
aboutthisfamily,wecansafelysaytheyweresteadfastintheir
endeavors,nevergivingup.AsIrishCatholics,theywerenotalways
welcomedandmayhaveexperiencedvariousformsofdiscrimination.
ThatwasacommonrealityformanyIrishemigrantsthen.Because
Jeremiahwasalarge,muscularman,theyprobablywerenotashardon
him,ifheenduredsuchtreatmentatall,which,atthispointisuncertain.
Allthatistrulyknownabouthimishisworkethic.Jeremiahhelped
buildthetunnelinVernon,Connecticutandlefthisnameinscribed
insideonthetunnelwall.Wherehelivedwhileworkingonthattunnel
isunknown.HeeitherlivedinNewHampshireorperhapsheknew
someoneinRockvilleorVernon,andstayedthereuntilhecouldbuya
pieceoflandandbuildahomeforhimselfintown.
ConnecticutwasafarmingcommunitywhentheGradyfamilycameto
worktheirland.LakeStreet,wheretheGradyfamilylived,isstilloneof
theprettiestplacesinallofTollandCountyinthefallseason.There
wouldhavebeenplacestohuntandfishandswimonhotsummerdays.
Thesoilwasjustrightforgrowing.ThewintersinNewEnglandwould
havebeenprettycoldatnight,especiallyifahomewasnotinsulated,
andmosthomesbackthenwerenot.
TheGradysmanaged,andprobablymadeadjustmentsasneedsarose.
Owningafarmcouldbecostly;animalswouldhavetobeboughtor
barteredfor.Fieldsneededtobeplowed,andlaterharvested.Afarmer’s
lifewastiringandlastedmostoftheday.WhileinVernon,Jeremiah
probablyknewmostofthepeopleonLakeStreetandinsurrounding
towns.Theywerefarmersaswellandhadtorunintoeachotherfrom
timetotime.HeseemstohaveworkedforhisneighborstheBucklands
intheirquarryoutinManchester.Hemayhaveboughthislandfrom
them,butthishasnotbeenproven.HeprobablyhelpedWellsRisley
7
buildhisdam,locatedrightbeforetheBoltontownline.Butagain,this
isjustspeculation.Wedoknowhowever,thatMr.Gradytraveledona
regularbasistoBoltontovisitfriendsaswellastodosomebusiness.
MostoftheinformationregardingtheGradyfarmcamefromJerryFay,
bornLeoJeremiahFay,thegrandsonofJeremiahandHonoraGrady.Mr.
Fay’smotherwasAbbigailGrady(daughterof(JeremiahandHonora
Grady).JerryFaylivedwithhisfamilyinManchester,butjustbefore
beingdraftedintoWorldWarI,JerryownedandoperatedtheGrady
farm.Whenthemilitaryaskedhimwhathedidforaliving,heanswered
thatheworkedasaclerkforafewyears,thenbeganworkingonafarm
beforeenlisting.TheGradyfarmismostlikelywhathewasreferringto.
LeoJeremiahFaywenttocollegeandbecameanallStarathlete.He
wouldeventuallygointoaprofessionalbaseballleagueandis
mentionedintheManchesterSportsHallofFame.
8
ChapterTwo:JeremiahGrady
AmanwhoescapedIreland'spotatofaminetopursuetheAmericadream
JeremiahGradywasborninCountyKerry,IrelandonJanuary9,1815.
HewasthesonofJohnGradyandBridgetSullivan.Theywerefarmers,
aswasmostofthepopulationatthattime.ThesurnameGradyhasbeen
recordedinvariousdocumentsasO'Grady,Gready,O'Gready,Graddy,
andBrady.Infact,JeremiahusedthesurnameGreadywhensigningup
fortheArmyduringtheCivilWar.Hemetandfellinlovewithayoung
ladybythenameofHonoraMyers(Myer,orMaher).ShewasbornMay
6,1825,inCountyKillarney,Ireland,thedaughterofEdwardand
HonoraMyers.HermarriagetoJeremiahtookplaceinBarleymont,
CountyKerry,Ireland,inJune1844.Theyprobablymovedinwithhis
parentsaftertheirwedding,acommonpracticethen.WhileinIreland,
theyrealizedtheircountrywasnolongeraplacetoraiseafamily.
Perhapsitwastimetosettlesomewhereelse.
HonoraGrady
OnenoteonHonora’ssurname,Myers:thisisclearlyacorruptionofthe
IrishnameMaherorMahr.Itisrecordedas“Myers”or“Myer”in
documentsinConnecticut.However,HonoralistsIrelandashercountry
ofbirth.NorecordingoftheGermanname“Myer”appearsinanyofthe
9
Irishrecordsinthe1800sintheRootsIrelanddata,anotableresource
forthattimeperiod.
From1845toabout1851,thepotatofamineinIrelandtookthelivesof
overamillionmen,women,andchildren.Itwastrulyadarktimein
Ireland'shistory.Atleasttwomillionfledthecountryduringthese
years.Eventually,Jeremiahandhisnewbridewouldleavethelandof
theirbirth.Itwasnotwhattheywanted,buttheyhadnochoice.
Inthe1800s,Irelandhadabouteightmillionpeoplewhoaccordingto
historianswereamongthepoorestintheWesternWorld.Theywere
farmerswithfamiliestocarefor.Farmingwasallthesepeopleknew.
Mostofthemwerelackingintheareaofeducation.Infact,accordingto
studies,onlyaquarterofthepopulationcouldreadandwrite.
MostIrishmenduringthattimediedbyageforty.Theymarriedwhile
veryyoung,ageseventeenoreighteen.Theirbridesweregirlsasyoung
assixteen.Theseyoungcouplestendedtohavelargefamilies,although
infantmortalitywasalsoquitehigh.Largefamiliesweremuchneeded
fortworeasons.Themorekidsyouhad,themoremanpoweryouhadto
workyourfarm.Thenwhenyoureachedoldage,yourchildrenwere
expectedtocareforyou.Justimaginehowitmusthavebeenfor
JeremiahandHonora.Theywereinlove,andwantedalargefamilyand
afarmoftheirown.ButbecauseofthesituationinIreland,theywould
havetoconsiderleaving.
MostoftheIrishknewatleastonepersonwhohadleftIreland,andwho
waslivingintheUnitedStates.Aswordreturnedhome,friendsand
familywouldgatheraroundtohearthenews.Itwasperhapstheonly
communicationtheyhadwiththerestoftheworld.Theylovedtheir
countryandwishedtheycouldstayandraisetheirfamiliesintheland
oftheirforefathers,buttheyknewfarmingwasahopelesswaytofeeda
familyuntilacureforthepotatoblightwasfound.Itispossiblethat
JerryhadrelativeswhohadalreadyleftforAmerica.Ifthatwasthecase,
theymighthavehelpedJeremiahandHonoraoncetheyarrived,butthis
hasnotbeenprovenatthispoint.
In1835,halfoftheruralfamiliesinIrelandwerelivinginsingle-room,
mudshantieswithoutwindowstoprovidelightandwarmth,or
10
chimneystoallowsmoketoescape.Theylivedinsmallcommunities,
knowntotheIrishasclachans,spreadoutacrossthecountryside.They
oftenhousedtwelvepeopleinsideasinglemudshack.Oftentimesthe
poorwouldsleepontopofsomehayforwarmthandcomfort,rather
thanonthecoldbareground.
TheruralIrishwouldalsosharetheirhomeswiththeirpigsand
chickens.Potatoesweretheirmainfoodsource,giventhattheEnglish
weretakingtherestoftheirproduce.Accordingtoexperts,themost
fertilefarmlandwasfoundinthenorthandeastofIreland.Thesouth
andwesthowever,werecomprisedmostlyoflarge,wetareaswith
rockysoil.
PotatoesarenotnativetoIrelandbutoriginatedintheAndesMountains
ofPeru.Intheearly1500s,theSpanishfirstlearnedofthepotatofrom
theIncas,whotaughtthemhowtogrowthevegetable.TheSpanish
calledthisvegetable“patata.”
ThepotatowasfirstintroducedtoIrelandaround1590.Farmersfound
thatthepotatothrivedinsoilthatwascoolandmoist.Whatmadethe
potatoafavoriteinIreland,wasthatthecroprequiredverylittlelandor
labor,whichmeantasinglefamilycouldgrowalargeamountonasmall
pieceofland.Anacreoffertilizedpotatofieldcouldyieldupto12tons
ofpotatoes.Thisamountwouldeasilyfeedanyfamilyofsixforatleasta
year.Theirleftoverswereneverwasted,butwouldbefedtothefamily's
animals.
Bythe1800s,thepotatohadbecomeastaplecropinthepoorest
regionsofIreland.Theykeptwellduringthecoldermonths,which
helpedthemsurvivethewinterseason.
JeremiahandHonorawerenotstrangerstofarming.Theyunderstood
theimportanceofahealthycropandtheconsequencesiftheircrop
failed.
DuringthistimeinIrishhistory,morethanthreemillionIrishpeasants
survivedsolelyonthepotato.Andasaresult,theywerefoundtobe
fairlyhealthy.Thepotatoisrichinprotein,carbohydrates,minerals,and
vitaminsincludingriboflavin,niacinandVitaminC.Thepeopleof
11
Irelandwerelivingproofthatanyonecouldsurviveonadietofpotatoes
alone.
Besidespotatoes,theIrishwouldsometimesdrinkalittlebuttermilk
withtheirmeal.Theyalsousedsalt,cabbage,andfishasseasoning
whenavailable.Althoughtheirdietcenteredonthepotato,Irish
peasantswerehealthierthanpeasantsinEnglandorEuropewhere
breadwasthestaplefood.Eventually,theEnglishtookthepotatoto
Europe,alongwiththeothervegetablestheIrishhadbeengrowingand
harvesting.
Withthisinmind,weshouldhavenoproblemunderstandingthe
destructivepowerthepotatofaminehadandhowitaffectedthepeople
ofIreland.Theywereapeopleofdeterminationandofstrongwill.Many
sharedafaithinGodandtrustedHimtoseethemthroughthistimeof
trouble.
AnotherreasonsomanyleftIreland,includingtheGradyfamily,was
becauseofanEnglishandAnglo-Irishhereditaryrulingclassthatowned
mostofthecountryside.Manyofthemlivedelsewhereandonly
stoppedbyonceortwiceayear,ifatall.Mostoftheselandlordswere
membersoftheChurchofEngland,holdingtitlestoverylargepiecesof
land,muchofwhichhadbeenconfiscatedfromthenativeIrishbythe
British.Theselandlordswouldusuallyhirelocalagentstomanagetheir
estateswhiletheylivedcarefreelivesofftherentspaidbytheIrishfor
landonceownedbytheirancestors.WhetherornottheGradysowned
orleasedlandcannotbeproven,butmostlikelytheywerefarming
leasedland.
TheaveragetenantfarmerinIrelandlivedonlessthantenacresofland.
Theywereoftenreferredtoastenants-at-will,whocouldbeevictedon
shortnoticebythelandlord,hisagent,ormiddleman.Bylaw,any
improvementsthetenantsmadeonthatproperty,suchasbuildinga
stonehouseorshed,becamethepropertyofthelandlord.Becauseof
this,therewasneveranyincentivetoaddtotheirhomes,ortobuildany
additionalstructuresonapieceofleasedland.
Thetenantfarmersoftenallowedlandlesslaborers,knownascottiers,
toliveontheirfarms.Thecottiersperformeddailychoresandhelped
12
bringintheannualharvestasawaytopayfortheirboarding.Inreturn,
theboarderswereallowedtobuildsmallcabinsandtokeeptheirown
potatogardenstofeedtheirfamilies.Othersrentedsmall,fertilized
plotsfromfarmers,withaportionoftheirharvestbeingusedasa
paymentforrent.PoorIrishlaborers,morethananyone,becametotally
dependentonthepotatofortheirveryexistence.Theyalsolivedina
stateofinsecuritywiththepossibilityofbeingthrownofftheirplotsby
theEnglishortheiragents.
Betweentheyears1815-1845,onemillionlefttheirhomelandtoseeka
betterlife.IrelandwasstillapartofBritain,sotraveltoorfromthe
mainlandwasnotaproblem.Expertssaythat80%ofthoseimmigrants
wholeftduringthisperiodwerebetweentheagesofeighteenandthirty
yearsold.TherewerenodeepwaterportsinIreland.Corkwould
becomethelastportofcallinEurope,placingshipsintocalmerwaters
andsendingthemontheirwayfromPlymouth,Englandandother
EnglishportstotheNewWorld.
Irishemigrationcouldbesplitbetweentwogroupsofpeople.Manyof
theearliestemigrantswerePresbyterianScots-Irish,largelyfromUlster
inthenorth.Theywereoftenfarmersortradesmenwhowereseekinga
betterfuture,oftenwiththemoneyneededtoestablishthemselvesin
theNewWorld.Incontrast,theIrishCatholicpopulationinthemore
southerncountiesdidnotleaveinlargenumbersuntilthePotato
FaminestruckIrelandinthe1840s.
Thoughtherehadbeenotherregionalfamines,nonewereasdamaging
astheblightthathitthe1845potatocrop.Thatfaminewouldstarta
massive,continuousstreamofemigration.Perhapsthisiswhythe
Gradysleftin1844.Whatotherchoicedidtheyhave?Buteventhen,no
oneleftjoyfully.Theyknewtheywouldneverseetheirfamiliesagain.
Gatheringswouldtakeplaceinwhichfamilieswouldcometogetherto
showtheirloveandaffectionforoneanotherbeforefamilymembers
emigrated.Inhisbook,EmigrantsandExiles,KerbyMillerexplainsthe
historyofthiseventandevendescribestheemotionsexpressedby
thoseinvolved.Themajorityofemigrantswholeftwerenotleavingjust
becausetheywerelookingforabetterlifeforthemselvesandtheir
13
families,butbecausetheydidnotseeawaytobuildthatsamelifein
Ireland.
TheIrishwerediscriminatedagainstintheirowncountrybecauseof
theirnativeheritageandreligion,andasaresultwererestrictedinthe
areasofeducationandeconomicsuccess.Forthesereasonstheyleft
Ireland.Theemigrantsandtheirdescendantsheldontomemoriesof
whatwasgoodabouttheirheritageandlivesinIreland.Those
memoriesliveontoday,eveninthesoulsofthosewhoneverhadthe
opportunitytovisittheirancestralhomeland.
EvenafterIrelandwasindependentfromGreatBritain,theIrish
economywasn'tstrongandmanyyoungIrishmenandwomenleftin
searchofabetterlife.Tomanyemigrants,theUnitedStateswasthe
landofopportunityandreligiousfreedom.Forothers,Canadawould
becometheirhome,atleastforawhile.
WhenpeopleleftIreland,theycarriedwiththemwhatevertheycould,
whichinsomecaseswassimplytheclothesontheirbacks.
InJuneof1844,JeremiahandHonoraGradyembarkedforAmerica.The
decisiontoleaveIrelandwasonlythebeginningofalonganddifficult
journey.OnceaboardtheshipthatwouldbringthemtoAmerica,the
passengerswouldoftenendureconditionsthatwerecloseto
intolerable.Thetriptookaboutsixweeks.
Theshipsusuallyhadsteeragecompartmentsaboutfivefeethigh,
whichprovidedjustenoughroomfortwotiersofbeds.Itwasfarfrom
thecruiseshipswehavetoday.Asmanyas700-900men,women,and
childrenwereplacetogetherintightquarters,withbarelyenoughroom
forthemselvesorwhateverbelongingstheyhad.Iftheydidbringother
items,theywereusuallyrolledupandkeptnexttothem.Narrowcots
wereoftenprovidedwhenavailable,butthesewerehardlywideenough
toallowapersontoturnoverfromonesidetotheother.Bedsand
beddingwerenotairedoutorwasheduntilthedaybeforearrivaland
theinspectionbygovernmentofficials.
Ship’spassengersdidnothavetheuseofcandlesorlanternstohelp
themsee.Theonlyairandlightavailablewasthroughahatchway,
14
whichwaskeptclosedduringoccasionalstormsorroughwaters.As
onecanimaginewithsomanypeoplecrammedintogether,theair
becameincreasinglyfilthy,withfoulodorssurroundingthemasthe
journeyprogressed.Uneasinessanddistresswouldoftengetthebestof
some,aswouldseasickness.
Foodwasofteninsufficientandunder-cookedonvoyages.Grain,
hardenedandservedasalump,wascommonplaceontheseships.Clean
drinkingwaterwasnotalwaysavailable.Sinceonecannotdrinksea
water,passengerswoulddrinkwhateverwasgiventothem.Toilets
wereusuallybuckets,whichhadtobedumpedoverboard.Thestench
hadtobeunbearableattimes.
Emigrantsmusthaveeagerlysearchedforanysignsofland.Whenland
wasfinallyinsight,theirheartsmusthavebeenfilledwithjoy.The
sheerrelieffromthestresstheyhadbeenfeelingovertheprevious
monthandahalfhadtohavebeenintense.
OncetheyarrivedintheUnitedStates,themajorityofIrishimmigrants
remainedintheportcitieswheretheylanded.Oftentheyweresickand
weakfromthelackoffoodandtherigorsofthelong,oceanjourney.
Mostimmigrantshadverylittlemoneyifany,andbecauseofthishadno
choicebuttofindshelteraroundtheseaports.Othersmistrusted
farmingsincethelandhadcausedsomanyproblemsinIrelandand
chosenottoliveinthelesspopulatedfarmareas.
Asonecanimagine,manyimmigrantswerecrowdedtogether,resulting
inlimitedjobopportunitiesandterriblelivingconditions.Whenthe
newlyarrivingIrishimmigrantslookedforwork,theyfoundonlythe
lowest,unskilledjobsavailabletothem.Menwerehiredforlow-paying
jobs,whichwereusuallyphysicallydemandinganddangerous.
Unskilledlaborersduringthe1840swerepaidunderseventy-fivecents
adayfortentotwelvehoursofwork.Themenbuiltcanals,railroads,
streets,houses,andsewersystems.Othersworkedonthedocksor
canals.ThereweretwomaintypesofworkavailableforIrishwomen.
Somebecamedomesticservantsorworkedinoneofthefactoriesthere.
Domesticworkwassecureanddependableandlastedtheentireyear.
15
Thistypeofworkwasoftenlongandtiring.Itwasnotunusualforone
maidtocook,clean,andcareforchildrensixteenhoursadayormore.
Thedomesticservantsbecamepartofthehouseholdinwhichtheywere
employed,andsomewouldevenlivewiththeiremployers.Womenwho
workedinfactoriesfoundtheworktobedirty,lowpaying,and
dangerous.In1833,Irishwomenwhoworkedinthemillsmaking
cottonshirtswerepaidbyapieceworksysteminsuchcitiesasBoston,
NewYork,Philadelphia,andBaltimore.Theymadebetweensixtoten
centsashirt.Thesewomenworkedthirteentofourteenhoursaday.
Sincetheycouldonlymakenineshirtsaweek,theybroughthome
ninetycentsorlessaweek.
HowlongwastheGradyfamilyinBoston?Theanswerisstilluncertain,
butthereisagreatdealofdataavailablethathelpstracktheirsteps
aftertheyleftBoston.ItispossiblethatJohn,theirfirstchild,wasborn
thereinBoston(1845-6).ThiswouldmeantheGradysmayhavebeen
thereforoneormoreyearsbeforerelocating.Itcouldhavebeenlonger,
perhapsfiveormoreyears.
Jeremiah,likeanyIrishmanofthattimeperiod,tookwhateverworkhe
couldfind.Heappearstohavebeenamasonandstonecutterbefore
comingtoMassachusetts,which,iftrue,wouldincreasehischancesof
employment.Overtime,hebecameatalentedstonemason,whowas
knownforbothhisskillsandhisworkethic.Hemayhavebeentold
aboutjobsinNewHampshireandConnecticutwhilehewasinBoston.
DuringtheGradys’stayinBoston,Jeremiahprobablypickedupold
newspaperstofindwork,asmanyweredoing.Honoramayhave
workedinoneofthemills;thiswaswhatmostemigrantwomendid.
Theydidtheirshare,andthensome.WheretheGradysstayedis
presentlyunknown,buttheyprobablydidwhatotheremigrantsdid,
whichwastotakeanyavailablespace,oftenjustlargeenoughfortwo
people.ItishighlypossiblethatfriendsorfamilyhadcometoNew
Englandbeforethemandgavethemaplacetostay.Thishasnotbeen
provenandcannotbestatedasfact.
SomeemigrantslookedforworkinVermontandNewHampshire,
whereconstructionjobswereavailable,especiallysincetherailroad
16
waslayingdowntracksandbuildingnewbridges.TheIrishwereused
bytherailroadaslaborers,workinglonghoursforlittlepay.After
Boston,theGradysmovedtoNewHampshirewhereJeremiahlandeda
jobwiththerailroadthere,buildingbridgesandotherstructures.He
mayhaveworkedinthequarriesthereforawhileaswell.Thisseemsto
beapossibility,sincehewouldworkinthequarriesinVernonand
Manchester,Connecticutyearslater.Theirdaughter,Mary,wasborn
March24,1848,inKeene,NewHampshire.Shewasveryyoungwhen
theGradysfinallymovedtoConnecticut.
JeremiahmayhavejoinedthecrewthatbuiltthetunnelinVernonwhile
livinginNewHampshire.Theone-hundred-eight-footkeystonearch
tunnelonTunnelRoad,isthelongestinConnecticutandisan
outstandingexampleofthestonemason'stalentandskills.Thetunnel
wasbuiltbetween1846and1849bymasonsandstonecutters,many
newlyarrivedfromIreland,withonlythehelpofoxenandhandtools.
Jeremiah'snameappearsonapropertymapdated1853,showinghe
boughthispropertyayearpriortomovingthere.However,theexact
dateofthispurchaseisuncertain.
TheVernonTunnel,whichJeremiahGradyhelpedtobuild
17
ChapterThree:TheGradyHomesteadinVernon
Ahardyetsimplewayoflife
ThomasHookerandhismentraveledthroughVernonin1636tostarta
newsettlementtothenorthoftheDutch,whohadasettlementinthe
areawenowcallHartford.Hooker’ssettlementswouldeventually
becomethetownsofHartford,Wethersfield,andWindsor.Hookerand
hisfollowerswantedtoestablishacolonyfortheirPuritanfaith,free
fromtheChurchofEngland’sritualandhierarchy.
Connecticutwasfoundedwithastrongconnectionbetweenchurchand
government.AsConnecticut’stownsformedtheirownmunicipal
governments,lawswereestablishedfortheirmunicipalities.Eachtown
wasrequiredbylawtosupportthepublicworshipofGod.Whena
settlementhadenoughtaxpayerstosupportthefinancesrequiredfora
meetinghouseandminister,itcouldpetitiontheGeneralAssemblyto
becomeanecclesiasticalsociety.Thisallowedthemtohaveahouseof
worshipintheirowntowninsteadofhavingtotraveltoanothertown
forservices.
TheSettlementofSouthCoventrywasfoundedaround1707.New
settlersbegantheirjourneyfromHartfordandWindsor,Connecticut,
andfromNorthampton,Massachusetts.Shortlyafter,theTownof
Coventrywasestablishedin1712.Sixteenfamiliessawhowfertilethe
soilwas,boughtland,andsettledthere.EarlybuildingsinCoventry
weresetuparoundtheGreenandalongLakeStreet,withothers
scattereddownthelengthofMainStreet.Eventually,localssettled
throughoutvarioussectionsofTollandCounty.
AsmorepeoplebuilttheirhomesandestablishedfarmsinVernon,the
settingofboundariesbecameapriority.Largetrees,brooks,and
stonewallswereusedaspropertylines.Onesuchmarkerwasknownas
theTDitch.Itwassimplythelegallandmarkfortownboundaries.A
manofthetimenamedMr.Kelloggleftsomewritings,whichare
valuabletoustoday.Hewrote:"TheterritoryofNorthBoltonSociety
wasthesameasthatofthepresenttownofVernon.Itwastakenfrom
fourdifferentecclesiasticalsocieties.Muchofthelargestpartofitwas
takenfromBolton,theSouthernboundarybeingalinerunningnearly
18
East,fromapointonemileSouthofthe'TDitch.'Theinhabitantsofthis
sectionnumberedalittlelessthanthreehundred."(Reference:
www.tankerhoosen.info/history.)
ThelineofWindsor,laterbecomingEastWindsor,usedtopasswithin
aboutaquarterofamileofthesiteofthefamousmeetinghouseat
VernonCenter.TheRisley,Buckland,andGradyfamiliesownedlandin
thisarea,whichisdocumentedonearlymaps.LocalIndianscamped
behindwhatisnowtheLakeStreetSchoolandalsoneartheGrady’s
road.Theystayedthereduringthesummermonths.Itispossiblethat
theseIndianshaddugoutthisTditchtodraintheirfieldsforcorn.In
themodernera,childrenhaveplayedinthisareawithout
understandingitsrichhistory.
Thevillagegrewasbusinessesandhomeswereaddedtothearea.Main
StreetslowlyreplacedtheGreenastheheartofSouthCoventry.While
theDr.SamuelRoseHouseonHighStreetcontinuedtoserveasaninn,
thepostofficemovedfromMartinLyman'shouseonLakeStreettothe
BidwellHotelinabout1822.ShopsopenedinMainStreethomesandin
neworremodeledcommercialbuildings,suchastheWellwoodStore.
TheWellwoodStorewasestablishedmuchearlierthanmostMain
Streetbusinesses,havingstartedin1784.
ThetownsofVernonandBoltonseparatedfromEastWindsorin1726.
VernonseparatedfromNorthBoltonthirty-fouryearslater,in1760.
Sincenochurchesexistedinthenewsettlement,Vernonsettlershadto
walkorrideovertherockformationcalledtheNotchtoBoltonto
attendchurchservicesuntil1762.BoltonNotchisstillthenameforthis
location,tothisday.
Vernon'sfirstpastorwasEbenezerKellogg,bornrightinVernonin
1789.HewasadirectdescendantoftheKelloggfamilywhoinvented
cornflakescereal.OncethepeopleinVernonaskedhimtobetheir
pastor,EbenezermovedintoahouseatthecornerofHartfordTurnpike
andSouthStreet.Besidesservingaspastor,healsofarmedtheland
aroundhishome.EbenezerKelloggservedthepeopleofVernonastheir
pastorforanextraordinarylengthoftime--fifty-fiveyears.
19
Vernonbeganasanagriculturalcommunityestablishingfarmsaround
anoldIndiantrailthatwouldbecomeHartfordTurnpikeandlater
Route30.ItshouldbenotedthatmostIndiantrailswereoriginallydeer
pathsthatthenativesalsousedfortheirtravels.TheoldIndiantrail,
HartfordTurnpike,passedthroughafieldthatstillexistsinVernon
Center.ThisfieldiscurrentlyownedbytheStrongfamily.Theearly
Vernoncongregationchosetobuildtheirchurchatopwhatwouldbe
knownasMeetinghouseHill.ItislocatedeastofVernonCenterwhere
thecurrentFirstCongregationalChurchwaserectedandcontinuesto
beusedtoday.
ThefirstchurchonMeetinghouseHillwasbuiltonahillfortwo
reasons.Thefirstwastomakesureitcouldseenfrommilesaround.The
secondwastohaveitserveasalookoutpostsuchthatapproaching
Indianscouldbeseenlongbeforetheyarrivedintown.OnSundays,the
areafarmershadtotravelwiththeirfamiliesoverfivemilesbywagon
fromVernonCentertothechurchinBolton.Oncethere,theywould
spendtheentiredayparticipatinginchurcheventsandwouldreturn
homelaterintheevening.
TheroutestakenbackthenareknowntodayasBoltonRoad,which
followedtheridge,TunnelRoad,andPhoenixStreettoLakeStreet
wheretheGradyslived.Asonecanimagine,travelingalongthoseold
dirtroadscouldbecomedifficultduetorocks,mud,rain,andsnow.Asa
result,thevillagerspetitionedtheGeneralAssemblyin1749,suggesting
thatservicesbeheldinVernonCenterratherthaninBolton.
ThepeopleofVernoncouldnowtakeatripdownLakeStreettotheir
church,whichwouldcertainlybeeasierforthem,butitwouldnot
changetheconditionoftheroadsorpreventbadweatherfromspoiling
theirjourney.Dirtroadsrequiredoccasionalrepairs,asdomodern
roadstoday.EachNewEnglandtownwasresponsibleforbuildingand
maintainingallroadswithinitstownlimits.Coloniallawsoriginally
requiredthatallable-bodiedadultmalesworkacertainnumberofdays
eachyearontheirtownroads.
Farmerswouldoftentraveldowntheroadstotheirwoodlots,thenhaul
theirfirewoodbacktotheirfarms.Eventuallythiswouldpacktheroads
downandmaketraveleasier.However,duringthemudseasonafterthe
20
snowmelted,theroadswouldbefullofditchesandbumps,making
travelsomewhatunpleasantuntilthemenpackeditbackdown.
Forovertwohundredyears,farmingwasawayoflifeinConnecticut.
Familiesgrewtheirownfoodandraisedtheirownanimals.Dairy
farminghasalwaysbeenawaytosupportone’sfamilyintheNutmeg
State.ButterandcheesewerereliablecommoditiesintheState’searly
years.
Milk,ontheotherhand,wasaperishableproduct.InConnecticut,the
milkingseasonbeganinAprilandendedinNovember.Mostfarmswere
familyrun,exceptforafewthatcouldaffordlaborers.Allthemilking
wasdonebyhandandthenthemilkwashauledtomarketinox-or
horse-drawncartsorwagons.
JeremiahGradyhadalargedairyfarmandbroughtwhathisownfamily
didnotconsumetomarket.Therehesoldhisproductstothehighest
bidders.Hisgrandson,JerryFay,onceclaimedthattheGradyfarmwas
oneofthelargestintheVernonarea.
InmostConnecticuttowns,theanimalofchoicewastheox.Therewere
manypracticalreasonswhythiswastrueformostConnecticutfarmers.
Infact,theoxwastheanimalofchoiceoutsideofNewEnglandaswell,
especiallyinthewesterncolonies.Oxenwerecheapertocareforand
wereusuallyhealthierthanhorses.
Unlikeahorse,oxenhadalongerusefullife.Inaddition,whenanoxhad
outlivedhiscarryingcapacityorhispullingcapacity,hewasstilluseful.
Justabouteverythingonthisanimalcouldbemadeintoaproducttobe
soldortobeusedbythefarmer.Theirhides,theirmeat,andeventheir
hornswereuseful.Nothingonthisanimalwaswasted.Oxtailcontinues
tobethemeatofchoiceformany,especiallywithJamaicanrestaurants.
Vernonwasandisabeautifulplacetobeholdduringthefall.LakeStreet
wasfullofdeer,moose,pheasant,turkeyandotherwildgame,
becomingafavoritehuntingspotforlocals.Somebelievethatthename
ofthistownwasmeanttopaytributetoGeneralWashington'shomein
Virginia.Thetruthisthatnooneiscertain.WhentheGradyfamily
droveupintheirhorseandwagon,theychoseaspotdirectlybelowBox
21
Mountain.Therewasaslitatthebottomoftheroadleadingtothe
quarry.ItwasshapedlikeaY,allowingresidentstoenterfromeither
direction.Suchalocationforafarmwouldmaketraveleasierwhen
workinginthequarry.
ItwasthequarrynearBoxMountainthatheldthesandstoneusedto
buildthetunnelonTunnelRoad.JerryGradywasatall,muscular
Irishman,amanwhowasnotafraidofhardwork.Infact,hisworkethic
seemstohavebeeningrainedinhisDNA.Hissizewasmostlikelya
resultoftoughfarmworkandperhapsfromhisdayshaulingrockoutof
thequarry.MostofthemaleswhoweredescendantsofJeremiahGrady
wereunusuallytallandmuscular.Evenhisgrandson,JerryFay,wassix
feet,fourinchestall.
In1849,theHartford,ProvidenceandFishkillRailroadworkersbegan
toconstructalineoftracksfromManchestertoWillimantic.Railroads
wouldusuallybelaidalongthesidesofstreams,butValleyFalls
presentedacompletelynewproblem.SinceBoxMountainhadasteep
incline,ashelforterraceforthetrackshadtobecarvedoutoftheside
ofthehill.Thiswasaccomplishedbyusingmanpower,sincemodern
machinerydidnotexistyet.
Tocreateagradualascent,ahugeamountofearthhadtobehauledin
andlaiddown.Afteritwasdumpedontheroadbed,itwouldbeleveled.
Thisman-madehillcoveredtheone-hundred-and-eight-foottunnelon
TunnelRoad.Initsday,thistunnelwastrulyagreataccomplishmentof
engineering.
Themenwhomadethetunnelwerethefirstmasonstouseastrong,yet
temporarywoodenframe,referredtoasa“central.”Alltheworkonthis
projectwasdonebyhand.Now,talkabouthardwork!Thesemenused
pickaxesandshovelsandhorse-orox-drawncartstogetthejobdone.
NewlyarrivedimmigrantsfromIrelandworkedonthisproject,
includingJerryGrady.Thesandstoneblocksusedinbuildingthetunnel
werecutandlaidupintheformofthirtykeystonearches.Theworkers
laideachpiececarefullyintoplace,butfirstthesurfaceofeachblock
hadtobetexturedbyhand.Theyusedahammerandchiseltoachieve
thateffect.JerryGradyandotherimmigrantswhoworkedonthat
22
projectlefttheirmark.Thetunnelisstillusedtoday,andpeoplestill
talkaboutwhatamarvelitis.
Thetunnelwasoriginallybuiltforfarmersandtownspeople,sothey
couldgettheirwagonsandcoachestotheothersideoftown.Ifyou
standbackadistancefromthetunnel,youcanseetheshapeofa
coveredwagoninboththefrontandrearentrances.JerryGradycarved
hisnameinsidethattunnel,leavingwithitalegacymarkerofagreat
Irish-American.
Ashewasbuildingthistunnel,Jerryspottedapieceoflandhelikedon
LakeStreet,notfarfromtheRisleyDam.Jeremiahmovedhisfamilyto
thatpropertyby1854andbuilthisfamilyafarmhouseandabarn.His
propertylineseemstohavebegunatBoxMountainRoadandcontinued
ontoGradyRoad.Wheretheoriginalbuildingswerebackinthe1800's
isunknownatthistime.
ItispossiblethatJerrycontinuedtoliveinNewHampshireuntilthe
buildingsonhispropertywerefullybuiltHewouldhavehadtoclearcut
thetreesintheareawherehishomewouldbeconstructed,digacellar
forrootvegetablescompletewithadirtfloorandrockfoundation.He
hadtodigawell,andanconstructanouthouse.Haywouldhavetobe
cutandstored,andfeedbought.Therewasalotofhardworkinvolved,
butintheendthereisnothingthatmakesamanmoreproudthanto
knowhehasdoneallhecouldforhisfamily.JeremiahGradywasnotthe
typeofmantogiveupeasily.Hewasastonemason,stonecutter,and
farmer,threenoteworthyoccupationsinanyera.
ThefirsttrainpassedoverthetunnelinVernonaround1850.Itwasa
lotofweightforstonesonthesideofthemountainabovethetracks,
andasaresulttheywereoftenjarredloose,fallingdownonthetracks.
TheRailroadCompanythoughtitnecessarytohiresomeonetogoover
thissectionoftrackeachtimeatrainpassedtocheckforfallenstones.
Itwasahard,uphillpullfortheheavysteamlocomotivestogetto
BoltonStation,thencalled“Quarryville.”Thetrainseemedtojustcrawl
alongthemanmadeshelfcutinthesideofBoxMountain.Trainshave
mademanypassesovertheyearssincethen.
23
TheGrady'smayhaveusedthetraininVernonfromtimetotime,asdid
othersintheircommunity.Itwasfasterthanahorseandwagon,andit
wouldallowpassengerstoseemoreofthecountryside.Somefarmers
usedthetraintotransporttheirlivestockandotherfarmgoods.
Jeremiahprobablyworkedinotherquarriesovertheyears,including
theRisleyQuarryinBoltonandtheWolcottQuarryinManchester.The
WolcottQuarry,onceownedbytheBucklandfamily,wasthetalkofthe
dayasstrangemarkingswerefoundonsomeofthestones.Prehistoric
bonesandfootprintswerealsodiscoveredthere.
Expertarchaeologistswereabletoputthecutstonestogetherissucha
waythattheimpressionofthebackhalfofasmalldinosaurwasclearly
visible.Later,twomoredinosaurskeletonswerefound,oneofwhich
wasalmostcomplete.ThesebonesweretakentoNewHavenand
assembledintothecompleteskeletonofadinosaur.
JeremiahGradyhadsuchastonelyingonthegroundinfrontofhis
houseonLakeStreet.Itmeasuredaroundthreefeetacrossandhada
prehistoricbirdprintonit.Hemayhavepickeditupwhenheworked
thereorhaditgiventohimbyhisfriendsatthequarry.Thestone
remainedinfrontofhisfarmuntilafiredestroyedthehouseandbarn
inthelate1970s.
OnceJeremiahandhiswifeHonorahmovedontotheirfarminVernon,
theybeganplowingthefields,raisinglivestock,andcanningavarietyof
vegetablesandfruits.By1855,theGradyshadfivechildrenlivingwith
them.Largefamilieswerecommonthen,especiallyforfarmingfamilies.
OnlytwooftheGradychildrenwerebornoutsidethestateof
Connecticut.LakeStreetwasalsohometosuchfamiliesasthe
Bucklands,Lymans,Porters,andRisleys.Someofthemwerewealthy
businessmenwhileotherswerefarmersliketheGradys.ThomasPorter
settledonLakeStreetin1716.TheLyman'swerethereby1772.
OnBoxMountain,therelivedtheChapmans,anotherprominentfamily.
HenryLydall(1831-1907)lenthisnametoLydallStreet,LydallBrook,
andLydallville,asectionofnortheastManchester.Infact,HenryLydall
wasawell-knownpapermanufacturerwhenhedied,buthehadcome
24
toManchesterfromNewBritaininthe1860s,andbeganthe
manufactureofknitting-machineneedlesinafactorynearthe
intersectionoftoday'sLydallandVernonStreets.
MapshowingChapman,Buckland,andTuckerproperties
TheRisleyswerespreadoutinManchester,withafewmovingtoLake
Streetintheearly1800s.ThoseRisleysbuiltadamtoprovidewaterfor
theirfarmsin1853.ItmaybethatJerryGradyhelpedthemwiththis
project,butintruthwearenotsure.
25
WellsN.RisleyandhiswifeLucyLeeStrongwereownersoftheLake
SideFarm,andlivedonthecornerofLydallStreetandLakeStreetwith
theirfamily.ItispossiblethatWellsRisleyownedbothsidesofLydall
Street,justbeforeLakeStreet.LucywasthedaughterofElijahStrong
andEuniceBetseyLee.Wellsleftthispropertytohisson,JohnStrong
Risley.
JohnStrongRisley,onhisfarm
Johnheldmanytownofficesduringhislifetime.DuringWWI,hewasa
Sergeantintheinfantry.Beforethewar,heworkedasatelegrapherfor
therailroad.ThepropertyheownedincludedtheRisleyReservoir,
whichwaspartlyinBoltonandpartlyinVernon.LydallBrookflowsout
ofthereservoirwestintotheHockanumRiver.
OvertheyearsmanyRisleyshavelivedonthepropertyboughtbyWells
Risley.WhenIwasayoungboy,JohnRisleywalkedalongthereservoir
26
everyday,whenhewasable.Iwasfriendswithhisgrandson,Clifford
Hall,andlivedwithhisfamilyforashorttime.JohnS.Risleygavehis
landonthecornertohisdaughterGladys,wifeofNormanHall.Helived
nextdoorinanotherhousehehadbuilt.Ihadbeeninsidehishomeon
morethanoneoccasionandfoundhimtobeaverypleasantmantobe
around.
27
Heoncegavehisgrandson,CliffordHall,apairofdeerskinbootshehad
madeasayoungman.Hewassomewhatofapioneerinhisyounger
days.Oldpicturesofhisfamilywereonthewallsaroundthehouseand
stacksofnewspaperswerelayingonatableinthelivingroom.His
hearingwasfailinghimthen,soIhadtotalkabitlouderthennormal
wheneverhavingaconversationwithhim.Heneverseemedtomind.
JohnS.RisleywasadirectdescendantofRichardRisley,oneofthemen
whofoundedHartfordConnecticut,andofJohnAdams,thesecond
PresidentoftheUnitedStates.
Manchesterhadbeguntotakeshapeduringthe1800s.Therewere
blacksmiths,flourmills,barbershops,placestostaythenightandenjoy
agoodmeal,andevenplacestohavewagonsrepaired.Bucklandand
Joneshadastoreintownthatsoldsuppliestolocalfarmersandother
residents.Theyboughtdairyproductsandhomemadegoodsaswell
fromthelocalsandresoldthem.Localfarmerseagerlytookadvantage
ofthisopportunity.
OneoftheBucklandandJonesadvertisementsin1814offeredsuch
itemsassalt,fish,brownsugar,coffee,tea,pepperpimento,cassia,
nutmeg,starch,men'sandchildcare’sshoesofvariouskinds,cotton
shirtingandsheeting.TheyalsocarriedAmericanwoolenclothes.
Anotheradvertisementread:Buckland&Joneswantrye,corn,flaxseed,
butter,cheeseandgoodpostsandrailsinexchangefortheabove
articles.
FarmerssuchasJerryGradywouldgotoBucklandandJonestotrade
milk,butter,andothergoodsforwhatevertheyneededatthetime.
JerryalsogrewtobaccoandsolditinHartford,ortowhomeveroffered
thebestprices.Mr.Gradywasapipesmokerhimself,andwould
probablygrowsomeforhisownpersonaluse.Heandhissonswould
taketripsouttoBoltonfromtimetotimetodobusinessortovisithis
goodfriend,CharlesLyman.
CharlesLymanwasamanwhowasbornApril10,1843toJacoband
DorcasLymanofBolton.Charlesattendedaone-roomschoolhousein
Boltonduringthewintermonthsandworkedasafarmhandduringthe
summer.Hewasanaccomplishedfellowandattheyoungageofsixteen
hewasalreadyateacherattheBoltonBirchMountainSchoolhouse.By
28
theageofnineteenhefinishedhisformaleducationatRockvilleHigh
SchoolandlatervolunteeredtofightinPresidentLincoln'sarmyonJuly
21,1862.
Duringthe1800s,travelwasabitdifferentthanitistoday.Ifafarmer
droveahorseandwagon,hehadtoprovidehishorsewithfoodand
water.Foodwasanosebagfullofoatsthatwascarriedalonginthe
wagon.Waterwasnotalwaysreadilyavailable.Intheearlydays,water
mightbeabrookorapond,butlaterontherewaswhatwascalledthe
horsetrough,aroundtankhighenoughforahorsehitchedtoawagon
toreacheasily.
AaronBuckland'sfamilyownedtwofarmsonLakeStreet.Onewas
directlyacrossfromtheGradys,andonewasonthesamesideofthe
roadastheirs.AaronplantedallthemapletreesontheJonesfarmand
thoseoneithersideoftheroadfromthecornerofBucklandStreetand
TollandTurnpiketothenewcemetery.Healsokepttheroadinrepair
fromthecornertothecemetery,layinglargefoundationstonestopped
withsmalleronesinmuchthesamemannerasroadsarebuilttoday.
Aaronlaterbuiltawateringtroughforhorses.ItwasoppositeBuckland
StreetinManchester.Thewatertofillthetroughcamethroughlead
pipesfromaspringonBucklandStreetneartheoldtavern.CharlesO.
Wolcottwaspaidthreedollarsayearfor"maintaining"thewater
troughinBucklandfrom1884to1900.Partofthejobprobablywas
choppingaholeintheicewhenthehorsetroughfrozeoverduringthe
coldwintermonths.
Winterwashardoneveryonethen.Beforethereweretrucksand
snowplows,roadswere"brokenout"bydrivingoxenorhorsesthrough
thesnowfollowedbymenandboyswithshovels.Eachneighborwould
clearastretchofroadalongtheway.JeremiahGradyusedthesewater
binsashetraveledintoBucklandforsuppliesortosellsomethingfrom
hisfarm.SurelytheGradysdidtheirfairshareofshovelingandroad
clearing.
WhentheUnitedStatesCongressawardedthemailcontractforallof
NewEnglandtoLeviPeasein1789,Leviwiselyusedmoneyhereceived
fromthegovernmenttoestablishahubinBoston.Hewentontoexpand
29
hisoperationsintotheupperendofNewEnglandandalsowestwardto
Albany,NewYork.Peaseestablishedanexpressbusiness,withhis
stagescarryingbundles,banknotes,andotherdocuments,allfora
reasonablecommission.
Asmoreroadswerecreated,stagecoachrouteswithinConnecticut
increased.Shortlyafterthis,otherstagecoachownersbeganproviding
passengerandmailservicetotownsthroughoutthestate.
In1872,onaverage,horsescost$60,pigs$5,milkingcowsjustover
$20,andgoatsonly$2.Afarmworkerearned$23permonth,aplaceto
sleep,andmeals.
More1872priceswereasfollows:
Wheatflour—$12.75/barrel
Cornmeal—1cent/pound
Rice—11cents/pound
Beans—9cents/quart
Roastedcoffee—42cents/pound
Brownsugar—10cents/pound
Granulatedsugar—10cents/pound
Molasses—70cents/gallon
Soap—8cents/pound
Starch—12cents/pound
Roastingbeef—19cents/pound
Soupbeef—7cents/pound
Beefrumpsteak—29cents/pound
Cornedbeef—10cents/pound
Muttonchops—15cents/pound
Pork(fresh)—12cents/pound
Pork(salted)—11cents/pound
Smokedhams—13cents/pound
Sausage—12cents/pound
Lard—13cents/pound
Butter—39cents/pound
Cheese—17cents/pound
Potatoes—$1.02/bushel
Milk—8cents/quart
30
Eggs—30cents/dozen
Hardwood—$10.19/cord
Pinewood—$7.00/cord
Roomandboardformen—$5.69/month
Roomandboardforwomen—$3.75/month
HarveyKingwasthefirsttotakehisstagecoachesbetweenRockville
andVernonDepot.Hekepttwentytothirtyhorsesforhisdifferent
stageroutes.OneoftheseroutesextendedfromRockvilleto
"WarehousePoint,”whichwasatthistimethenearestrailroadcenter.
ThomasBlakewasthedriveronthisline.
Amongotherroutes,wasonefromRockvilletoHartford;therewasalso
alinefromNorwichtoSpringfieldthroughRockvilleandonefrom
RockvilletoTolland.Ittookfromtwoandahalftothreehourstodrive
intoHartford.Thetripinandoutwasmadeinthesameday.Usuallythe
stageleftabout
8:30inthemorningandgotintoHartfordbeforenoon.Thestartfrom
Hartfordonthereturntripwasmadeaboutfouro'clockinthe
afternoon.Thedailymailandpapercamebystagecoachasfarbackas
the1830's.
TheHartfordCourantwasoneoffavoritepapers,eventhen.This
newspaperwasperhapsoneoftheonlypleasurespeoplehadtolook
forwardtoastheywaitedfortheirmaileachday.Newsdidnottravelas
fastinthosedaysasitdoesnow.Therewasaneagernessbackthento
readaboutlocalandworldevents.Inmosthomes,onewouldfinda
Searscatalog,afamilybible,andperhapsafewoldnewspapers.
Thestagecoachineachtownwouldmakestopsatthelocaltavern.They
wereoftenmanagedbyamanofsomestandinginthecommunity.
Tavernstopsweretypicallytwelvetoeighteenmilesapart,withthetrip
betweensometimeslastingforty-fiveminutes.Thestageownerwould
usuallyhaveafinancialinterestinthelocationswherepassengerswere
tostoptoeatortospendthenight.
Asthecoachesdrewclosetoatown,thedriveroftensignaledhisarrival
byblowingonanEnglish-styletrumpet.Thedriverswouldsometimes
eattheirmealswiththeirpassengers.Thiswascommonplaceduring
31
thistimeinConnecticuthistory.In1820and1840,thestagecoachwasa
hugeenterprise,aswastheferry,whichtookcoachesandwagonsfrom
onesideofarivertotheother.Coacheswereasourceoflivelihoodfora
significantnumberofindividuals:owners,drivers,andticketagents,
coachmanufacturersandblacksmiths,tavernownersandstablehands,
andthefarmerswhoraisedthehorsesandgrewtheoats,corn,andhay
thattheygrew.
Fortheyear1872,aroadwagon(canopytopwithrubbersideandback
curtains,$8extra)
Herearesomepricesyoumightbeexpectedtopayoutin1880.
Acoltmetalliccartridgerevolveror“peacemaker”costs12.00dollars
aboxof.45coltcartridges,50cents
aWinchester(in1873)costs24dollars
asteercosts9dollarsacow;withitscalf,thetwocost16.50
amealatatrainstationcosts1dollar
apairofLevi'scosts1.46
aweek’sboardinahousecosts6dollars,rentforastore25x60feetis
80/100dollarsamonth
Belowisalistofcomparisonsbetweenthepricesfrom1880and1890
forfarmequipment.TheUnitedStateswentfromtheGildedAgetoa
depressionby1890.Thus,pricesdroppeddramatically.
Self-binderin1880,$800,in1890,$130;
mower,$90in1880,$40in1890;
cornplanter,$70in1880,$40in1890;
plows,$21in1880,$15in1890;
pump,$15in1880,$6in1890;
wagon,$85in1880,$50in1890;
springwagon,$140in1890.$75in1880;
nails,$5in1880,$3in1890;
cookstove,$35in1880,$24in1890;
walnutchairs,$15in1880,$9in1890;
milkpans,perdozen:$2.25in1880,$1in$1890;
springmattresses,$3in1880,$1.50in1890;
salt,$2.25in1880,$1in1890;
barbedwire,perpound,10centsin1880,5centsin1890;
32
granulatedsugar,perpound,124c.in1880,7centsin1890;
kerosene,25centsin1880,18centsin1890;
muslin,peryard,8centsin1880,4centsin1890;
calico,peryard,7centsin1880,4centsin1890;
gingham,peryard,12centsin1880,10centsin1890;
ready-madeclothing,30to50percent,lower;
bootsandshoes,a33percentdrop;
tea,a30percentdrop;
crockerywareofallkinds,notlessthan25percent,lowerpricesfrom
1880to1890.
(Reference:www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com)
Connecticutwasmoreofaruralstatebackin1860-1870.Citiesthen
tendedtobemuchsmallerwithfewerpeople.Factorieswithatall
smokingchimneywouldindicatetheywereusingsteampower.
Electricitywasnotavailablethen.Evenwhenitbecameavailable,not
everyonecouldaffordit.
Thepeoplewerelargelydependentonwater,wind,oranimalpower.
Streetswereunpaved,withverylittletrafficexceptinthecities.Insome
areas,streetswerecoveredwithgravelandwereoftentwolanes.How
peoplebehavedandtreatedothersinthosedayswasalsodone
differently.Peoplewerepaidwithcash,sincepaycheckswerenot
availableatthattime.
Aman’swife,withthehelpofherolderdaughters,wouldoftenmake
whattheywore.Mostfarmersbarelygotby,whileothersmanagedto
increasetheamountoflandtheyownedandthenumberoflivestock
theyhad.
WhentheGradysfirstlandedinBoston,theydressedaspeopledidback
inIreland.Overtime,theymostlikelydressedlikethosearoundthem
didintheUnitedStates,theiradoptedcountry.AsforlifeontheGrady
farm,duringthe1800'sitwasafarcryfromthewaywelivetoday.
Womendidmorethantheirshareoftheworkaroundthefarminthose
days.Thewifeandmotherwouldoftenbetheonemilkingthecowthe
firstthingeachday.Shemighthaveplacedafeweggsinherbasketon
thewaybacktothehouse.
33
Itwasalsothewomenofthehousewhoweededthefamilygardenand
plantedtheseeds.Allclotheshadtobescrubbedbyhandovera
washboard,rinsed,andhungouttodry,evenduringthewintermonths.
HonoraGradyhadnodoubttrainedherdaughterstoacquireallthe
skillstheyneededtoknow,includinghowtocookandmendclothes.
Therewasnobathroom;theywouldgooutsidetotheprivyorouthouse.
TheGradyouthousewastotherightsideofthehouserightbeforethe
barn.Duringthecoldermonths,theywouldhavetoweartheirheavy
coatsbeforegoingout.
TheGradysusedcandlesorlanternsiftheyneededtogotooutafter
dark.Besidesbeefandpork,Jerryprobablyshotsomewildgamefrom
timetotime,asotherfarmersdid.Jerrywouldhuntbehindhishouse
wherewildgamewasplentiful,perhapsshootingaturkeyfor
Thanksgivingeachyear.HisweaponofchoicemayhavebeenaSharps
rifle.Theseriflesweremadewithalargebore.Theyweresingle-shot
firearms,designedbyChristianSharpsin1848.Sharpsriflesweretaken
outofproductionin1881.
Sharpsrifleswererenownedforbeingaccurateatlongranges,unlike
otherriflesofthattime.By1874,therewereavarietyofcalibers
available.Variousarmiesaroundtheworldpurchasedthemfortheir
armies.ASharpsriflewasoneofthefewsuccessfullydesignedto
transitiontometalliccartridgeuse.Theriflewasafavoriteformanyat
thattime.Themuch-admiredBerdan’s1stand2ndU.S.Sharpshooters
usedthemintheCivilWar.Theriflesweremaderighttherein
Connecticut,whichmadethemreadilyavailabletotheUnionsoldiers
duringtheCivilWar.
Makingsuretheyhadenoughfirewoodstoredupforthecomingwinter
wasapriorityforfarmerslikeJeremiahGrady.Thiswasessential
becausewoodwasthefuelofchoiceforbothcookingandheatingtheir
homes.TheGradychildrenwouldcompletetheirdailychoresbefore
playingoutside.Althoughchildreninthe1800sdidhavewaysto
entertainthemselves,readingwasafavoritepastimeformany.
Sometimesmotherswouldreadthescripturestotheirchildren,training
theminthewayoftheLord.
34
ButthencamethefairinRockville,whichwassetupjustonceayear.It
wasperhapstheonlytimetorelaxandenjoyoneself,andthenitwas
backtoworkasusual.Eachfall,thefamous,three-dayRockvilleFair
washeldontheFairGroundsonHydeAvenue.Alloftheschools,mills,
andstoresintownclosedforthedaysothatallmightattend.Thefair
originatedin1854andwasputonbytheTollandCountyAgricultural
Society.Itcontinuedasayearlyeventuntil1929.Peoplewouldcometo
watchthefamoushorseraces,theoxpulls,andperhapswinaprizeor
two.
Inthenortheastendoftown,thirty-fiveacresoflandwaspurchased
andnamedHydeParkinhonorofitsfirstpresident.Themainstructure
wastall,havingagrandstand,fullycovered,andalargehallunderneath
it.Therewerebleachersinthefrontandonbothsidesofthebuilding.
Spectatorswouldwatchthehorseracesonthisovalhalf-milelong
stand.Therewasalsoabandstandandastagedirectlyacrossthetrack
fromthecenterofthegrandstand.Everythingwascarefullydesigned,
andsetinplace.
Thisfairwouldattractlargecrowdsfrommilesaround.Aseriesof
barnsforthehorses,cattle,andpoultrywerealsostructuresbuilttolast
formanyayear.ThemidwayranfromtheEastStreetgate,forminga
promenadefromtheHydeAvenueentrancetothegrandstand.Both
werelinedwithtentsofconcessionaires.TheThompsonsEatingTent,
thefortuneteller,theweight-guesser,andwheeIs-of-chancewere
usuallythere.
Formanyyears,thefairwasprimarilyanagriculturalone.Farmers
fromallsurroundingtownsbroughttheiroxentocompeteintheoxpullingcompetition.ItispossiblethatJeremiahhadenteredtheoxpullingcontestandweknowheshowedoffhisprizestallionatleastat
oneofthesefairs.TheHartfordCourantpublishedonSeptember21,
1888mentionedJeremiahGradyfromVernonandtheClydesdale
stallionheowned.Jeremiah'shorseweighedwellover1,000pounds
thatyear.Hemayhavegonetothefairtofindthebestdealsonmilk
cowsandoxen,besidesparticipatinginotherways.
TheRockvilleFairswereawayformenlikeMr.Gradytosocializewith
otherfarmersinthecommunity.Therehewouldtalkaboutfarmingand
35
familylife.HiswifewouldhavehadachancetovisitfriendsinRockville
andmaybeshareanewrecipeortwo.
Whenthefairwasover,Jeremiahwouldreturntohisdailyschedule,
whichusuallybeganatdaybreakandendedatsundown.Theoccasional
breakdownoffarmequipmentwouldrequirefixing,andthenthefields
wouldneedtending.Whenhishorsesneededshoes,hewouldbring
themtotheblacksmithinManchester.Whilethere,hecouldtradedairy
productsortobaccoforwhatevergoodsheneeded.
Asatobaccogrower,Jeremiahmayhavebuiltanotherbarnjustfor
dryinghistobacco.AlloftheGradys’drinkingwatercamefromawell
theyhaddugandlinedwithrocks.WhenMr.Grady'sgrandsonowned
thefarmhouse,thewellhadawoodenstructurearounditwithfour
supportbeamsfortheroof.Itwasshapedandpaintedlikethe
farmhouse.Howitlookedinthe1800sisunknown.
IntheGradybarn,therewerehayloftswithadoortopullthehayupand
inside.Lifeonthefarmincludedexhaustingwork,butitwasalltheyhad
andalltheGradysseemedtowant,especiallysincetheydidthisalltheir
lives.JeremiahandHonorahadelevenchildreninall:Hannah,Jeremiah,
James,Mary,Ellen,Edmund,Abbigail,William,Thomas,Daniel,and
John.
IntheCensusfortheyear1870,HannahandEllenarelistedasworkers
foracottonmillatageselevenandtwelve.Childlaborlawswerenotin
effectbackthen.Allmembersofthefamilyhadajoborchoretodo,
includingtheyoungerchildren.Olderchildrenwouldhelponthefarm,
whiletheyoungerchildrenhelpedtheirmotherwithchoresaroundthe
house.(Pleaseseethe1870Censusimageonthenextpage.)
36
InbothRockvilleandManchester,childrenworkedinthewoolenmills,
bothyoungboysandyounggirls.Childrenofimmigrants,especially
IrishandGermanchildren,wereputtoworkinthemillsaroundtheage
ofeleventofourteen.Untilthatagetheyattendedschool,orweretaught
athomebytheirmothers.Nochildoverfifteenwasinschool,since
therewasn'tanyhighschoolexistinginRockvilleatthistime.
Manchesterdidnothaveahighschooluntiltheendofthe1800s.
WoolenmillsinManchesteralsoemployedchildren.WhereHannahand
EllenGradyworkedisunknown.AllwehavetogobyisanoldCensus
recordthatfailstorevealtheexactlocationoftheiremployment.Since
transportationwaslimited,theymostlikelyworkedintheRockville
mills.
TheGradyboysworkedonthefarmasearlyasageeleven.Thoseofthe
Gradyhouseholdwhoweretooyoungtoworkinthemills,hadtohelp
aroundthefarm.Insomehomes,motherswouldalsoserveasteachers.
ThisseemstobethecasewiththeGradys.Someofthewealthier
familieswereabletosendtheirchildrentoVernonCenterforschool.
AschoolsocietywasestablishedinNorthBoltononOctober31,1796.
Theformationofasocietywasthemethodusedforthepromotionand
regulationofallschoolmatters.Intheearlydaysofthethreeoriginal
towns,commoneducationwasaprioritytopicattownmeetings.In
37
thosedays,therewasusuallyonechurchorecclesiasticalsocietyineach
town.Asthepopulationincreased,adivisionbecamenecessaryandtwo
ormoreparishesbegantooccupythesamegeneralterritory.Withthis
divisionintoparishescamethegradualtransferofschoolsupervision
fromthetownauthoritiestotheleadersineachchurch.
ThefirstmeetingsofthesocietyinNorthBoltonwereheldintheold
meetinghouse.Theparishwasimmediatelydividedintodistrictsand
theerectionofthesmallbuthistoricschoolhousessoonfollowed.The
schoolsystemwasalreadyinworkingorderwhenVernonfirstbecame
atownin1808.Witharurallandscape,traveltoareasoutsideoflocal
districtsbecamedifficult.Infact,by1836,residentsofRockvillethought
thetriptoVernon’scenter,wherethetownchurch,meetinghouse,and
schoolwere,wasainconvenience.Thatinspiredthemtobuildtheirown
edificesinRockville.Basiclearningwasthegoalthenandupto1839the
townspeopleonlybuiltone-roomschoolhousesinwhichchildrenof
variousagesweretaught.
By1856,residentsbeganalternatingbetweenVernoncenterand
Rockvillefortownmeetings,whichcontributedtolessinteraction
amongresidentsofthesametown.Bythemid-1800s,astechnology
improvedandthedesiretotravelmoreefficientlygrew,arailwayran
throughVernon,connectingittolargercitiessuchasHartfordand
Providence.
Thewayresidentstraveledinthosedayswasabouttochange.More
peoplewereusingthetrainratherthantheirownhorsesandbuggies.
Thetrainallowedfarmerstoshipproductmuchfasterthanmovingitby
coachorwagon.
AccordingtoaCensustakenin1870,thoseintheGradyhousehold
undertheageofeleven,arelistedasbeingathome.ItcouldbethatMrs.
Gradytaughtthemherself,acommonpracticeforlocalfarmers.Insome
cases,boyswouldlearnthebasicsofreading,writing,andmath;then
theywouldleaveschooltohelpoutonthefarm.
ItispossiblethattheGradychildrenwereattendingoneoftheschools
intheirarea,butitwasnotrecordedinthatCensus.ACensustakenin
1880describesWilliamGrady,sonofJeremiahandHonora,asa
fourteen-year-oldboywhoworkedonthefamilyfarm.Thomaswasalso
38
listedasworkingonthefarmatageeleven.Abbigail,whowas
seventeenatthetime,waslistedasworkinginthewoolenmill.The
olderboyswereusuallyrecordedasworkingwiththeirfatherbythe
ageofeleven.Sometimesboyswouldbeginworkwiththeirfathersat
youngerages,dependingonthefamilycircumstances.
JeremiahGradydidleavearecordofhisthoughtsinalettertotheeditor
ofTheHartfordCourantin1872.Itgivessomeinsightintohisthoughts
andcharacter:
TheHarfordDailyCourantFeb,28,1872
TheEastHartfordRow
TotheEditoroftheCourant
“ThefactsasstatedinyourpaperinregardtotherowattheFarmer's
HotelinEastHartfordweresubstantiallycorrect.Iamtheman
representedascomingfromBolton.Thefactswerethen:Itogetherwith
mysonwaspassingtheabovenamedHotelontheafternoonofthe17th,
whenoneoftheKimball'shailedmeandwishedmetogointotheHotel
asbesaidhewantedtobuymytobacco.He(Kimball)askedmemy
price.ItoldhimIhadbeenofferedTwenty-sevencentsallround.
Kimballthenofferedmeeightcents.Imadeashortandcurtremark.
Kimballthenstruckandkickedmeinamostshamefulmanner,the
proprietoroftheHotelnotinterferingintheleastinmybehalfortrying
toquellthedisturbance.Thereasonofmymakingthisstatementisin
consequenceofanarticleinlastSaturday'sTimes,fromFields,
contradicingthearticleyouhadpreviouslypublished.”
JeremiahGrady,Vernon,Feb,27,1872
39
ChapterFour:TheFightingIrish
The14thRegiment,DCompanyofConnecticut
AsthecallforvolunteersechoedthroughTollandCounty,menofevery
walkoflifestartedcoming,oneafteranother.Noonewantedwar,but
feltitwastheirdutyasfreementodefendtherightsofallAmericans,
slaveorfree.JeremiahGrady,thetoughIrishmanfromVernon,wasone
ofthemwhoansweredthecalltoarms.Hewasamanwhohadworked
inthequarriesformanyyears,builthugebridgesinmorethanone
state,andworkedasafarmeronhisownland.Hehasbeendescribed
bythosewhoknewhimasalarge,muscularIrishman.Hissizewasa
resultofyearsofhardwork,andperhapsatouchofgenetics.
JeremiahleftIrelandwhenhewastwenty-nineyearsold.Hisfirstbig
jobwaswhenheworkedfortherailroadinNewHampshire.Hewas
thirty-threewhenhisdaughterMarywasbornin1848.Sixyearslaterin
1854atagethirty-nine,hemovedtoVernon.HejoinedtheArmyin
1861or1862atageforty-sixorforty-seven.Hemayhavebeenbornin
Ireland,butnowhewasanAmericanpioneer,amanwhobelievedit
washispatrioticdutytodefendthisnation,andhedidsowithcourage
andconviction.Hefoughtforhisfamilyandforhisnewcountry.
TheGovernmentwasofferingfreelandinNebraskatothosewhojoined
theUnioncause,whichmayhavebeenanotherreasonhesignedup.His
boys,thoughveryyoung,wouldnodoubthelparoundthefarmwhile
Jeremiahwasaway.Honorawouldbeleftincharge,andprobablyhad
helpfromfamilyandfriends.LettersfromJerrywouldalwaysbe
greetedwithtearsofjoy,asthesepricelesslettersassuredthemhewas
okay.Ithadtobehardonthewholefamily.Thechildrenmissedtheir
father,buttheyknewhewasdoingtherightthing.Surelytheyprayed
forhim,athomeandattheirchurch.Jerry,BenjaminHirst,andother
braveIrishAmericansgavetheirall,andaskedforverylittleinreturn.
InabookabouttheCivilWarentitled,TheVolunteerSonsofConnecticut,
writtenbyBlaikieHines,thereisacollectionofstatisticsand
informationregardingthesoldiersfromConnecticut.Heinterviewed
menwhohadexperiencedthiswarfirsthandandthenwroteabook
40
aboutit.Thefollowingstatisticsandinformationweretakenfromhis
research.
In1860,thepopulationofthetownofVernonwas3,838includingthe
villageofRockville.336menfromVernonservedinanumberof
militaryunitsrangingfromheavyartillerytocavalrytolightbatteries,
butthebulkofthemenwereintheinfantry.Somesoldierswere
fortunateenoughatthewar’sendtoreturnhomeunharmed,buta
numberwerenot.
TotalofVernonCasualties:Died-36;KilledorMissing-14;Wounded-
72;Captured-39;Deserted-42.
ThemenfromVernonservedinanumberofdifferentregiments,each
regimenthavingitsownhistoryofmarchesandbattles.The14th
regimentoftheConnecticutVolunteerInfantrymustbementioned
here,becausethenumberofVernonresidentswhoservedinthisunit
wasmany.Jeremiahwasrightthere,readytogoandservehiscountry.
The14thConnecticutInfantry(NutmegRegiment)wasaninfantry
regimentthatparticipatedinmanybattlesduringtheAmericanCivil
War.ItparticipatedintheBattleofGettysburg,helpingtorepulsethe
Confederateattackonthethirdday.ThisattackwasknownasPickett's
Charge.The14thorganizedatHartford,ConnecticutonAugust23,
1862,andmusteredintothevolunteerarmy.Jeremiahmayhaveridden
hiswagonthere,orperhapsriddenthetrain.Allwereallyknowisthat
hewenttoHartfordtobemusteredintheArmedServices,andthathe
waslaterwounded.
Theorganizationofthe14thRegimentbeganundertheorder
promulgatedMay22,1862,tofurnishConnecticut'scontingentofthe
fiftythousandmencalledforbytheWarDepartmentinWashington,
D.C.ThemenofVernon,Rockville,andBoltonhadansweredPresident
Lincoln’scallandwerewillingtoleavetheirfamiliesandfarmsto
defendtheircountry,andtodefeatslavery.Manyofthemdidnotmake
itbackhome.
41
JeremiahGradywaspromotedtotherankofLieutenantpriortobeing
wounded.Hesurvivedmanybattles,earninghiswayuptheranks;he
achievedfivepromotions,tobeexact.
AcompanywasthebasicunitinaCivilWararmy.Itconsistedofabout
100menandwascommandedbyaCaptain.Companieswerenamed
withthelettersA–K(JwasnotusedbecauseitlookedtoomuchlikeI.).
JerryservedinDCompany,14thregiment.Aregimentusuallycontained
tencompanies.ThusaregimentintheCivilWarhadapproximately
1,000menandwascommandedbyaColonel.Iftheunithadonlyfourto
eightcompanies,itwascalledabattalionratherthanaregiment.
TheranksusuallybeganwithPrivate,Corporal,Sergeant,Sergeant
Major,andthenLieutenant.DuringtheCivilWar,Lieutenantswere
secondincommandofinfantryandcavalrycompaniesandartillery
batteries.InfantryLieutenantsassistedtheCaptainsintheirpositions
behindthelineofbattlebyguidingthetroopsintheirmovementsand
firing.
JeremiahGradywouldhaveledthemenunderhim,ashemovedupin
theranks.Heseemedtobeanatural-bornleader.Hehadsetanexample
forhisfellowsoldierstofollow.
Jeremiahoftentoldofthehistoricallyfamousbattlebetweenthe
MonitorandtheMerrimac,whichhehadviewedfromtheshore.Itwas
alsocalledBattleofHamptonRoadsandoccurredonMarch9,1862
duringtheAmericanCivilWar.ThisnavalengagementatHampton
Roads,Virginia,wasattheharboratthemouthoftheJamesRiver.Itis
rememberedasthefirstduelbetweenironcladwarshipsandthe
beginningofaneweraofnavalwarfare.
ThewayshipswerebuiltwouldneverbethesameaftertheAmerican
CivilWar.JeremiahGradyandCharlesLymanwerefriendsbefore,
during,andafterthewar.ItisfromthejournalsofCharlesLymanthat
weknowanythingaboutJeremiahGradyduringthewar,andhowhe
wasshotinFredericksburg.Otherthanthat,thereisnotmuchmore
writtenabouthim.
42
Majorbattlesinwhichthe14thConnecticutRegimentfoughtincluded
theseplacesinVirginia;Fredericksburg;Chancellorsville;Falling
Waters;Auburn;BristoeStation;Blackburn'sFord;MineRun;Morton's
Ford;Wilderness;LaurelHill;Spotsylvania;NorthAnnaRiver;
Tolopotomy;ColdHarbor;Petersburg;DeepBottom;Ream'sStation;
BoydtonPlankRoad;HatchersRun;Highbridge;andFarmville;also
Antietam,Maryland;Gettysburg,Pennsylvania;andtheSurrenderof
Lee'sArmyfromMarch30toApril10,1865.
Asthiswarbegan,the14thRegimentdidnotreplacetheirdeador
woundedwithfreshtroopsasotherregimentsdid.Infact,whenthey
arrivedatGettysburgonJuly2,1863,theywerereducedto165men,
includingofficers.Theyfoughtbravelyasthewarproceeded.Afterthe
BattleofGettysburg,theyweredownto100men.Somanyhadriskedit
alltomakeequalityforallpossible,evensacrificingtheirownlives.
Someunitsrefusedtoreplacedeadsoldiers,butbecauseoftheintensity
ofthiswar,the14thbecameoneofthefirstexceptionstothisruleand
inlateJuly1863followingthebattleofGettysburg,agreatnumberof
menwererecruitedinNewHavenCountytoreplacetheheavily
depletedranks.The14thRegimentwaspushingonwarddespitetheir
heavylossesduringthiswar.Tofightone’sowncountrymenwas
difficulttodo,butatthispointtheyhadnochoice.
OnAugust25,1862,the14thRegimentbrokecampandheadedtoward
Washington.TheRegimentwasassignedtothe2ndBrigadeofthe3rd
Division,SecondArmyCorpsunderDwightMorris;withLieutenant
ColonelS.H.PerkinsinchargeoftheRegiment.OnSeptember7,itwas
orderedtomoveoutwiththearmy,passingthroughRockville,
MarylandtotheRockvilleCamp.
Thefirstcasualty,JamesMcVay,diedofexhaustionfromthemarchas
theregimentapproachedthecamp.ThenonSeptember11,the
regimentmarchedtoClarksburg,MarylandandreachedFrederickCity,
MarylandonSeptember13.ItmarchedtoSouthMountainandarrived
onSeptember14,justafterBattleofSouthMountain'send.
OnSeptember17,1862,theregiment'sfirstactionwasattheBattleof
Antietam.TheregimenttraveledalongtheflankandenteredtheEast
43
Woods,passingthroughMumma'sorchardandcornfieldtowardthe
Confederateline.Thegreentroopsperformedwell,butcasualtiescame
fromConfederatefireandaccident;includingacaseofanexploding
shellofCompanyDwhichkilledthreeandwoundedothers.Intotal,
twenty-onemenwerekilledandeighty-eightwoundedandtwentyeightmissing.ThedeathofCompanyF'sCaptainBlinnwasfilledby
SamuelMoore.
JerryGradyfoughtbesidehisbrothers-in-arms,withshotsflyingin
everydirection.Hiscourageintensifiedasheheardthewarcryof
othersechoaroundhim.TheVernonandRockvilleboysweregivingit
theirall.Theirbraverywouldnotsoonbeforgotten.
OnSeptember22,the14thRegimentstartedtomarchtoHarper'sFerry.
CrossingtheShenandoahonOctober30,theregimentmarchedonto
Warrenton,Virginia.TheyarrivedonNovember7.OnNovember15th,
theregimentmovedoutyetagain;theymadecampatBellePlainbefore
marchingtoFredericksburgonDecember10.Duringthebattle,tenmen
werekilled,twentywerelistedasmissingandninety-twowere
wounded,includingJerryGrady.
DuringthehighpointofPickett'schargeonJuly3,1863,thecolorsof
the14thTennesseeInfantryC.S.A.wereplantedfiftyyardsinfrontof
thecenterofSergeantMajorHincks'regiment.Therewereno
Confederatesstandingbyit,butseveralwerelyingontheground
aroundit.AssoonastheorderbyMajorEllistocapturetheflagwas
issued,thissoldierandtwoothersleapedoverthewall.Onecompanion
wasinstantlyshot.SergeantMajorHincksout-ranhisremaining
companionrunningstraightandswiftforthecolorsamidastormof
shot.SwinginghissaberovertheprostrateConfederatesandutteringa
terrificyell,heseizedtheflagandhastilyreturnedtohislines.
The14thTennesseecarriedtwelvebattlehonorsonitsflag.The
devotiontodutyshownbySergeantMajorHincksgaveencouragement
tomanyofhiscomradesatacrucialmomentofthebattle.TheGeneral
Orders’DateofIssue:December1,1864.
ThefollowingcontributionwasmadebyMajorHinckstotheMinutesof
theRegimentalSocietyatitsmeetingatHartfordSeptember17,1879,
44
"TheregimentwasbadlycutupinthechargeuponMarye'sHeights,and
SergeantCharlesE.Dart,ofRockville,whocarriedtheStateflag,was
mortallywounded.SergeantGeorgeAugustusFooteattemptedtofillhis
place,butwasshotinthelegandfell.Hisbiographer.CaptainGoddard,
says:—'Afterlyingonthefieldashorttime,hetriedtorise,butwas
instantlyfireduponagainbytherebels,woundinghimslightlyinthe
headandinthehip.Alltherestofthatawfulday,helaystillwherehe
hadfallen.Threetimesourmenchargedoverhim,ofcoursetrampling
onhiswoundedleg,whilehe,half-delirious,beggedthemtokillhim,to
endhissufferings.
Butnoonehadtimethentoattendtoonepoor,woundedfellow.That
nighthemanagedtocrawlofftoalittlehutnearthefield,wheresome
otherwoundedmenhadhungoutayellowflag.Heretheylaywitha
littlehardtack,andstilllesswater,tillthethirddayafterthefight,when
theywerevisitedbyaRebelofficerwithafewmen.Hespokeroughlyto
them,asking,"Whattheywereherefor?"andtwoorthreebegan
whiningandsayingthey"didnotwanttofighttheSouthbutwere
draftedandobligedtocome,'whenFootecoollyliftedhisheadandsaid,
"IcametofightRebels,andIhavefoughtthem,andifeverIgetwellI
willcomebackandfightthemagain."‘Bullyforyou'saidtheofficer,'you
areaboythatIlike,'andatoncegavehimsomewateroutofhisown
canteen,sentoneofhismenformore
water,washedhislegandfootandbounditupaswellashecould,
paroledhim,andhelpedhimacrosstherivertotheLacey-house
hospital.Infact,heandhismengavehimablanket,andcheeredhimas
thewagondroveoff."
Source:
http://military.wikia.com/wiki/14th_Connecticut_Infantry_Regiment
TheStateflagwaspickedup,notfarfromthefamoussunkenroadheld
bytheRebelinfantry,byWilliamB.HincksandF'rederickB.Dotenof
Bridgeport.Itremainedintheirkeepingthroughthedayandthey
broughtitsafefromthefieldatthecloseoftheengagement.Sergeant
DartdiedatSt.Mary'sHospital,Washington,D.C,January6,1863.Note:
CharleyLyman'sstorybeganwithsomeoriginalresearchthatBolton
residentJohnMastondidatBentleyLibraryaboutCharley'sgoodluck.
ThereisalsoaNewYorkTimesarticlefromMay13,1883,thepapersof
45
BookerT.Washington,abookonTeddyRoosevelt,andfinallya1906
booktitled"MenofMarkinAmerica."Allfillintheincrediblelifeofthis
oncenationallyknownBoltonCivilWarhero.
CharlesLymanwasBornApril10,1843,toJacobandDorcasLymanof
Bolton.Charlesattendedaone-roomschoolhouseinBoltonduringthe
winterandworkedasafarmhandduringthesummer.Byagesixteenhe
wasateacherattheBoltonBirchMountainSchoolhouse.Atage
nineteenhefinishedhisformaleducation,takingonetermatRockville
HighSchoolandthenvolunteeringtofightinPresidentLincoln'sarmy
July21,1862.
Forty-eightyoungmenfromBolton,roughlysevenpercentofBolton's
population,marchedoffaspartsoffourregiments.The16thwasthe
HardLuckRegiment;theotherswerejustluckless.Therewerenolucky
divisions,justsurvivors.Charleswasinthe14thandtheywerecalledto
dutyonAugust20,1861,justfourdaysbeforetheHardLuckRegiment.
Theyhadalmostnotrainingwhentheyarrivedforthebattleof
Antietam(Sharpsburg),Maryland,thebloodiestsingle-daybattlein
Americanhistory.Fortunately,theBoltonsoldiers,withtheireducation,
hardfarmwork,self-reliance,survivalskills,andhuntingskills,were
somewhatpreparedtosurvivethewar.
Corporal,(laterbecomingSecondLieutenant),CharlesLymanof
CompanyK,wroteabouttheirexperienceinthebattleof
Fredericksburg:"OurregimentwentuponthefieldbywayofCaroline
Street,therailroaddepotandrailroadcausewayturningsharplytothe
rightunderamostgallingfire,assoonaswewereoverthecanal,which
runsbetweenthetownandtheplateau,whichwasthesceneofconflict.
Afterreachingourproperpositionintheline,W'Cwereorderedtolie
down.
“Onourwaytothisposition,wepassedthreehaystacks,andImention
thefactherebecausetheywillfigureprominentlyinmystorylateron.
Whileoccupyingthepositionjustmentioned,waitingourturnto
'charge,'wesufferedmuchfromtheenfiladingfireofaConfederate
batterypostedonthehighgroundfartoourright.Itwasatthispoint
thatJohnSymondsandOliverDartreceivedtheirseriouswounds,and
notatthefarfront,asstatedbyChaplainStevensinhissouvenir
46
volume.SymondsandDartandIwerelyingsidebyside,Symondson
theright,Dartnext,andInext,withafencepostaboutfourinches
squarebetweenDart'sheadandmine,notahugefencepostasstatedin
Souvenir.
“Ashellfromthebatteryonourrightburstnearus,andanirregularly
shapedfragment,probablyaboutthreeincheslongandtwoinches
wide,struckthegroundinfrontofSymonds,throwingsandinhiseves
andpermanentlydestroyinghissight;liftingfromitscontactwiththe
groundittoreawaypartofDart'supperjawandnoseandstruckthe
postdirectlyoppositemyhead.Butforthepostitwouldhavestruckme
intherightsideofmyheadandprobablyproducedinstantdeath.
“Whenourtimecametocharge,andwemovedforward,wehadgone
butashortdistancewhenJohnJulianreceivedhiswoundatmyside.A
littlelaterIrvingM.Charterwasalsowoundedatmyside.Thesearethe
onlyonesIrecallwhowerewoundedwhiletouchingelbowswithme
afterthewoundingofSymondsandDart.
“Whenwehadreachedourfarthestadvanceandourchargehadspent
itsforce,andtheremnantwasfallingback,ourfire,inmyvicinityat
least,havingwhollyceased,Iobservedanofficercomeoutofthe
Stevenshouseimmediatelyinourfront,whichwastheheadquartersof
GeneralCobb,whocommandedtheConfederatebrigadeoccupyingthe
roadbehindthestonewallagainstwhichwehadcharged,and
apparentlysurveythefieldnowcoveredwithourdeadandwounded.
Note:TheStephensHousewasbuiltpriortothewarandlivedinby
EdwardStephensandhiscommon-lawwife,MarthaStephens,who
interchangeablyusedthreelastnamesinwrittenrecords.Duringthe
BattleofFredericksburg,thehousewasusedasaheadquartersbyGeneral
ThomasCobbandGeneralJosephKershaw.
“MyriflewasloadedandItookaimandfiredwithoutapparentresult.I
immediatelybeganreloadingforasecondshot,butbeforeIwasready
themanpassedoutofsight,eitherintoorbesidethehouse,butalmost
immediatelyreappeared.Iwasreadyandfiredasecondshot,without
effect.Asawedfence-postaboutfourinchessquareatthetopwas
standingimmediatelyinfrontofme,andasIwasfiringmysecondshot
47
abulletfromtheenemystruckthecornerofthepost,knockedasplinter
offit,wasdeflected,andjustpassedmyrightside.Butforthepostit
wouldhavestruckmejustaboutinthestomach.Mymanremainedin
sightandIloadedforathirdshot.Bythistimeanumberofbulletscame
uncomfortablynearme.
“TogetasteadyaimIdecidedtorestmyrifleonthetopofthepost,and
asIdroughtittomyshoulderabulletstruckthestockjustbackofthe
hammer,wasdeflectedandpassedovermyrightshoulder.Hadtheball
notbeendeflecteditwouldhaveenteredmybreast.Notwithstanding
theincidentIrestedmyrifleonthetopofthepost,tookasdeliberate
aimaspossibleandfired.Themanfell,andothersimmediately
gatheredabouthim.
“Iturnedandstartedtotherear,noticingasIdidsothatnotamanwas
onhisfeetwithinmanyyards,probablytwoorthreerodsofme,and
whatwasleftofmyregimentwasatleastahundredyardsaway,bullets
wereflyingverythickaboutmeand1hadnoexpectationofgettingoff
thefieldalive,asitwasfullythreehundredyardstothenearestcover.
“Ihadnotgonefarwhenabulletwentthroughmyhaversack,which
washangingonmylefthip,breakingupthefewhard-tackIhadand
punchingaholethroughmycoffeeandsugarbags.Ikeptmovingata
fastwalk,buthadgonebutafewyardsfurtherwhenashellburstover
meandIfeltaheavyblowbetweenmyshouldersonmyblanketroll,
(sixoreightinchesindiameter),which,Isupposed,camefroma
fragmentoftheshell.
“AlittlefurtheronIwasconsciousthatabulletpassedbetweenmylegs
aboutsixinchesabovemykneesandaholeintheskirtofmyovercoat
wasconfirmationofthefact.NothingfurtherhappenedtomeuntilI
reachedtheedgeoftheplateaunearthecanal.HereIfoundan
excavationintothesideofabankevidentlyintendedforanicehouse
whichhadnotbeenfinished,onlyoneside,thattowardtheenemy,
havingbeenplankedup.
“Thisexcavation,asIrecallit,wasthirtyorfortyfeetsquareand
affordedacompleteprotectionfromtheenemy'sriflefire.Ihadscarcely
reachedtheplacewhenInoticedJerryGrady,alargemuscularIrishman
48
ofmycompany(D),crawlinginonhishandsandkneesandnoticingme
atthesametime,hesaid"ThankGod,Charles,youarehere."Isaidto
him"Jerry,what'sthematter?"Hereplied'I'vegotit.""Where?"saidI.
"Inmyfoot,"saidhe.
“Iremovedhisshoeandfoundinitaminnieball,whichhadenteredat
theheel,passedthroughtheentirelengthofthefootandcomeout
betweenthetoes.Thewoundwasasevereone,thebonesofthefoot,
beingbadlybrokenandcrushed.Ibounditupwithhishandkerchiefas
wellasIcould,andathisrequestfilledhisclaypipewithplugtobacco
andlighteditforhim.
Aminnieball
“WhilecaringforJerry,someoneremarkedtome"Yourblanketsaved
yourlife.""Howso,"Isaid."Thereisaholeinit,"hereplied.Heremoved
it,andsureenoughtherewasahole,theextentofwhichIcouldnot
measurewithmyfinger,sounrolledtheblanket,andfoundinita
minnieball,whichhadpassedthroughfourteenfoldsofit.Thisthen
wasthecauseoftheblowIhadfeltbetweenmyshoulderswhencoming
offthefieldandevidentlytheballhadvelocityenoughtohavecarriedit
completelythroughmybodybutfortheblanket.Iputitinmypocket,
andnowhaveit,morethanforty-threeyearsafterI"caughtitonthe
fly."
“DuringtheremainderoftheafternoonanduntilquitedarkIremained
inthisexcavation,renderingsuchassistancetothewounded,ofwhom
therewereprobablyahundredbeforethedaywasover,asthe
extremelylimitedfacilitiesathandpermitted.Inbindingupwounds
andstoppingtheflowofbloodIusedhandkerchiefs,piecesofblankets,
whichIcutupforthepurpose,andeventheshirtsofthewounded.I
havealwayslookedbackuponthetimespentinthatplacewithgreat
satisfaction,becauseofthecomfortIwasabletoministertothepoor
49
fellowswhowerewoundedinalldegrees,fromsimplescratchestothe
mostghastlylacerations.Imayhavesavedthelivesofsome,probably
did.Thoughaboyofnineteen,Itriedtodoaman'sandsurgeon'swork
thatday.
“Asthenightcameonandthefightingceased,IdeterminedtogetJerry
Gradytoahospitalinthecity,ifpossible.Ithereforegothimonmy
back,withhisarmsaroundmyneck,takingalegundereachofmyarms,
andstartedbywayoftherailroadstation,theroutebywhichwehad
comeonthefield.BythetimeIhadreachedthehaystacks.Iwasso
nearlyexhaustedthatIwassureIwouldnotbeabletogethiminto
townwithouthelp,andastherewasnohelptobehad,decidedtogetup
asneartoahaystackaspossible,placingitbetweenusandtheenemy,
andmakethenightofitthere.
“OnreachingtheplaceIfoundthegroundliterallycoveredwithcorpses,
withnotaspaceamongthemlargeenoughtoaccommodatetwomen,
soIlaidJerrydownandwentwithinfifteenortwentyfeetofthefirst
stackandmovedseveralbodies,makingaclearspaceaboutsixfeet
square,thenwentbackonthefieldandpickedupseveralblanketsany
numberofwhichcouldbefoundscatteredabout,andmadeas
comfortableabedaspossibleinthespaceIhadcleared.IntothisbedI
putJerry,andthenlaydownbesidehim.Herewespentthenight,and
bothsleptsome,I,morethanhe,becauseIwaswithoutpain,whilehe
sufferedintensely.
“EarlyinthemorningIstartedfortownbywayofHanoverStreettoget
help,andastherewasyetnotruceforburyingthedead,thesharpshootersoftheenemygavemeaprettywarmreceptionwhileexposed
totheirfire.Noneofthem,however,madeahit.Ifirstappliedforhelpat
atemporaryhospital,locatedinawagonshop,justintheedgeofthe
town,butfoundnoonetherewillingtogobackonthefieldwithme.
Continuingthesearchfurther,forperhapsanhour,Ifinallyfoundaman
whowaswillingtotaketherisksinvolvedandgowithme.Ifeltthen
thatthismanhadthetruespiritofasoldierandcomrade,andtoldhim
so,andthankedhimaswarmlyasIcouldforhiswillingnesstorendera
serviceofhumanity,whichinvolvedrealdangerfromthesharp
shooters'fire.
50
“ThroughtheprotectingcareofakindProvidence,orthebad
marksmanshipofthesharp-shooters,wewenttothehaystackand
returnedwithourburdenwithoutharm,thoughmanybulletscame
uncomfortablynearus.WeleftJerryinthewagonshopwhereIhadfirst
goneforhelp,andafterhehadbeenmadeascomfortableaspossible,I
startedoffinsearchofmyregiment,whichaftersometime,Ifoundnear
whereitwasbivouackedthenightbeforethebattle,andwaswelcomed
asonecomebackfromthedead.
“ThenextnightIwasdetailedforserviceatourDivisionhospital,which
hadbeenestablishedatahouseonthestreetnearesttheriver,with
largegroundsaboutit,andseveralverylargetreesinthegroundsback
ofandatthesideofthehouse.Thewoundedofficersweremostlycared
forinthehouse,andthenon-commissionedofficersandprivatesinthe
groundsoutside.WhenIreachedthehospitalIfoundmyfriendGrady
there,anduptothattimehiswoundhadreceivedabsolutelyno
attentionwhateversincetheveryrudeandinadequatedressingIhad
givenitonthefield.Itwasnowmyprivilegetocleanseitwithsoapand
waterandaidthesurgeoningivingitsuchattentionasthe
circumstancespermitted.”
Thebuildingofloghutsforwintershelterwasthefirstpriorityofthe
menofthe14thConnecticutwhentheymarcheddejectedlyintocamp
earlyonthemorningofTuesday,December16.Muchworkwiththeaxe
andspadewasrequired—thefellingoftreesfortimber,cuttingthe
timbertolength,notchingbothendssotheywouldinterlock,andthe
excavationofthefoundation.Theyalsocutshorterlogstobuilda
fireplaceandwhenthelogconstructionwasfinished,theyfilledthe
narrowgapsbetweenthelogswithmudtokeepthecoldwindout.They
alsocoveredtheinsideofthefireplacewithaliberalcoatingofmudto
keepthelogsfromcatchingfireandsendinguptheentirecabinalong
withit.Furnishings,suchasbunks,atable,andacoupleofstools,were
madefromwhateverwasavailable:saplings,hardtackcrates,stavesof
salt-porkbarrels.
Onoccasion,womenslippednotesintoboxesorgarments.EllenM.
SpragueofAndoverstuffedthefollowingintoasock:“MydearFriend
andbrotherinourCountry’scause:ToyourcareandkeepingIcommit
thesesocks,andtrusttheymayneverbedisgracedbyanyconductof
51
theirwearer.Loyalfingersfashionedthem,andmayapatriot’stread,
whoseverystepshalltellagainstourrebelfoes,wearthemthreadbare
(ifneedbe)incrushingthewickedrebellion.Ineverystitchisknita
prayerforournation’sweal,andthehopethatpeacemaysmileupon
ourlandlongerethesebeunfitforuse.”HerletterwaspublishedinThe
CourantinMarch1863.
Womenalsotraveledtobattlefields;beforethecannonshadcooledthey
caredforthesickandwounded.Theymettrooptrainsarrivingin
Connecticutandhelpedsetuphospitalstocareforthemen.Connecticut
didnotescapethebrutalitiesofwar.Theyattendedmanyfuneralsas
thewarcontinued.
Thehomefrontdidmorethanjustprovidemedicalandmaterialhelp
forthetroops.Theyalsohelpedsupplythemwithmuch-needed
weaponryandammunition.ThestateofConnecticuthadnowbecome
hometoaremarkablearrayofarmsandmunitioncompanies.Thisgave
Connecticutanupperhand,andpreventedtheSouthfromblocking
effortstorearmtheUnion.
Oncethewarbegan,theNutmegStatewasavirtualarsenal.Bythemid19thcentury,Connecticutmanufacturershadmasteredthecomplexities
ofinnovation,capital,labor,andrawmaterialsformachine-based,
precisionmassproductionofintricatemetalpartsand,withacollective
anddeeplyrootedfirearmsproductionheritagegoingbackahalf
century,wereideallypoisedtomakearmsfortheUnion.Bythewar’s
end,Connecticutmakershadsuppliedsome43%ofthegrandtotalofall
riflemuskets,breech-loadingriflesandcarbines(lighterrifleswitha
shorterbarrel),andrevolversboughtbytheWarDepartment,along
withstaggeringquantitiesofsmallarmsandartilleryammunition.
ThemostwellknownmanufacturerswereColt’sPatentFire-Arms
ManufacturingCompanyinHartford,EliWhitneyJr.CompanyinNew
Haven,SharpsRifleManufacturingCompanyinHartford,andSavage
RevolvingFireArmsinMiddletown.Yet,therewereothersinthestate,
suchastheConnecticutArmsCompanyinNorfolk,WilliamMuirin
WindsorLocks,andtheNorwichArmsCompany.
52
Therewerealsoahostofsmallersubcontractors.Additionally,firms
likeCollins&CompanyinCollinsvilleproducedswordsandbayonets.
CollinswasthecompanythathadmadeaportionofJohnBrown’s
infamouspikesforhisraidonthefederalarmoryinHarper’sFerry,
Virginia,in1859.Hotchkiss&SonsinSharonmanufacturedallsortsof
newlydesignedartilleryshells.ArmshistorianDavidJ.Naumecwrote,
“Connecticut’sfirearmsindustryachievedanunrivaleddegreeof
successduringtheCivilWar,manufacturingenoughfirearmstoequipa
largeportionoftheUnionarmies.”Manyofthestate’smanufacturers
werealsoinnovators.Between1862and1863,morethanseventy
patentswereissuedtoConnecticutinventors;thevastmajority,some
75%,wereforweaponry.
AftertheBattleofFredericksburg,onlyabout100menwerefitforduty.
LieutenantColonelPerkinshadbeenseriouslywoundedanditwasnot
knownifhewouldreturntoduty.Commandoftheregimentwaspassed
backandforthamongafewofthecompanycaptains.CaptainSamuel
Fiske,tooilltotakepartinthebattle,wrotethefollowingtohisreaders
intheSpringfieldRepublicannewspaper:“Oh,Republican!Myheartis
sickandsad.Bloodandwoundsanddeatharebeforemyeyes;ofthose
whoaremyfriends,comrades,brothers;ofthosewhohavemarched
intotheverymouthofdestructionascoollyandcheerfullyastoany
ordinaryduty.Anothertremendous,terrible,murderousbutcheryof
bravemenhasmadeSaturday,the13thofDecember,amemorableday
intheannalsofthiswar.”
OnApril9,1865,GeneralRobertE.LeemetwithGeneralUlyssesS.
GrantatAppomattox,Virginia,tosurrenderhisarmy,bringinga
conclusiontotheCivilWar.TheCourantreported:"Thenewsofthe
surrenderofLee'sarmywasreceivedbytheCourantthroughaspecial
dispatchfifteenminutesbeforetheofficialannouncementcameandour
flagwasatoncegiventothebreeze.Messengerswereimmediately
dispatchedtonotifythepolice,andhavethebellsofthecityrung."
BooksthatmentionJeremiahGrady:
1.CatalogueofConnecticutVolunteerOrganizations,byConnecticut.
“Adjutant-General'sOfficeGradyJeremiah(hewasdischarged)Dec28
1863Vernon.”
53
2.HeroesforAllTime:ConnecticutCivilWarSoldiersTellTheirStories,by
DioneLongley,BuckZaidel.“HenryWing,andFrederickBurr,andJerry
Grady,allsurvived.”
Note:ThisbookgivesabitmoredetailaboutJerryGrady,thanothers,
"AsCharlesretreatedafterthebattle,hefoundJerry,alargemuscular
Irishmaninhislateforties,crawlingalong.Lyman,JerryGrady,and
perhapsahundredotherwoundedsoldierstookshelterinan
unfinishedicehouseorcellardugintoahill.”
Grady,Jeremiah
BATTLEUNITNAME:14thRegiment,ConnecticutInfantrySIDE:Union
COMPANY:D
ALTERNATENAME:Jeremiah/Gready
NOTES:GeneralNote-OriginalfiledunderJeremiah/Gready
ACompleteMilitaryHistoryandRecordofthe108thRegimentN.Y.by
GeorgeH.Washburn“ROSTEROFTHESURVIVORSOFTHE14th
CONNECTICUTVOLUNTEERS:GradyJeremiahVernonDepotConn”
3.HistoryoftheFourteenthRegiment,ConnecticutVol.Infantry:Company
D:“JeremiahGready,Vernon,private,enlistedJuly30,1862,mustered
August20,1862;woundedDecember13,1862,Fredericksburg,Va.;
dischargedonaccountofdisabilityDecember28,1863.Killed:Private
EdwardMcMann,wounded:SergeantOliverDartinfaceseverely,
CorporalJohnSymondsinfaceseverely,PrivatesCharlesEDartinleg,
54
JosephHirstinlegsseverely,JeremiahGreadyinfootseverely,Solomon
Richardsoninleg,MartinMcShaneinhand,AugustGrossinsideslightly,
JohnJulianinfootslightly,IrvingMCharterinthighslightly,missing
Privates:MartinVBMetcalf,AlbertTown,JohnMcPherson,Charles
Fletcher.”
WhenJeremiahwaswounded,itendedhiscareerasasoldier.The
damagedonetohisfootwouldrequiresurgeryandsometimetoheal.
Nevertheless,Jeremiahwentabouthisbusinessassoonashewasable.
Aboutnineyearslater,hewouldtakeadvantageofPresidentLincoln’s
HomesteadAct,issuedin1862.Nebraskawasofferingthousandsof
acrestoveteransandoncethere,JeremiahchoselandinColfaxCounty.
Jerrywasaccompaniedbyhisdaughter,Mary,andhissons,Jeremiah
andJames.Theyhelpedtheirfatherbuildahouseandbarn,andlater
helpedhimfarmtheland.Aftersomeyears,hewouldleavethislandto
hischildren.Mr.Gradyappearstohavesettledthatlandforhischildren,
ratherthanforhimself.By1880,hisboyswererunningitwithouttheir
father’shelporguidance.
TheGradyboysdidwellforthemselvesandevenincreasedtheamount
oflandtheyowned.Manyoftheirdescendentsarestilltheretoday.
ThosewhostayedbackinVernonwouldassisttheirparentsuntilthe
daytheLordcalledthemhome.
55
JeremiahGradydiedMay30,1897.Hiscauseofdeathwastwofold:
“Constantdischargefromhisfoot,followedbyheartdisease.”Hewas
recordedasbeingaround82yearsold.Asforhiswife,HonoraMyer,her
surnameasfoundinexistingdocuments,wasspelledwithno“s”onthe
end.Itisverypossiblehernamewas“Maher”inIrelandandthebig
GermaninfluenceinRockville,andConnecticutgenerally,causedittobe
misspelled.Infact,atonepointinConnecticut’shistory,therewere
morenewspapersbeingprintedinGermanthaninEnglish.
HonoradiedonAugust2,1899.Thecauseofdeathislistedas
“Sunstroke,dysentery”.SheisburiedinSt.Bridget’sCemeteryin
Vernon,Connecticut.Herfather’snameislistedasEdwardMyer,born
inIreland.Hermother’snameislistedasHonora;nobirthsurnameis
recordedforthemother.
56
ChapterFive: HomesteadinginNebraska
TheGradystorycontinuesthroughthechildrenofJeremiahandHonora
In1872,Jeremiahandthreeofhischildrendrovetheirwagondown
LakeStreettothetraindepotinVernonCenter,Connecticut.Fromthere
theycaughtatraintoNebraska.Oncethere,theyfarmedsomelandin
ColfaxCountyandbuiltthemselvesahouseandabarn.Honorastayed
backwiththeotherchildreninVernonandtookchargeofthefarm
whileherhusbandandtheolderchildrenwereaway.TheGradysmay
havehadrelativesinVernon.Ifthiswerethecase,theyprobablywould
havehelpedaroundthefarm.
Jeremiahwasfifty-sevenyearsoldnowandstillhadproblemswithhis
foot.Takingasmallballinthefootwasnojokingmatter,especially
giventhathemadealivingonhisfeetasamasonanddairyfarmer.He
wastrulyalivingexampleofwhatrealmenaremadeof.
OnceJeremiahwasabletogethisNebraskafarmupandrunningthe
wayafarmshouldbemanaged,perhapstakingafewyears,helethis
childrentakechargeofitandtraveledbytrainbacktoVernon,
Connecticut.Hischildrencontinuedtoworktheland,raiselivestock,
andraisetheirfamiliesthere.ThesurnameGradyhadmultiplied
throughoutColfaxandotherpartsofNebraska.
Gettingfreelandfromthegovernmentwasamazinglysimple.Thefirst
thingahomesteaderhadtodowasfilloutanapplicationformthat
statedseveralfacts:
Youweretwenty-oneyearsofageortheheadofafamily.
YouwereaU.S.citizen,orhaddeclaredyourintentiontobecomea
citizen,andhadneverbornearmsagainsttheUnitedStates.Thismeant
thatConfederatesoldierscouldnotapply.
Youacknowledgedthatyoudidnotalreadyownover320acresofland
withintheUnitedStates,orthatyouhadnotquitorabandonedother
landinthesamestateorterritory.
Youtoldthegovernmentthehomesteadwouldbeforyourexclusive
use.
57
Finally,youpaida$10feeandtoldthelandofficewhichquartersection
oflandyouwanted.
Thatwasitforthefirststep.Next,youhadtomoveontotheland,and
liveonitforfiveyears,unlessyouwereaUnionveteran,inwhichcase
youcouldjustfarmit,andmake"improvements"suchaserectinga
house,barn,orfences.Finally,afterfiveyears,thehomesteaderhadto
fileaformlabeled"FinalProof"indicatingthattheyhadresidedupon
andcultivatedthelandforfiveyears,andhadmadesome
improvements.
Certainspecialactsextendedtheresidencyperiodintheeventof
grasshopperdevastationordrought.Oneofthemajorprovisionsforthe
HomesteadActisthatitprovidedspecialtreatmentforUnionveterans
oftheCivilWar.Afterthewar,asoldierwouldbeallowedtodeductthe
numberofyearsthatheservedintheUnionArmyfromthefive-year
residencyrequirement.Anypersonwhohadbornearmsagainstthe
Unionwasnoteligible.SotheHomesteadActwaspassed,insmallpart,
asarecruitinginducementfortheArmy.
Insomecases,thosewhofoughtinthewarcouldclaimfreelandaslong
astheymettherequirements.Usually,theyhadtobuildalivable
structure,tilltheland,andremainthereforatleastfiveyears.Itis
possiblethatMr.GradyworkedhisfarminNebraskaforthreetofour
yearsbeforeleavingforhishomeinVernon,Connecticut.Perhapshe
traveledbackandforthtoseehiswifeandchildren.
TheKansas-NebraskaActof1854establishedthe40thparallelnorthas
thedividinglinebetweentheterritoriesofKansasandNebraska.The
originalterritorialboundariesofNebraskaweremuchlargerthanthey
aretoday.Theoriginalterritorywasboundedonthewestbythe
ContinentalDivide;onthenorthbythe49thparallelnorth(the
boundarybetweentheUnitedStatesandCanada);andontheeastby
theWhiteEarthandMissouririvers.Asnewterritorieswere
establishedbyCongress,thesizeofNebraskaTerritorywasreduced.
TheContinentalDivideisthegeographicalnorthandsouthlineinthe
UnitedStates,fromwhichtheriversonthewestultimatelyflowtothe
PacificOceanandtheriversontheeasteventuallyflowtotheAtlantic
Ocean.
58
ManyoftheNebraskaTerritory’spioneerswerealreadyskilledfarmers,
comingouttoNebraskatosettlelandastheGradyfamilyhad.The
MissouriRivertownsbecameimportantloadingandshippingdocksfor
anumberoffreightingcorporations.Theycarriedgoodsbroughtupthe
riverinsteamboatstotradingpostsandArmyfortsinthemountains.
Stagecoachesprovidedpassenger,mail,andexpressservice,andfora
fewmonthsin1860and1861,thefamousPonyExpressprovidedmail
service.
ItwasnotunusualtoseewagontrainsrollingthroughtheNebraska
Territoryontheirwaywest.SoldiersatFortKearnyoftenrodewith
them.Fortcommandersassisteddestituteciviliansbyprovidingthem
withfoodandothersupplies,whilethosewhocouldafforditpurchased
suppliesfrompostsutlers.Sutlerssoldtheirgoodsfromthebackofa
wagonorfromatemporarytent.
Travelersreceivedmedicalcarefrommilitarypersonnel,hadaccessto
blacksmithingandcarpentryservicesforafee,andcouldrelyonfort
commanderstoactaslawenforcementofficials.FortKearnyalso
providedsettlerswithmailservices.Telegraphserviceswereavailable
bytheyear1861.Havingthemilitaryclosebyprovedtobebeneficial
forthosefirstpioneers.Thesoldiersactuallymadetravelbetterfor
thesepeoplebymakingregularimprovementsonroads,bridges,and
ferries.OvertimethesefortsgavebirthtonewtownsalongthePlatte
Riverroute.
Astransportationtechnologiesimproved,wagontrainswerereplaced
bythesteamtrain.TheUnionPacificRailroad,thefirsttranscontinental
railroad,wasconstructedwestfromOmahathroughthePlatteValley.In
1867,ColoradowassplitoffasitsownterritoryandNebraska,reduced
insizetoitsmodernboundaries,wasadmittedtotheUnionasastate.
NebraskabecameastateafterthewarbetweentheNorthandSouth
wasover,thehostileIndianshadbeendefeatedalongthefrontier,and
thousandsofimmigrantstraveledwestinsearchoflandtobuildtheir
homes.Theycameinallpossibleways;somecameuptheMissouri
Riverinsteamboats,sometookatrainacrossIowa.Butitappearsthat
moresettlerscameincoveredwagons,or"prairieschooners"asthey
werecalled.Thesewagonsweredrawnbyhorses,mules,oroxen.In
59
thesecamethepioneersandtheirchildren,oftenwithaboxofchickens
tiedontothebackofthewagon.Thesewagonsoftenhadafewcattle
andperhapsthefamilydogfollowingdirectlybehindthem.
AlltheroadsleadingintoandacrossNebraskawerewhitewiththese
landships,whichhadwhitecanvascoversoverthebentwoodto
protectthetravelersfromthehotsun.Soonthevalleysandprairiesof
theeasternhalfofNebraskaweredottedwithdevelopmentswherethey
hadsettled,buildinghomesandfarmsforthemselves.
TherewerethousandsoffamiliesjustliketheGradysinNebraska.The
housesthesepeoplelivedinwereverydifferentfromthehomesyousee
inNebraskatoday.Theearliestofthesepioneerssettledalongthe
streamswheretherewereplentyoftrees.Theywouldbuildloghouses
toprotectthemselvesfromtheelements.However,forthoseforcedto
settleintheprairies,therewasnothingtoworkwithbutsod.They
wouldpileitinrowstoformwalls,coveringthetopwithpoles,grass,
sod,andclay.Theyleftopeningsforthewindowsandadoor.Some
homesteaderswereverycreative.
ThereweremoresodhousesinNebraskathantherewerestructures
madeofwood.Surprisingly,theywerefairlycomfortableasshelters.
Theywerewarminwinterandcoolinsummer.Thesetypesofshelter
weresometimescalled"dobies."
Othersmadetheirhousesbydiggingintothesideofahill,makingahole
inthetoptoventthesmokefromcookingfires.Theybuiltaroofby
coveringthetopoftheholewithsomepoles,grassanddirt.Thesettlers
usuallyleftaspaceopenedinoneendforadoor.Theseshelterswere
called"dug-outs."Thefloorswereoftenthebareground.
Nomatterwhatkindofhomepeoplehadbuiltforthemselves,these
earlysettlersworkedveryhardtobreaklandandplantseeds,keep
theirhomesintact,anddigwells.Alltheyhadtoworkwithwasthe
goodNebraskasoilandwhateverelsenaturecouldprovide.Theyused
thesoiltomaketheirhousesandbarnsandfromittheyraisedallthat
theyhadtoeatandsell.Verykindtothesepioneerswasthisgood,
warm,richNebraskasoil,foroutofitcamethefarms,homesandallthat
makesNebraskawhatitistoday.
60
TherewerenorailroadsintheSouthPlatteregionwhenthecapitalwas
movedthere,andonlytheUnionPacificRailroadwasbuildingnorthof
thePlatte.Inordertoencouragerailroadcompaniestobuild,Congress
grantedhalfthelandoneithersideofthetrackforanumberofmilesto
thecompanybuildingthroughit.Theotherhalfwasleftforthesettlers,
butthehomesteadsinsideofthislandgrantwerecutdownfrom160to
80acres.Lateronin1869,theNebraskalegislaturegave2,000acresof
statelandsforeachmileofrailroad.
TheBurlingtoncrossedtheMissouriRiveratPlattsmouthinJulyofthat
year.ItwasthefirstrailroadtoreachLincoln,andin1872therailroad
workerscontinuedthatroutetoajunction,joiningtheUnionPacificat
Kearney.TheMidlandPacificwasbuiltin1871.Itmadeitswayfrom
NebraskaCitytoLincolnandlatercontinuedwestthroughSeward,
York,andAuroratoCentralCity.TodaytheMidlandPacificbelongsto
theBurlingtonRailroadCompany.
TheSt.JosephandDenverCityRailroadwaslaiddown,goinginto
Nebraskain1870andreachedHastingsin1872,thesameyearthe
Gradysarrived.AlltheselineswereintheSouthPlatteregionof
Nebraska.InNorthPlatte,theOmaha&NorthwesternRailroadreached
asfarasBlair.TheSiouxCity&PacificRailroadwasbuiltfromMissouri
valleytoFremont,andbranchesoftheUnionPacificRailroadwerelaid
downshortlyafter.
Manyhardshipsanddiscouragingeventswereexperiencedbythe
newcomers.Therewereprairiefires,grasshoppers,droughts,and
Indianraids.Thenthereweresomeextremelyhardtimesforthese
settlers,referredtoasthepanicof1873,whichhitthewholecountry.
MostNebraskanswerefarmers,whethertheywantedtobeornot.The
pricesofeverythingthefarmerhadtosellwentdownverylow,solow
infact,thatitwouldhardlypaytohaultheirproducttomarketby1873.
Asrailroadswereveryfewandfarbetween,mostoftheNebraska
farmershadtohaultheirproducealongdistance,someofthemfiftyto
ahundredmiles,justtoreachamarketatarailroadtown.Wheatsoldas
lowasfortycentsabushel,cornaslowaseightcents,eggswerefive
centsadozen,butterwaseightcentsapound,cattleandhogsweretwo
centsapound.Forseveralyears,thesettlersburnedtwistedhayand
61
cornforfuel.Somegrewdiscouragedandmovedbackeast,butothers
stayed,workedharder,saved,andkepttheirhomes.
Slowlytheyearsfrom1873to1878withtheirhardtimes,Indianwars,
grasshoppers,droughts,andgreatprairiefires,passedandbetterdays
came,bringingbettercrops,betterprices,andhopetotheheartsof
thosewhohadenduredsomanyhardships.
Asconditionsimprovedbetweentheyears1870to1880,manynew
settlersmovedintothestate.IrishimmigrantssettledHoltCountyin
1874andGreeleyCountyin1877.GermanssettledinMadison,Stanton,
andThayerCountiesinl867-l870.TheSwedessettledinPolkand
SaundersCountiesaround1870,andinPhelpsandBurtCountiesabout
1880.BohemiansfoundedcoloniesinKnox,Colfax,Saunders,andSaline
Countiesabout1870.
JeremiahGradylikedColfaxaswell,andbuiltafarmthere.Russiansand
GermansbegantosettleJeffersonCountyabout1874andextended
theirsettlementsintoClayandHamiltonCounties.Danish,Swedish,
Bohemian,andPolishimmigrantsfoundhomesinHowardandValley
Counties.FrenchsettlementsweremadeinRichardson,Nemaha,
Antelope,andotherCounties.
EachofthesenationalitiesaddedanewelementtoNebraskalife,
makingthepopulationmorevariedandinteresting.Eachdiditspartin
buildingagreatstate.InNebraska,45percentofalllandwasgivento
homesteaders,thelargestpercentageoflanddistributedbyanyofthe
thirtystatesundertheHomesteadActof1862.
62
ChapterSix:ChildrenofJeremiahandHonoraGrady
TheGradyfamilyhadbeenpartofamovementthatisstilltalkedabout
today.ThechildrenofJeremiahandHonorawereJohn,Mary,Edmund,
Daniel,Abbigail,James,Honora(Hannah),Ellen,Jeremiah,Thomas,and
William.SomeofthechildrenstayedbehindinConnecticut,while
otherschosetosettlelandinNebraskaandelsewhere.
JohnGradymayhavebeenborninMassachusetts(1845-6)whilehis
parents(JeremiahandHonoraGrady)wereinBoston.Onlyoneoutof
threerecordsthatIhaveseendeclareConnecticutasJohn'sbirthplace.
Therefore,itispossibletheGradyswereinBostonforatleasttwoto
threeyears,andthatJohnwasconceivedinMassachusetts.However,
nothinghasbeenfoundtoconfirmthis.
Lateron,JohnwaslivinginNebraskawithhisbrotherJeremiah,staying
thereforacoupleofyears.Johnwasprobablynamedafterhis
grandfather,JohnGrady,whoremainedbackinIreland.Isitpossible
Jeremiahhadamiddlename?Ifso,wasitJohn?Thereisnoproofofthis
butisverypossible.
Thefollowingcensusof1860inVernon,Connecticutseemstobethe
householdofJeremiahandHonoraGrady--butthereisaproblem.The
Censusatthetimehadthename“John”listedasheadofhousehold,not
Jeremiah,whichmayhavebeenamistakeofthecensustaker.The
childreninthis1860reportappeartobetherightchildren,although
birthdatesareoffsome,butthat,too,wascommonplacethen.Thereare
nootherdocumentsinwhichtheoldestchildrenareseentogether.If
“John”and“Hannah”arenotJeremiahandHonoraGrady,theyare
almostidenticalinmanyregards,butespeciallyinthenamingoftheir
children.Untilfurtherevidenceisfoundtobackthistheory,nofinal
conclusionshallbemadeatthistime.
JohnGradyAge52,BorninIreland,1808
HannahGradyAge42,BorninIreland,1818
JohnnGradyAge14,BorninConnecticutin1846
MaryGradyAge12,BorninConnecticutin1848
EdmunGradyAge10,BorninConnecticutin1850
DanielGradyAge8,BorninConnecticutin1852
63
HannahGradyAge4,BorninConnecticutin1856
EllenGradyAge1,BorninConnecticutin1859
BelowarethenamesoftheGradychildrenbornafter1860,takenfrom
an1870censusinwhichJeremiahGradyandHonoraMyersare
mentioned.TheywerelivingonLakeStreetinVernon,Connecticutat
thetime.
JeremiahGradyAge9,BorninConnecticutin1861
AbbyGradyAge7,BorninConnecticutin1863
JamesGradyAge5,BorninConnecticutin1865
WillieGradyAge4,BorninConnecticutin1866
ThomasGradyAge1,BorninConnecticutin1869
MaryGradywasbornMarch24,1848,inKeene,NewHampshire,and
cametoPlatteCountyfromVernon,Connecticutin1872withherfather,
Jeremiah,andtwobrothers.Marycamealongtohelpherfatheronhis
homestead,fivemilesnorthofRichland.Ayearlater,in1873,Mary
marriedDanielFoleyonSeptember30,1873.Theyhadthreechildren:
John,JeremiahandMaryandlivedinPlatteCenter.
ItispossiblethatJerryGradystayedonhisfarminNebraskaforfouror
moreyears,sincehissonsJeremiahandJameswereonlyelevenand
sevenyearsoldatthetime.Mary,however,wasaroundtwenty-four
whenshefirstarrivedwithherfatherandtwobrothers.Inallhonesty,
wereallydonotknowanythingmoreatthistime.Itispossiblethat
MarytookcareofherbrotherswhentheirfatherleftforVernon,
Connecticut.AsapioneerinNebraska,Marywouldlatersharemany
interestingstoriesaboutherexperienceswiththeIndiansinPlatte
County.SheoncetoldthestoryofthetimeIndianscametotheir
homesteadandfrightenedher.Thiswaslongbeforeshewasmarried.
Shewaslivingwithherbrothersonherfather’sland.Maryandher
youngerbrotherJamesranasfastastheycouldtowardsthehomeofa
neighborwomanforprotection.
Theintrudersforcedtheirwayinthehouseandatonepoint,forced
Maryandtheneighborwomantogoouttothewellandpullupenough
waterfortenhorses.Onanotherday,Maryhadanotherencounterwith
thelocalIndians.Shewasinherownhomewhenonecaughther
unawareandfrightenedher.Tosaveherselfandhersmallchildren
64
fromtheIndian,shewavedherapronatthetrainthathadjustpulled
outofRichland.Shekeptwavingatit,hopingsomeonewouldnoticeher.
ThentheIndiancorneredMarybythedoorway,demandingwater,and
thatshepumpitforhim.Hewasalargeman,whichfrightenedherall
themore.Shehadnochoicebuttoactfast,soshequicklyduckedunder
hisarmandrantowardthetrain.Onceshewasspotted,helpwasonits
way.ThetrainmentookcareoftheIndian.MaryFoley’shusbandDaniel
wassectionforemanofthatbranchofUnionPacific,whichmeantthat
Marymayhaveknownsomeofthecrewmembersthatday.
Mary’sexperienceswiththeIndianswerefarfromover.Oneevening
whileshewassittingathertableinthediningroom,sheheard
somethinginthenextroom.Maryheadedtowardthekitchento
investigate,andassheenteredtheroomshefoundthewallslinedwith
Indianchiefs,theirsquaws,andfamilies.SuddenlyabigIndian,thechief
ofthattribe,tookherbythearmandpulledhertowardtheothers.He
wantedtointroducedhertothem,andtotellhertheirsituation,that
theywereallhungryandneededsomefood.Cometofindout,theywere
ontheirwaytoWashington,D.C.andhadrunoutofprovisions.
In1876,theFoleyslefttheGradyhomesteadandmovedtotheone
hundredandsixtyacrefarmtheyhadpurchasednearPlatteCenter.
DanielFoleydiedonJuly4,1877.HehadbeenatColumbusonthatday.
Hehadleftabouthalf-pasttwelveo'clockatnight,seeminglyallrightin
everyway.OnthemorningofJulyfifthataboutsunrise,Mr.C.A.Davis
foundhiminhiswheatfield,sittingontheseatinhiswagon,but
apparentlynotinhisrightmind.DanielsaidtoC.A.Davisthathehad
losthisway,andwhentheroadwasshowntohim,hetoldDavisthathe
needn'tgoanyfartherwithhim.Danielleftbelievinghimselftobeall
right.Supposinghewouldbeokay,C.A.Davisthoughtnothingmore
aboutit,untilhisattentionwasattractedintheeveningtoawagonina
ravineonapartofhisfarmatadistancefromwherehehadlastseen
DanielFoley.Gettingonahorse,hewenttoseewhatwasthematter,
andfoundDaniellyingonhisbackinthewagon,withoutanycovering
overhishead,andfoundthathewasdead.
Thehorseshadbeenunhitched,andtheharnesstakenoffandputinto
thewagon,asthoughthedyingmanrealizedthathisdeathwas
65
imminent.Theloosenedhorses,reachedhomewiththeirhalterstiedup
whichapparentlyDanielhaddone,hopingitwouldattractattentionand
bringsomeonetohisaid.ThehorsesreachedJ.Maher'sataboutten
o'clockThursdaymorning.
DanielFoleylivedonShellCreek,nearM.Maher's.
OncethenewsreachedMaryandherchildren,sadnessfilledtheair,as
tearsswelledintheireyes.Thiswasasadeventindeed.Intime,their
heartswouldmendandMaryGradyFoleywouldremarry.Nebraskaat
thistimewasnotaplaceforawidowedwoman.Sheneededamanto
helpherrunthefarmandtoprovidetheloveeverywomendreamsofas
ayounggirl.
OnNovember23,1881,MaryFoleymarriedMartinN.Burns.Theyhad
sixchildren:RobertW.,ofBeverlyHills,California;JohnC.,ofColumbus,
Nebraska;EdmondD.,ofPlatteCenter,Nebraska;andMrs.Anna
Fleming,ofIrwin,Idaho.LucyandJamesBurnsprecededtheirparents
indeath.
Maryhadyetanothertesttoendure.Shewastakentocourtoverland
sheandherhusbandowned.Sheeventuallywonhercaseandkepther
land,whichwouldonedaybegiventoherchildren.
FromTheColumbusJournal,November30,1881
MARRIEDBURNS-FOLEY--WehavetoannouncethemarriageofMr.
MartinBurnswithMrs.MaryFoley,asoneoftheincidentsofthis
neighborhoodduringthepastweek;aneventwhichwehopemaybe
conducivetothehappinessofthemboth.(PlatteCenter.)
TheremovalofSioux,Pawnee,andPoncaIndianswasfollowedbynew
homesteaders’settlements.In1876,warwiththeSiouxIndiansbroke
outontheNebraskaborder.Thechiefcauseofthiswarwastherushof
whitemenintotheBlackHills,theIndiancountry,forgold.Theroads
mosttraveledtotheBlackHillsledfromtheUnionPacificRailroad
acrossnorthwesternNebraska,crossingtheNorthPlatteatCampClark
Bridge.Thousandsofpeopletraveledtheseroadsandhadfrequent
fightswiththeSiouxIndianswhoclaimedallthecountrynorthofthe
Platte.
66
Whenpeacewasfinallymade,theSiouxgaveupalltheirlandin
westernNebraskaandremovedthemselvestoSouthDakota.The
PawneeandPoncaTribesweremovedtoOklahomain1875and1877.
Asaresult,nearlyallofnorthernNebraskawasopenedfornewsettlers.
EdmundGradywasbornin1850inConnecticut.Hewasablacksmith
bytrade.Edmund enlisted in the Army on November 17, 1873 at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was discharged on October 15, 1878. In
1880, he was living with his brother Jeremiah in Nebraska. Hemarrieda
womanbythenameofEmma.TheirdaughterHanora P. Grady was born
in Idaho on June 18, 1883. They also had a son, Ralph Grady, who was born
in Ellensburg, Washington on March 12, 1887.
EdmundjoinedtheArmyatatimewhentheIndianwarswiththeSioux
inMontanawereongoing.HewasinCompanyB,2ndCavalry.Edmund
couldhavebeenambushedalongwithGeneralCusterandhismen,but
itappearsasthoughGodwaswatchingoutforhimthatday.
Thefollowingexplainsthedetailsbehindthisevent:“Onebattalionof
theSecondRegimentnearlyjoinedCusterbeforehislaststand.InJune
1876,LieutenantColonelGeorgeA.CusteroftheSeventhCavalrywas
offeredtheuseofthe"MontanaBattalion"oftheSecondRegiment,buthe
declinedtheoffer.On25JuneCusterstumbledintoaforceof5000Sioux
warriorswhokilledeveryofficer,soldier,andcivilianinCuster'swingof
theSeventhCavalry.Twodayslater,theMontanaBattaliondiscoveredthe
evidenceofCuster'sfate.
ByApril1877,mostofthecavalryRegimentsoftheUnitedStateswas
engagedinwarfarewithseveralsmallbandsofIndians.TheCheyenne
surrenderedinDecember.AlthoughSittingBullescapedintoCanada,
CrazyHorsesurrenderedinAprilof1878.Thisleftonlyachiefnamed
LameDeerandhiswarriorsonsoilclaimedbytheU.S.government,but
theU.S.Cavalry,includingthe"MontanaBattalion"oftheSecondCavalry,
wasinpursuit.Marchingdayandnightwithonlyshortbreaks,the
cavalrymenreachedtheareaofanIndianencampmentnearLittleMuddy
Creek,Montana,on6May.”Takenfrom:
(http://www.secondcavalry.org/1865-1897.htm).
In1893,Edmund,alsoknownasEdGrady,becamesomethingofahero
67
inthetowninwhichhelived.Twomenwhohadbeenarrestedfortheir
crimes,McCarthyandLewis,aliasWarner,madeaboldbreakforliberty
fromthelocaljail.Therobberssucceededinmakingtheirescapeinto
thestreet,whereabattletookplacebetweenthemandthecitizens,
includingEdGrady.
“ToMattWarner,however,belongstheunenviabledistinctionofhaving
themostnotoriousrecordofanyoutlawsincethedaysoftheJames
boys.HewasbornaboutthirtyyearsagonearMantiofDanishparents.
HisrealnameisRasmusChristensen.Itseemsthathisthieving
proclivitiesmanifestedthemselvesearly,foritisrelatedthatwhenhe
wasonly10yearsoldhestoleabandofcattle….Henextbobbedup
underthenameofRasLewis,nearBakerCity,Ore.Therehemetthe
McCarthygangandtheRoslynbankrobberywasplanned.By
arrangementthebandmetatFrankBeezly'sranch,abouttwentymiles
fromCouleeCity,fromwhichpointthestartwasmade.Therobbery
provedonlypartlysuccessful,thebanditssecuringonlyabout$6,000,
whichwasfarshortofwhathadbeenexpected.Theofficerswereledon
thewrongtrailandfinallyarrestedthreeinnocentcowboys,whowere
broughttoEllensburgandoneofthem,CalHale,convictedand
sentencedtoservesevenyearsinthepenitentiary.Theothershad
undoubtedlybeenconvictedalso,onlythatWarner'ssister-in-law,who
knewallabouttheplanningoftherobbery,informedonhim.
Anexcitingchasefollowed,andWarnerandGeorgeMcCarthywere
finallyovertakennearBakerCity,Ore.TheywerebroughttoEllensburg
andtried.Mrs.Warner'ssisterappearedasprincipalwitnessagainstthe
gang,butdespitetheconvincingevidence,ahungjurywastheresult.
Shortlyafterthecasesweredismissed.WhileconfinedintheEllensburg
jail,McCarthyandLewis,aliasWarner,madeaboldbreakforliberty.
Therobberssucceededinmakingtheirescapeintothestreet,wherea
battletookplacebetweenthemandthecitizens,bywhomtheywere
recognized,inwhichbothrobbersandonecitizenwereslightly
wounded”(Source:TheSaltLakeHerald,Sep9,1896,Transcribedby
J.S).
“WillardErastusChristiansonakaMattWarner,akaRasLewis,akaThe
MormonKid.(1864–December21,1938),wasanotablefigurefrom
theoldwestthatwasafarmer,cowboy,rancher,ferryman,rustler,bank
68
robber,justiceofthepeace,lawman,andabootlegger.Heoperatedin
theRobber'sRoostareaofUtahbeforeteamingupwithButchCassidy.
Whileontherunfromthelaw,hemarriedRoseMorgan.Forawhilehe
operatedacattleranchinWashington'sBigBendCountry.Laterhe
operatedaranchonDiamondMountaininUtah.
HewasthesonofaSwedishfarmerandaGermanmotherwhohad
cometoUtahasMormonConverts.Duringafightasateenin1878,he
thoughthehadkilledamanandranawayfromhisparents’homewith
theintentionofbecomingacowboy.Heinsteadbecamearustlerand
earnedthenametheMormonKid.In1896,hehadanargumentwitha
MexicanonDiamondMountainUtahneartheGreenRiver.Hewas
sentencedto5yearsinUtahStatePrisonforthisincident.Theother
mandidsurvive.
TheRoslynBankRobbery:Helaterbeatthechargesagainsthimandleft
Ellensburgafreeman.
In1897,intheUintaMountains,Utah,hewasinvolvedinagunfight
wheretwomenwerekilledandhewaslaterconvictedofmanslaughter
forthisincident.Afterhisreleasefromprison,duringwhichtimehis
wifehaddied,heremarriedandsettledinCarbonCounty,Utah.Heran
forpublicofficeunderhisrealname,WillardErastusChristianson,and
lost.HethenhadhisnameofficiallychangedtoaliasMattWarner,the
namemostpeopleknewhimby,andwaselectedjusticeofthepeace
andthenservedasadeputysheriff.Laterheworkedasanightguard
anddetectiveinPrice,Utah.HediedanaturaldeathonDecember21,
1938attheageofseventy-four.”(TakenfromWikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willard_Erastus_Christianson)
In1900,Edmundwaslivinginaroominghouse.Heisdescribedinone
documentasa“widow.”AccordingtotheFederalCensustakenin1910
and1920,EdmundwaslivingwithhissisterEllenandherhusband,
HumphreyMonathan,inWashingtonTerritory.Hewaslistedas
“brother-in-law”inoneCensus,andasa“partner”inanother.Hemay
havegoneintobusinesswithHumphrey.EdmunddiedinCowiche,
Yakima,Washington,onAugust25,1932.
69
EdmundGradyjoinedtheArmyatatimewhentheIndianwarswiththe
SiouxinMontanawereongoing.HewasinCompanyB,2ndCalvary.
EdmundcouldhavebeenambushedalongwithGeneralCusterandhis
men,butitappearsasthoughGodwaswatchingoutforhimthatday.
Thefollowingexplainsthedetailsbehindthisevent:“Onebattalionof
theSecondRegimentnearlyjoinedCusterbeforehislaststand.InJune
1876,LieutenantColonelGeorgeA.CusteroftheSeventhCavalrywas
offeredtheuseofthe"MontanaBattalion"oftheSecondRegiment,buthe
declinedtheoffer.On25JuneCusterstumbledintoaforceof5000Sioux
warriorswhokilledeveryofficer,soldier,andcivilianinCuster'swingof
theSeventhCavalry.Twodayslater,theMontanaBattaliondiscoveredthe
evidenceofCuster'sfate.ByApril1877,mostofthecavalryRegimentsof
theUnitedStateswasengagedinwarfarewithseveralsmallbandsof
Indians.TheCheyennesurrenderedinDecember.AlthoughSittingBull
escapedintoCanada,CrazyHorsesurrenderedinAprilof1878.Thisleft
onlyachiefnamedLameDeerandhiswarriorsonsoilclaimedbytheU.S.
government,buttheU.S.Cavalry,includingthe"MontanaBattalion"of
theSecondCavalry,wasinpursuit.Marchingdayandnightwithonly
shortbreaks,thecavalrymenreachedtheareaofanIndianencampment
nearLittleMuddyCreek,Montana,on6May.”
Takenfrom:(http://www.secondcavalry.org/1865-1897.htm)
70
HereisanothercolorfulstoryfromthelifeofEdGradyfromthelocal
newspaper.Animageofthefullpageisbelowtheexcerptedsectionof
thefrontpageofTheDallesDailyChronicle.
71
72
CO
Halle
l)c
vol. v.
THE DALLES, OREGON, MONDAY,
L. YOUNG,
S.
The Dalles Daily Chronicle.
JEWELER
: :
Published Dally, Sunday Excepted.'
THE CHRONICLE PUBLISHING CO.
Street.
Corner Second and Washington
Dalles, Oregon.
The
at the
6 00
50
Per Year
Per month, by carrier
Single copy
B
5
-
Office
H. RIDDELL Attobnicy-at-La'Court Street, The Dalles, Oregon.
FRANK MENEFKE.
ATTOBNBYS -
B DOFUB..
BENNETT,
AS.
in Schanno's
Dalles, Oregon.
ATTORNEY-AT-LA-
building, up stairs.
The
H. S. WILSON.
B. S.HUNTINGTON.
F. P. HAYS.
i
WILSON
MAYS, HUNTINGTON
Offices, French's block over
First National Bank. i Dulles. Oregon.
Rooms
TX7 II WILSON Attobnky-at-laW . 52 and 63, New Vogt Block, Second Street,
The Dalles, Oregon.
DR. ESHELM.AN
Subqkon.
(HOM JtOPATHic;
Physician
lor the
Gas given
DSIDD
extraction of teeth. Also teeth
aluminum plate. Rooms: Sign of
the Golden Tooth, Second Street.
Dentist.
& A. M.
PASSENGER
Dealer
F.
first ana tnira iiouaay oi eacii muum
streets. Sojourning members are cordially
W. S. CRAM.
vited.
C. C.
D. W.Vabsk, K. of R. and S.
in-
Meets in K.
Wednes-
4827, K.
A8SEMBLY NO.
the second and fourth
days of each month at 7 :30 p. m.
TEMPERENCE
CHRISTIAN
WOMEN'S will
moat every Friday afternoon
at 3 o'clock at the reading room. Allare invited.
Harmon
freight Rates Greatly Reduced.
in-
Shipments received at wharf any time,
day or night, and delivered at Portland
arrival.
Live stock shipments
solicited. Call on or address.
on
B. F. LAUGH LI N ,
Headquarters at Ohas. Laner's.
BANKERS.
TRANSACT
Letters of Credit issued available in he
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Sight Exchange and. Telegraphic
Transfers sold on New York, Chicago, St.
Louis, San Francisco, Portland Oregon,
8eattle Washr, and various points in Or-
Collections made at all points on
orable terms.
Lodge No. 501, L O. G. T. Regular
meetings Friday at 8 P. M.,
Hall. All are invited.
R. C. Fleck, Se
T.
M. W.
W. S Myeks, Financier.
Hall.
NESMITH POST, No. 32, G. A. R. Meets
Saturday at 7:30 P. M., in the K. of P.
OF L. E. Meets every Sunday afternoon In
the K. of P. Hall.
VEREIN Meets every
n the K. of P. Hall.
GESANG
DIVISION, No.
BOF L,of F.P. Hall
the first and
day of each month, at 7:30 P.
167
M.
A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS
egon and Washington.
O. U. W.
Meets
rrEMPLE LODGE NO. 3, A. Kellers,
en Second
J. in Fraternity Hall, over
street, Thursday evenings at 7:31).
Paul Kbeft,
T
FREHCJi & CO.,
Chbisman, C.
JA8.
.$2.00
3.00
.
.
W. C. ALLAWAY,
General Agent.
'
NO. 9., K. of P. Meets
FRIENDSHIP LODGE,
evening at 7:30 o'clock, in
Schanno's building, corner of Court and Second
Sundav
THE DALLES
fr Bank,
National
DALLES CITY,
Of
President
OR.
Z. F. Moody
-
Charles Hilton
ice-President,
Cashier,
-
M. A. Moody
-
General Banking Business Transacted.
Collections
-
OREGON
d
Kear-sarg-
MAY NOT BE DEAD.
Although a I'hysiciaii Made Out Her
Death Certificate.
Seattle, May 21. The body of Mrs.
Catherine Castillo,' wholwasrpronounced
dead this morning bv a phvsician, is
arousing considerable interest, because
of the belief of the husband and friends
that she is not dead , but only in a trance.
She was found in bed by the side of her
husband this morning at 3 o'clock with
out a pulse and to all appearances dead.
She had beenjeuffering twith a relapse
from pneumonia, and. the physicians
&
signed a death certificate to that effect.
DEALERS in- The husband, however, thinks that af
ter that he saw his wife open and shut
her eyes. Spiritualists have interested
themselves, andjjdeclare the woman is
alive. This belief has been strengthened
We have added to our' Dusiness a by the fact that a brother of the woman
somplete Undertading Establishment, was unconscious years ago for 30 hours.
and as we are in no way oonnected with
the Undertakers' Trust our prices will
Eddy Chosen
be low accordingly.
Chicago, May 20. Walter Williams,
of Columbia, Mo., was elected president
of
National Editorial Association to- the
C.
today, while Colonel J. B. Eddy, of
Pendleton, formerly editor of the Tri
DEALER IN
bune, was elected first
The fight for Eddy was made by Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, California, Montana
California
and Nevada delegations.
wanted the presidency, but failed to
make a combination for it. Colonel
Eddy will respond to a toast at the clos
ing banquet Tuesday evening.
The Spokane Itiver falling.
Hoots, Shoes, Bats, Ktc.
Spokane, Wash., May 21. The Spo
kane river fell half an inch today. Men
who have made a close study of the
stream expect an additional rise of three
Etc.,
Etc., Etc.
feet, though long continued cold wea
Second St., The Dalles. ther would prevent this. Sensational
reports of damage and impending danger are almost wholly false. The river
would have to rise 9 or 10 feet to shut off
the electric lights.
ROSLYN HANK ROBBERS.
J
"W
Undertakflff Establishment!
PRINZE
UNTIE
Furniture
NITSCHKE
and
Carpets
Vice-Preside-
F. STEPHENS,
vice-preside-
CHICAGO
THE CHURCHES.
PETERS CHURCH Rev. Father Bbons-geks- t
Pastor. Low Mass every Sunday at
Vespers at
7 a. X. High Mass at 10:30 A. M.
ST.
General Manager.
THE DALLES,
Washington, May 20. Secretary Herbert today signed orders making a number of important naval changes. Admiral Gherardi was odered to haul down
his flag on the Philadelphia the 31st
inst. and assume command of the Brooklyn navy yard. The same day Admiral
Walker will lower his flag on the Chicago
and go on a leave for three months.
Admiral Benham will transfer his flag
from the Newark to the San Francisco
and assume command of the North Atlantic squadron. Commodore Erben,
on being relieved of the command of the
New
by Admiral
York navy-yarGherardi, will raise his flag on the Chicago and prepare to go to the European
station, which he will command. The
Philadelphia will go to the Pacific ocean
in the place of the San Francisco, which
will become the flagship of the North
Atlantic squadron. No vessel nor commandant has as yet been selected for the
South Atlantic. The Charleston will go
to the Pacific and the Baltimore to the
Asiatic station, leaving the San Francisco, Miantonomoh, Atlanta,
e
and Vesuvius to constitute the
home squadron. The command of the
South Atlantic station will be given to
some officer now on shore duty, and it is
believed Admiral Walker will be given
command of the Mare island vard when
his leave expires.
--
fav-
Sight Exchanges Sold on
NEW YORK,
SAN FRANCISCO,
Meets in
Wednes-
third
KATES.
....
Meets
LODGE, NO. 5, I. O. O. F. Meets
COLUMBIA
evening at 7:30 o'clock, in X.
of P. hull, corner Second and Court Btreets.
Sojourning brothers are welcome. Biw-s,r- .
G.
H. A.
H. Cloooh, Sec'y.
L. C.
Freiyni ana Passenger Line
Round trip
PURE
--
Having had a fine harvest of natural ice the
ARCH CHAPTER NO. 6.
best in the world, I am prepared to furnish in
DALLES InROYAL
Masonic Hall the third Wednesday any quantity
and at bottom prices.
of each month at 7 P. M.
CHAS. ALLISON.
OF THE WORLD.
MODERN WOODMEN
CampNo.59,MeetsTuesdayeven-lngo- f
:30
p.
m.
each week in Fraternity Hall, at 7
OF L.
THROUGH
One way
Chas. Allison,
-
SOCIETIES.
w
Philadelphia to Come to the Coast in
Place of the San Francisco Which
Remains East.
wagon shod
Third Street obb. Liete's old Stand.
net on flowed
A8CO LODGE, NO. 15, A.
GHERARDI ASSIGNED SHORE DUTY
Dalles.
Fourth streets, secmd door from the corner.
Office hours 9 to 12 A. M., 2 to 5 and 7 to 8 P. M.
ALL
Navigation Co.
Through daily
(Sundays ex- cepted) between The Dalles ana fort- General Blacksmithing and Work done land.
Steamer Regulator leaves The
promptly, and all work
Dalles at 7 a. m. connecting at Cascade
Guaranteed.
Locks with steamer
Dalles
City.
Steamer Dalles City leaves Portland
street dock) at 6 a. m. conHorse Shoeing a Speciality (Yamhill
necting with steamer Regulator for The
AND BUB-oeoO. D. D O AN E PHYSICIAN
Office; rooms 5 and 6 Chapman
Residence: S. E. corner Court and
Block.
&
ibe Nary Herbert
an Important Order.
C. W. KNOWL.ES, Prop.
W. H. YOUNG,
Biacksmiiii
of
The Dalles, Portland and Astoria
This old, popular and reliable house
has been entirely refurnished, and every
room has been repapered and repaintet
and newly carpeted throughout. The
house contains 170 rooms and is supplied
with every modern convenience. Kates
reasonable. A good restaurant attached
to the houee. Frer bus to and from ah
trains.
Calls answered promptly,
day or night, city or country. Office No. 36 and
wtf
37 Chapman block.
DR
Secretary
and PORTLAND, OR.
made on favoreble terms
at all accessible points.
Dry Goods
Clothing
NO. 133
MA.Y 22, 1893.
OF OFFICERS
CHANGE
The Dalle
The St. Charles Hotel,
MENEFEE
DUFUR, Rooms
42
and 43, over Post
office Building. Entrance on Washington Street
The Dalles, Oregon.
A
Sd St.
PORTLAND, OREGON.
Terms of Subscription
PROFESSIONAL-
: :
"The Regulator Line"
Watches and Jewelry repaired to order on
short notice, and satisfaction guaranteed
Store of I. C. Nickelson,
H.
Chronicle.
Bowman, two citizens, shot at them.
The fire was returned by McCarthy, who
shot Billy Hayes, son of the depot
policeman, the shot taking effect in the
rightarm.
Bowman's shot struck McCarthy's wrist, and Lewis was shot in
the back, but the wounds were slight.
Six shots were exchanged, when the
robbers ran into the residence of J. C.
Clymer, an engineer on the Northern
Pacific. Here they were recaptured by
the police. Their trial comes off tomorrow.
Cycling; Association.
O. S. Bunnell, of Philadelphia, has
been selected to fill the most responsible
position of the National Cycling Associa
tion that of official
referee. Mr. Bunnell is well known
to the cycling pubhaving been
lic,
conprominently
nected with the
League of American
Wheelman's work
in Pennsylvania for
several years. He
also holds responsi-othe- r
0.5.BUNNE.LI.- wheelmen's
ble positions ii
leagues, but will resign them all so that
he may In the future devote his entire
time to the National Cycling AssociaUpon
tion.
him, more than on any of
the other officials, depends the success
or failure of the new association. It is
already acknowledged that no better selection than Mr. Bunnell could have
been made.
Tho Women's Congress.
Chicago, May 21. The attendance at
the various meetings of the women's
congress was very large this afternoon.
The greatest interest was in the religious
meeting at which Mrs. E. Grannis,
president of the Social Purity League,
presided and delivered a short address.
The "labor experience meeting"' did not
have a large attendance, but the
speeches were very interesting. Among
the speakers were Clara Faltz, of San
Francisco.
THE RELIGIOUS
SERVICE.
Eighteen ordained women ministers
sat on the speakers' platform at the religious service held this morning by the
world's congress of representative
women. The women who took an active
part in the services were : The Revs.
Mrs. Tupper Wilkes, of St. Paul ; Mrs.
Mary Safford, of Sioux City ; Mrs. Florence Kollock, of Pasadena, Cal., and
Mrs. May Wright Sewall. The Rev.
Jeannette Olmstead invoked the divine
blessing, and the Rev. Emily Gordon
recited the hymn, "Rise Up, Rise Up, O
Woman." The Rev. Florence Kollock
offered prayer and delivered a short address. The sermon was delivered by the
Rev. Anna Shaw. Other female divines
also participated in the services. There is nothing I have ever used for
muscular rheumatism that gives me as
much relief as Chamberlain's Pain Balm
does. I have been using it for about
two years four bottles in all as occasion required, and always keep a bottle
of it in my home. I believe I know a
good thing when I get hold of it, and
Pain Balm is the best liniment I have
ever met with. W. B. Denny, dairy50 cent
man, New Lexington, Ohio.
bottles for sale by Blakeley & Houghton.
ELECTRIC FLASHES.
A freight rate war is on between the
Union Pacific and Southern Pacific.
Saginaw, Mich., suffeied a disastrous
fire last week, the losses being estimated
at $1,500,000, with insurance of $700,000.
Officers of the Brooklyn tabernacle'
met the creditors of the church and
came to an agreement which is satisfac-
tory to both.
Advices from Japan say that the vol- -,
cano Bandaisain has become active and
that widespread disaster has been
caused by its eruptions.
Parnell's widow has applied for a
court mandate to compel the trustees to
distribute the funds due under the
O'Shea settlement. The court ordered
the money paid into court, the appli-- .
cant to receive her share forthwith.
,
The will of the late General Manner.
Gonzales,
of Mexico, give
none of his vast estates to his wife, frcr
whom he had been separated for several
years. She attempted to secure a reconciliation with her husband before he
died, but all her entreaties were unheeded by him, and he would not even
permit her to visit him during his last
illness. She has employed able attorneys to contest the will in her behalf.
Karl's Clover Root, the new blood
purifier, gives freshness and clearness to
the complexion and cures constipation.
25c, 50c. and $1.00. Sold by Snipes &
Kinersly, druggists.
Treasurer of tbe Exposition.
A. F. Seeberger, the treasurer of the
Columbian exposition, is a man whose
honesty and responsibility are not to be
doubted. He was
born in Wetzlar,
Germany in 1837
and when quite
young came
to
America with his
parents, who settled on a farm near
Wooster, Ohio. He
was with a Wooster
dry goods house for
nine years. At the
A.F.SEeber&e.
of
time
end that
he went to Iowa and
opened a hardware store and is at pres.-en- t
in the wholesale hardware business
in Chicago. In 1885 Mr. Seeberger was
appointed collector of customs for the
port of Chicago, by President Cleveland,
and served until his successor was ap
pointed by President Harrison.
Let every enfeebled woman know it!
There's a medicine that'll cure her, and
the proof's positive
Here's the proof if it doesn't do you.
good within reasonable time, report thefact to its makers and get your money
back without a word but you won't do
it!
The remedy is Dr. Pierce's Favorite
Prescription and it has proved itself
the right remedy in nearly every case ot
female weakness. It is not a miracle.
It won't cure everything but it has
done more to build up tired, enfeebled
women than any other
and broken-dowmedicine kuown.
Where's the woman who's not ready
for it? All that we've to do is to get this
news to her. The medicine will do the
rest.
Wanted women. First to know it.
Second to ubo it. Third to be cured by
it. The one comes oft he other.
The seat of sick headache is not in the
brain. Regulate the stomach and yon.
cure it. Dr. Pierce's Pellets are the
Only 25 cents a
Little Regulators.
vial.
Good Job Printing.
If you have your job printing done at'
The Chronicle you will have the advantage of having it done with the most
modern and approved type, with which,
we keep continually supplied. All jobs
under the direct supervision of one of
the most successful and artistic printers
in the Northwest.
Wanted.
Ladies to do writing at home, will pay
$18 to $20 per week. Send self addressed,
stamped envelope for reply. Address
Mme. Weight, Mishawaka, Ind.
!
-
n
The Northwestern Guaranty
Company of Minneapolis has gone into
the hands of a receiver, the Minneapolis
Trust Company having been named by
the court as such receiver. No correct
estimate as to the condition of affairs is
fTMRST BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. O. D. Tay-made.
lob, Pastor. Morning services every Sab- A General Banking Business transacted
bath at the academy at 11 a. X. Sabbath
Deposits received, subject to Sight
School immediately after morning services.
While Mr. T. J. Richey of Altona,
Prayer meeting Friday evening at Pastor's resiDraft or Check.
7
house
court
at
services
the
Mo., was traveling in Kansas he was
in
Union
dence.
Collections made and proceeds promptly
P. M.
taken violently ill with cholera- morbus,
remitted on day of collection.
W. C.
Rev.
CHURCH
called, at a drug store to get some
He
CONGREGATIONAL
every Sunday at 11 Sight and Telegraphic Exchange sold on
medicine and the druggist recommended
New York, San Francisco and Porti. h. and 7 P. X. Sunday School after morning
service. Strangers cordially invited. Seats free.
Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diar
land.
rhoea Remedy so highly he concluded to
CHURCH Rev. J. Whisleb, pastor.
every Sunday morning at ll a. m.
relief,
DIRECTORS.
After a Snort Chase They Were Re try it. The result
Sunday School at 12:20 o'clock p x. Epworth
Jno. S. Schbnck.
captured.
and a few doses cured him completely
league at 30 P. x. Prayer meeting every D. P. Thompson.
76 Court Street,
Geo. A. Liebe.
Thursday evening at 7:30 o'clock. A cordial in- Ed. M. Williams,
Next door to Wasco Sun Office.
Wash., May 21. At 3 It is made for bowel complaint and
vitation is extended by both pastor and people
H. M. Beall.
to all.
else. It never fails. For sale
Has jnst received a fine line of Samples o'clock this afternoon a bold break tor nothing
fredom was made by George McCarthy by Blakeley & Houghton, druggists lm
Jenkins,
CHURCH Rev.
for spring and summer Suitings.
CHRISTIAN Preaching
in the Congregational
and Ras Lewis, alias "Diamond Dick"
22.3t
Church each Lords Day at 3 P. M. All are
The Bradstreet Mercantile Agency re
cordially invited
the Roslyn bank robbers, who were conWOOD, WOOD, WOOD.
Come and See the New Fashions, fined in Ellensburg jail awaiting trial, ports thirtv failures in the coast states
Evang. Lutheran church, Ninth street, Rev. A.
Best grades of oak, fir, and slab cord
which takes place tomorrow. The time and territories for last week, as com
Horn, pastor. Services at 11:30 a. m. 8unday
rates
Jos.
T.
at
wood,
market
lowest
at
for
previous
sixteen
pared
with
the
school at 2:30 p. m. A cordial welcome to every
chosen for the escape was when thev
one.
Peters & Co. (Office Second and Jefferwere given the freedom of the jail cor- week and thirteen for the corresponding son streets.)
order. Satisfacti on git a r n r t
ridors after dinner. They made quick week of 1892.
W. C. Gilbert hereby sends
Ills' compliments to every friend
work during the short period, drilling a
And enemy if he has any
Be they few or be they many.
hole alongside the screen window grat
Highest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U. S. Gov't Report
The time for painting now has come.
ing onthe west Bide of the building. A
And every one desires a home
Room 3, Bettingen Building,
crowbar was used
short
That looks fresh and clean and new,
As none but a good painter can do.
Will give Lessons Mondays and Thursdays of
for the purpose of effecting the escape
each week, or oftener if desired.
Painting, papering and glazing, too,
as
very
is
of
wall
brick
and
and
built
the
Will make your old house look quite new.
He will take your work either way,
thin, it readily yielded, and a hole large
By the job or by the day.
enough for a man to crawl through was
If you bave work give him a call,
soon made. They then scaled the fence
He'll take your orders, large or small.
Respectfully,
and secured arms which were concealed
under the side walk. Their faces were
PHOTOGRAP H R.
blacked, but they were detected as they
P. O. Box No. 3,
were running up an alley on the north
First premium at the Wasco county
Union St., opp. European House.
THL DALLES, OR.
of the iail. when Ed Grady and Mose
air for best portraits and views.
7 P. M.
PAULS CHURCH Union Street, opposite
ST.Fifth.
Rev. Eli D. Sutcliffe Rector. Services
every Sunday at 11 a. m. and 7:30 P. X. Sunday
School9:45 A. x. Evening Prayer on Friday at
7:30
P
6. BCHBNCK,
President
H. M.
Bsau.
Cashier.
Loan
Ffrst Jlational Bank. FanciJ Ijoodg, fllotioiig,
THE DALLES, - - - OREGON
JOHN PASHEK,
Merchant Tailor,
MB.
6--:
J.--
-
ptesh Paint I Cleaning and Repairing
1 .
Art Teacher
.
Shoemaker
W. C.
GILBERT,
No Fit, No Pay.
double-pointe-
d
Baking
Powder
ABSOLUTE!!? PURE
73
The following is an obituary for Ralph Grady, son of Edmund and Emma
Grady and also a news article from his ninety-second birthday.
NoteforGradyfamily:IfEdmundwasborninConnecticutin1850,his
parentshadtobelivingthere.Butwhere?Oneaccounthasthemon
LakeStreetin1854,butIhavefoundamapinwhichJeremiahisthe
landownerofthatpropertyinVernon,dated1853.
74
ItispossiblethatJeremiahwaslivingwithsomerelativesorfriends
whileworkingontheTunnelinVernon.TheTunnelwasfinishedin
1849.JeremiahGradymayhaveboughtthislandearlieron,perhapsas
earlyas1850,butthatisaguess--nothingmore.
DanielGradywasbornbetween1851and1853inConnecticut.Heis
livingwithhisbrotherJeremiahin1885.HowlonghewasinNebraska?
Theanswer?Wedonotknowexactly.
NebraskaCensus,1885
Name:DanielGrady
Place:ShellCreek,Colfax,Nebraska
Age:35
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold:Brother
BirthYear(Estimated):1850
Jerenia(sic)Grady,Brother,Age24
JamesGrady,Brother,Age21
JohnGrady,Brother,Age38
DanielGrady,Brother,Age35
HenryIngle,Boarder,Age28
AbbigailR.(Abbie)Gradywasbornin1852inConnecticut.Shewasa
daughterofJeremiahandHonoraGrady.Abbiestayedbehindin
ConnecticutwhilesomeofhersiblingswereinNebraska.Shewasa
farmgirl,someonewhoknewhowtomilkacow,churnsomebutter,
andprobablypluckedachickenortwoinherday.AbbieR.Grady
marriedJohnJ.Fay.
JohnFaywasbornin1863inRockville,Connecticut.TheFay's
originallyemigratedfromIrelandtoBostonandeventuallycameto
Connecticut.
TheManchesterHonorRolloftheWorldWarIIGoldStarveteranslists
JohnJ.“Jerry”FayandLeoJ.Fay.TheFaybrothersservedtogether
duringWorldWarI,carryingonafamilytraditiongoingbacktotheir
grandfather,JeremiahGrady.JerryFaywasdraftedneartheendofthe
warin1918.
75
ThechildrenofJohnandAbbieFayare:
1.LeoJeremiahFay,bornin1897inRockville,Connecticut.
2.ElizabethFay
3.JohnJ.Fay,Jr.HemarriedMableLindermanBerg,fromPutnamNew
York
4.JosephFay
LeoJeremiahFaywasborninRockville,ConnecticutonJuly18,1897.
HewasgivenJeremiahashismiddlenameafterhisgrandfather.Leo
JeremiahFayreferredtohimselfas“JerryFay,”asdidhisfamilyand
friends.Hisfamilyhomewason70PearlStreetinManchester
Connecticut.Whilenotmuchisknownabouthimorhischildhood,we
doknowwhathedidwhileattendingManchesterHighSchool;he
playedsportsandwasgoodatit.
Jerrywentintothearmyin1918andwasreleasedthatsameyear.The
warlastedfrom1914to1918.HeplayedbaseballfortheNewHaven
Weissmenin1919.Heenteredcollegearound1920.JerryFaywasan
outstandingathletewholetteredinthreesports:baseball,basketball,
and,ofcourse,football.JerrycameoutoflittleGroveCityCollegetowin
startingtackleassignmentsoverAll-AmericanswiththePhiladelphia
YellowJacketsaround1925.
JerryFaywasasixty-minute,two-wayplayerwiththePhiladelphia
YellowJackets.Theteamoftenplayedtwiceonweekends,whensalaries
were$150to$200agame.SuperstarssuchasRedGrangeandJim
Thorpeearnedmore.
At6feet4inchesand240pounds,JerryFaywasagiantinhisday.He
playedseveralseasonswiththePhiladelphiaQuakersasatwo-way
tackle.TheteamisbetterknowntodayattheEagles.Heletteredinall
threesports,allfouryearsincollegeandhadtobeatoutYale'sAllAmericanCenturyMillsteadforastartingspotwiththeQuakers.He
receivedAll-Americamentionbeforeturningproandplayingagainst
RedGrangeandJimThorpe.Histopsalarywas$175agame.
PlayingwithNewHavenintheEasternBaseballLeagueoneseason,the
bigfirstbasemanledtheleagueinbothhomerunsandstrikeoutswitha
.329average.JerryalsoplayedwiththeManchestertownteaminthe
76
1920s.ThebaseballrivalrybetweentownteamsfromManchester,
Rockville,andWillimanticduringthe1920swillgodowninConnecticut
history,andmayneverbematched.Itwasatimeinbaseballwhenthese
threetownswouldfilltheirlineupswithmajorleaguebaseballplayers.
SometimestheseproswereunabletoplayinBostonbecauseoftheblue
laws.TheselawsputanendtoallathleticeventsonSundays.
Manchester'stownteamwasmanagedandcoachedbyLew
Breckenridge.AlthoughthemajorityoftheplayerswereConnecticut
born,PunkLamprecht,JerryFay,SamMassey,BillDwyer,BreckWilson,
HermanBronkieandJoeMaddenwereamongthebest.Everypossible
effortwasmadetobolsterthelineupwithmajorleaguers.Theplayers
camefromtheBostonteams,theRedSoxandtheBraves,orfrom
playerswithvisitingteamsinBostononweekends.
ItappearsasthoughJerrynevermarried.Wedoknowthathehad
workedforSKFinHartford,Connecticut.Theyaresaidtohavebeenthe
leaderoftheworld’srollerbearingindustry,boththenandnow.The
companyalsoproducessealsandlubricationsystemsforbearingsand
forotherapplications.Jerryhadworkedonhisgrandfather’sfarm
beforebeingdraftedintotheU.S.Armyin1918.JerryFaydiedin1978
inManchester,Connecticut.
JamesGradywasborninConnecticutin1853.HemarriedMaggie
Killoran,adaughterofMichaelKilloranandAnnaGolden,in1886.
MaggiewasborninIndiana.ShediedinColorado.Jameseventually
settledapieceoflandinHaigler&BlainePrecincts,Dundy,Nebraska.
Theirchildrenare:NellieJ.Grady,bornin1897inNebraska
FrankGrady,bornin1889inNebraska
RoyGrady,bornin1892inNebraska
JamesGradyandfamilyin1900Census
JamesGrady,HeadofHousehold
Place:Haigler&BlainePrecincts,Dundy,Nebraska,UnitedStates
District
Age:47
MaritalStatus:Married
Race:White
YearsMarried:14
77
BirthDate:Oct1853
Birthplace:Connecticut
MarriageYear(Estimated):1886
Father'sBirthplace:Ireland
Mother'sBirthplace:Ireland
MaggieGrady:Wife;Age37;borninIndiana
NellieJ.Grady:Daughter,Age13;borninNebraska
FrankGrady:Son,Age11;borninNebraska
RoyGrady:Son,Age8;borninNebraska
Honora(Hannah)Grady,cametoNebraska,onceherfather’sfarmin
Colfaxwasready.HannahwasbornJune21,1857inConnecticut.
AccordingtoTriciaLeeMileska,herfather,E.PatrickLee,oftenretolda
storyhisgrandmotherHannahGradyLeelikedtotell.WhenHannah
wasayounggirllivinginVernon,Connecticut,herfatherJeremiahtook
herwithhimtogointotownforsupplies.TheyfoundoutthatPresident
Lincolnhadbeenshotwhiletheywereintown.Hannahsaidthey
stoppedateveryfarmhouseonthewayhome,andshejumpedoutof
thewagontoranuptoeveryhometotelltheirneighborsthatterrible
news.Itwasquiteamemoryforher!
Note:PleaseseeChapterSevenformorecompleteinformationon
HannahGrady’slife.
EllenGradywasbornin1859inConnecticut.ShemarriedHumphrey
Monathan.HewasborninWisconsin.TheymovedtoYakima,
Washington.ThechildrenofHumphreyandEllenare:JohnP.Monathan
andJamesMonathan.EllendiedinWashington1951.Ellenusuallywent
byhernickname“Nellie.”
78
PhotoofEllen"Nellie"GradyMonahanandherbrother,EdmondGrady.Her
twochildren,JimandJohnarealsopictured.Itwastakenattheirhomein
Liberty,Washington.
JeremiahGrady,asonofJeremiahandHonoraGrady,wasborn1862
inConnecticut.HemarriedCatherine(Kate)SullivanonNovember26,
1887inPlatte,Nebraska.HecametoNebraskawithhisfatherandtwo
siblings,MaryandJames,sometimein1872.ThefollowingCensuswas
takenin1880.Themisspellingsbelowshowtheexactwaythe
informationwasrecordedinthe1880Census.
Name:JerimiahGrady
Place:ShellCreek,Colfax,Nebraska
Gender:Male
Age:19
MaritalStatus:Single
Race:White
Occupation:Farmer
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold:Self
BirthYear(Estimated):1861
Birthplace:Connecticut,UnitedStates
Father'sBirthplace:Ireland
Mother'sBirthplace:Ireland
HannahGrady,Sister,Age25;BorninConnecticut
79
JamesGrady,Brother,Age15;BorninConnecticut
JeremiahGrady,CatherineSullivanandsonsinNebraska.Jeremiahwasthesonof
JeremiahandHonoraGradyinConnecticut
JeremiahandKateGradywouldeventuallysettleonlandoftheirown.
Hemayhaveinheritedhisfather’sland,orperhapscaredforitwhilehis
fatherwasinConnecticut.HeandKatelosttheirsonDanielin1922.
Danielwasjustelevenyearsoldwhenhewasthrownfromawagon,
causinghisdeath.
ChildrenofJeremiahandCatherineare:
1.JeremiahGrady,Jr.wasbornin1883inNebraska.HemarriedLillian
Lambrecht.
2.NellieGradywasbornin1896inNebraska.
3.MaryGradywasbornin1899inNebraska.
4.AgnesGradywasbornin1904inNebraska.
5.JamesH.Gradywasbornin1906inNebraska.
6.CeceliaGradywasbornin1908inNebraska.
7.JohnJamesGradywasbornin1891inNebraska.HemarriedVera
BabcockinIowain1919.Hediedin1934.
8.AbbagailGradywasbornin1879inNebraska.ShemarriedJoseph
Ourada,whowasbornin1880anddiedin1966.
9.DanielGradywasbornin1901inNebraska.
10.WilliamC.Gradywasbornin1892inNebraska.HemarriedVera
80
CeceliaPollard.
11.NoraGradywasbornin1887inNebraska.
12.AgnessGradywasbornin1903inNebraska.
JosephOuradaandAbigailGradyWedding,sheisthedaughterofJeremiahGrady
andCatherineSullivan.HerGrandparentswereJeremiahandHonoraGrady.
JeremiahGrady,Jr.asonofJeremiahandKateGrady,marriedLillian
Lambrecht.Herented400acresfromhisfatherorgrandfather.The
childrenofJeremiahandLillianGradyare:
1.EileenGrady,bornonMarch16,1922,inColfaxCounty,Nebraska.
SheattendedschoolinDistrict7intheDublinareaofthatstateand
graduatedfromSchuylerHighSchoolin1935.OnMay22,1943,Eileen
GradymarriedJosephT.HealyatSt.Patrick'sChurchinDublin.During
WWII,whileJoewasoverseas,Eileenwasemployedasacreditmanager
forMarson'sinFremont,Nebraska.In1946,followingthewar,Eileen
andJosephmovedtoafarmnortheastofSchuyler.In1981,theyretired
andmovedintoSchuyler.
81
EileenGrady
EileenGradydiedatage91inSchuyler,NebraskaonMarch19,2013.
Herdaughterswere,Kathryn(Allen)Cudly,ofAuroraandPatricia
(Allan)Kassmeier,ofFremont.Hersonswere,ThomasHealy,of
Schuyler;JamesHealy,ofCedarRapids,Iowa;JohnHealyandRobert
Healy;ofSchuyler.Shewasprecededindeathbyherhusband,onApril
26,1999.Hergraddaughter,JessicaHealy,predeceasedheronJune24,
1983.
WhenWWIbrokeout,threeGradybrothersfromNebraskaenlisted.
TheywereJeremiah,John,andWilliam.ThemilitarygotJeremiah’s
namewrongonhisregistrationcard,spellingitJeremea.Misspellings
seemtohavebeencommonthen.TheGradybrothers’parentswere
JeremiahandCatherineGrady.
TheinformationbelowisfromtheGradybrothers’WorldWarI
registrationcards.
WWIDraftCardRegistration1917-1918,ColfaxCounty,Nebraska
GRADY,JEREMEA30/03/1893,COLFAXCounty,Nebraska
GRADY,JOHNJAMES9/02/1889,COLFAXCounty,Nebraska(hisbirth
datecouldbe1891-1893)
GRADY,WILLIAMCHARLES15/06/1892COLFAXCounty,Nebraska
TheMarriageofJohnJamesGrady,sonofJeremiahandCatherine
Grady,toVeraBabcock
NoteforJ.JGrady:HeandVerahadasontheynamedJohnJamesGrady,
Jr.whowasborn1921inColfax,Nebraska.
82
Name:J.J.Grady(JohnJamesGrady)
EventType:Marriage
EventDate:Oct,1,1919
EventPlace:CouncilBluffs,Pottawattamie,Iowa,UnitedStates
Age:27
Birthplace:Schuyler,Nebraska
Born:1921inColfax,Nebraska
Father'sName:JeremiahGrady
Mother'sName:CatherineSullivan
Spouse'sName:VeraBabcock
Spouse'sAge:19
Spouse'sBirthYear(Estimated):1900
Spouse'sBirthplace:Schuyler,Nebraska
Spouse'sFather'sName:AlbertBabcock
Spouse'sMother'sName:MargaretM.Lewis
TheColumbusDailyTelegram,February12,1934
GRADY--Richland,Feb.12(SpecialtoTheTelegram)--Funeralservices
forJohnJ.Grady,44,whoresidedonafarmsixmilesnortheastof
Richland,andwhodiedearlySaturdaymorninginSchuyler,willbehald
at9a.m.tomorrowatSt.Augustine'sCatholicchurchinSchuyler.Burial
willbemadeintheCatholiccemeterythere.
Mr.GradyreturnedFridayfromMayoBrothers'clinicatRochester,
Min.,wherehehadbeenreceivingmedicaltreatmentforthelastthree
weeks.Hehadbeensufferingwithcancerforthelastseveralmonths,
andspentafewweeksintheUnitedStatesVeterans'hospitalinLincoln
thisfall.Hediedatthehomeofhismother,Mr.CatherineGrady,in
Schuyler.
HewasbornonFeb.9,1890onafarmfivemilesnorthofRichland
wherehespenthisboyhoodandgrewtomanhood.Hefinishedschool
inSchuyler,andthenattendedMidlandCollegeinFremontforthree
years.Hereturnedfromthereattheoutbreakoftheworldwar,enlisted
intheUnitedStatesarmyandwassenttoTexas,wherehewas
stationeduntilthecloseofthewaratwhichtimehewasgivenan
honorabledischarge.
83
OnOct.1,1919,inOmaha,hewasunitedinmarriagetoMissVera
Babcock,ofSchuyler,andtheylocatedonthefarmwherehewas
residingatthetimehewastakenill.
Hewasapopularmaninhishomecommunity,andwasamemberofthe
McCloudPost,No.47,oftheAmericanLegionatSchuyler.Hewasalsoa
memberofSt.Augustine'sCatholicchurchinSchuyler.
Survivingarehiswidow;oneson,John,jr.;hismother,Mrs.Catherine
Grady,ofSchuyler;threebrothers,JerryandBillGrady,ofRogers,and
JamesGrady,ofSchuyler;andfivesisters,Mrs.JosephOurada,ofClarks,
Mrs.AlexBideaus,ofSchuyler,Mrs.ArthurPollard,ofRogers,and
MissesCeceliaandAgnesGrady,ofSchuyler.Hewasprecededindeath
byhisfather,onebrotherandonesister.
WilliamCharlesGrady,sonofJeremiahandCatherineGrady,Shell
Creek,Colfax,Nebraska.ColfaxNebraskamarriages:Grady,William
Charles;26;married.VeraCeceliaPollard;September1918
Fromthe1930Census
Name:WilliamGrady(sonofJeremiahandCatherineGrady)
CensusYearis1930(theyhadownedafarminIowaby1940)
Place:ShellCreek,Colfax,Nebraska,UnitedStates
WilliamGrady,Head,Age38,BorninNebraska
VeraGrady,Wife,Age31,BorninNebraska
VeronicaGrady,DaughterAge9,BorninNebraska
WilliamGrady,Jr.,Son,Age3,BorninNebraska
BernardGrady,Son,Age0,BorninNebraska
BernardJosephGrady
84
BernardJosephGrady,thesonofWilliamCharlesGrady&VeraCecelia
(Pollard)Grady,wasbornonApril16,1929inSchuyler,Nebraska.As
anadult,hemadehishomeinLeMars,andthenservedintheUnited
StatesNavyduringWorldWarII.
OnJune24,1953,BernardwasunitedinmarriagetoMaryWeenink.To
thisunion,fourchildrenwereborn:Margaret,Patty,Cheryl,and
Michael.OnAugust11,1993,Bernardwasunitedinmarriageto
BerdenaBleekerattheLittleBrownChurchinNashua,Iowa.Afterhis
honorabledischargefromtheNavy,BernardoperatedGrady
ConstructionwithhisbrotherBillforseveralyears.Fromthe
constructionindustry,BernardbeganemploymentwithVinceEngleand
EarlUteschatMcCormickDistributingCompanyinLeMars.Bernard
laterbecameco-ownerofMcCormick’swithMarvAlbersin1978.
BernardwasalongtimememberofSt.JosephCatholicChurchinLe
Mars.HealsowasamemberoftheKnightsofColumbusandafifty-year
memberoftheAmericanLegion.
ThefollowingCensuswastakenin1910.Jeremiah'sbrother,“John
Grady”wasstayingwithhimthatyear.Johnwas62yearsoldatthe
time.Atage21,AbbiewastheoldestchildintheGradyhousehold.This
CensusnamesMassachusettsasJohn’splaceofbirth,asdoesanother
documentIhaveseen.Butthatisallwehavetogoonatthemoment.
Nothingmorehasbeenfoundtoproveordisprovetheclaimsmadein
thisdocument,thatJohnwasborninMassachusetts,notConnecticut.
JeremiahhadbeeninColfax,Nebraskaforoverthirtyyears,first
arrivingin1872withhisfather.Hegrewuparoundfarming,andnow
hewouldteachhisownchildren.TheGradyfamilymemberswere
farmersthroughandthrough.Itranintheirblood.JeremiahandHonora
didwellraisingtheirchildren,asisevidentbythewaytheylivedtheir
individuallives.Jeremiah’snamewouldbepasseddowntomanyofhis
grandchildrenandtheirchildrenafterthem.Clearlythename“Jeremiah
Grady”meantsomethingtothisfamily.
1910Census
Name:JeremiahGrady
Place:ShellCreek,Colfax,Nebraska,UnitedStates
Age:49
85
MaritalStatus:Married
Race:White
Race(Original):White
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold:Head
BirthYear(Estimated):1861
Birthplace:Connecticut
Father'sBirthplace:Ireland
Mother'sBirthplace:Ireland
JeremiahGrady,Head;Age49;BorninConnecticut
KateGrady,Wife;Age41;BorninNebraska
AbbigalGrady,Daughter;Age21;BorninNebraska
JohnJGrady,Son;Age19;BorninNebraska
WilliamGrady,Son;Age18;BorninNebraska
JeremiahGrady,Son;Age17;BorninNebraska
NellieGrady,Daughter;Age15;BorninNebraska
NoraCGrady,Daughter;Age13;BorninNebraska
MaryGrady,Daughter;Age11;BorninNebraska
DanielGrady,Son;Age9;BorninNebraska
AgnessGrady,Daughter;Age7;BorninNebraska
JamesGrady,Son;Age5;BorninNebraska
CeciliaGrady,Daughter;Age2;BorninNebraska
JohnGrady,Brother;Age62;BorninMassachusetts
In1930,James(age25)islivingwithhismotherCatherine(age61),his
sisterCecilia(age22),andaservantgirlnamedHelenLee(age23).
TheylivedinSchuyler,Colfax,Nebraska.Catherine'shusbandJeremiah
(sonofJeremiahandHonora)ismentionedintheColfaxCountyPress,
Colfax,Nebraska,September7,1921-reprintedApril19,1989:
ThefollowingofficerswereelectedattheColfaxCountyoldsettlers'
picnicatSchuylerafteritwasvotedtoholdthenextannualpicnicat
Howells:President,H.E.Phelps;secretary,Mrs.A.W.Sindelar;treasurer,
F.J.Busch.Precinctvicepresidents:O.B.Halstead,Rogers;WillDunn,
Colfax;LeviAdams,MapleCreek;J.B.Sindelar,Lincoln;J.M.Mundil,
Adams;FrankDobry,Midland;OttoJungbluth,Grant;GeorgeJ.Busch,
Schuyler;GeorgeShonka,Richland;JerryGrady,ShellCreek;JohnSucha,
Wilson;F.J.Smith,Stanton.
86
“PeekingIntothePast”(January,1924),theColfaxCountyPress
Mr.Hipperly,animalhusbandryspecialist,andMissLuelaByes,food
nutritiousspecialist,willconductabutchering,meatcanningandsoap
makingdemonstrationatthefarmhomeofJamesMejstrik,sevenmiles
southandoneandone-halfmileseastofHowellsandoneatJerry
Grady'sSr.,place,fourandone-halfmilesnorthofRichland.
Thefollowingfarmer'sdirectorygivesusalookintotheirbusiness
affairs.TheGradyssettledhundredsofacresinNebraska.Manyoftheir
descendentsarestilltheretoday.
Farmers'DirectoryofShellCreekPrecinctCOLFAXCOUNTY,NEBRASKA
dated1925
Abbreviations:Wf.:wife;ch.:children;O.:owner;R.:renter;ac.:acres;
sec.:section;():yearsincounty.
Grady,Jeremiah.Wf.Kate;ch.Abigail,__,Wm.,JeremiahJr.,Nellie,
Katherine,__,Agnes,JamesandCecelia.P.O.Schuyler,R.3.O.320ac.,
sec.28,O.240ac.,sec.21;O.160ac.,sec.34;O.80ac.,sec.27,andin
RichlandPrec.,O.274ac.,sec.34;O.63.50ac.,sec.14,andinColfax
Prec.,O.480ac.,sec.15.(49.)
Wm.C.Wf.Vera;ch.Veronica.P.O.Schuyler,R.3.R.160ac.,sec.34.(34.)
Owner,JeremiahGrady.Grady,JeremiahJr.Wf.Lillian;ch.Er___.P.O.
Rogers,R.1.R.400ac.,sec.15.(30.)Owner,JeremiahGrady.
ThomasGrady,born1868(or1869)Connecticut(alsoasonof
JeremiahandHonoraGrady).HemarriedLenaC.Roth(born1879;died
1930).In1880,hewasworkingonhisfather’sfarminConnecticutat
age11.
ThomasandLena’schildrenare:
1.NoraGrady
2.IreneMayGrady
3.JeremiahP.Grady.
NothingmorehasbeenfoundonThomasexceptfortwoCensusestaken
in1900and1940.ThomaswaslivinginBoltonin1897whenhis
daughterIrenewasborn.HemovedtoRockville/Vernonin1900,
Manchesterin1910,thentoHartfordin1930.HemovedtoCoventry,
Connecticutin1940.Ina1940Census,Thomasislistedasbeing72
yearsold,divorced,livinginCoventry.
87
1900Census
Name:ThomasGrady
Place:Vernontownship,Tolland,Connecticut
Gender:Male
Age:31
MaritalStatus:Married
Race:White
Race(Original):W
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold:Head
YearsMarried:9
BirthDate:Oct1869
Birthplace:Connecticut
MarriageYear(Estimated):1891
Father'sBirthplace:Ireland
Mother'sBirthplace:Ireland
ThomasGrady,Head;Age31;BorninConnecticut
LenaCGrady,Wife;Age29;BorninNewYork
NoraGrady,Daughter;Age6;BorninConnecticut
IreneMGrady,Daughter;Age3;BorninConnecticut
JerryPGrady,Son;Age0;BorninConnecticut
1910Census
Name:ThomasGrady
Place:Manchester,Hartford,Connecticut,UnitedStates
Gender:Male
Age:40
MaritalStatus:Married
Race:White
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold:Head
BirthYear(Estimated):1870
Birthplace:Connecticut
Father'sBirthplace:Ireland
Mother'sBirthplace:Ireland
HouseholdMembers:ThomasGrady,Head,Age40;BorninConnecticut
LenaGrady,Wife;Age37;BorninNewYork
NoraGrady,Daughter;Age15;BorninConnecticut
IreneGrady,Daughter;Age12;BorninConnecticut
JeremiahGrady,Son;Age9;BorninConnecticut
88
Accordingtothe1910Census,ThomasandLenahadbeenmarriednine
yearsin1900.ThomasandLenaarelistedas“Teamsters.”Whenasked
whatnationalityhewas,Thomassaid,“IrishEnglish.”Thomasreports
thatheworkedforatruckingcompanyintheCensus.
BeginninginColonialtimes,themenwhodrovehorse-drawnwagons
formedthebackboneofNorthAmerica'swealthandprosperity.Despite
theirroleasguardiansofthetradebusiness,theyremained
unorganizedandwereoftenexploited.Ateamster'slifecamewithmany
uncertainties.Workwashardtofind,andthejobsavailablewere
usuallyinsecure.Asaresult,povertywascommonplaceformany.In
1900,thetypicalteamsterworked12-18hoursaday,sevendaysa
weekforanaveragewageof$2perday.Ateamsterwasexpectedto
haulhisload,buthewasalsoexpectedtoassumeliabilityforbad
accounts.Hewasaccountableforlostordamagedmerchandise.Thisleft
teamstersassumingalloftheriskswithaslimchanceofenjoyingthe
rewards.(Source:www.teamsters.org.)
JeremiahP.Gradywasbornin1900inConnecticut,thesonofThomas
andLena.Hewasnamedafterhisgrandfather.HemarriedMarjorie
CrossackfromMassachusettsin1952inNewHampshire.Shewasborn
around1909inSpringfield.TheylivedinHartfordin1930andthenin
Framingham,Massachusettsin1940.JeremiahP.Gradydiedin1972in
Framingham,Massachusetts.HewasaWorldWarIIveteran,having
joinedtheArmyin1946.
ThechildrenofJeremiahPaulGradyandMarjorieCrossackare:
1.JeremiahGrady,bornin1926-28inConnecticut
2.PatriciaGrady,bornin1930inConnecticut
3.JoanGrady,bornin1935inMaine
1940Census
Name:JeremiahGrady,Jr.
Place:FraminghamTown,Middlesex,Massachusetts,UnitedStates
Gender:Male
Age:12
MaritalStatus:Single
Race(Original):White
Note:HemarriedLorraineJoyceStewartinNewHampshirein1952.
89
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold:Son
Birthplace:Connecticut
BirthYear(Estimated):1928
PlaceofResidencein1935:Maine
JeremiahGrady,Head;Age40;BorninConnecticut
MargeryGrady,Wife;Age31;BorninSpringfield(Massachusetts)
JeremiahGrady,Son;Age12;BorninConnecticut
PatriciaGrady,Daughter;Age10;BorninConnecticut
JoanGrady,Daughter;Age5;BorninMaine
William(Willie)Gradywasbornin1865(somecensushave1866,
1867,or1868),inConnecticut.ACensustakenin1880describesWillie
asafourteen-year-oldboywhoworkedonthefamilyfarm.Hisbrother
Thomaswasalsoworkingonthefarmatageeleven.HissisterAbbie
workedinamillandwasseventeenyearsold.TheGradychildrenwere
hardworkersliketheirfather.PerhapsMrs.Gradytaughtthemathome
untiltheywereoldenoughtohelpJeremiaharoundthefarm.Farmers
likeJeremiahGradywereseriouscontenderswhenitcametofarming.
Theygaveittheirall,dayinanddayout.Williamandhisbrothers
wouldfollowintheirfather’sfootsteps.In1889,brothersThomasand
Williamwerelivingwiththeirfather,JeremiahGrady.OldJerrypassed
awayin1897.Honora’sdeathwouldfollowherhusband’sin1899.Itis
possiblethereasonThomasandWilliamcontinuedtostayin
Connecticutwastocarefortheirparents.TheGradyFarmwaspassed
downtoAbbagail,Jerry’sdaughter.Eventuallyitwaspassedontoher
children.WilliamlivedinManchesterfrom1900-1910andinVernon
around1920-1930.Thisinformationwastakenfromfourdifferent
CensusReports.Williamseemstohavemovedoutofhisparents’house
sometimeafterhisfather’sdeath.
90
ChapterSeven:LineageofHannah(Honora)GradyLeeandFrancis
PatrickLee
DaughterofJeremiahandHonoraGrady
HonoraGradywasborn1846inConnecticut,thedaughterofJeremiah
GradyandHonoraMyers.Shewasoftenreferredtoas“Hannah”and
grewuponthefamilyfarminVernon,Connecticut.Asyoungaseleven
tofourteenyearsofage,sheworkedinoneofthewoolmillsin
Rockville.HerparentswereIrishemigrantswhocametotheUnited
StatesfromIrelandtoescapethefamine.Theywantedtomakeabetter
lifeforthemselvesandtogether,tookholdoftheAmericandream.Their
childrenseemedtosharetheirworkethics.
EventuallytheGradychildrenwentontohavefamiliesoftheirown.In
1872,Honora'sfather,Jeremiah,hersister,Mary,andbrothers,
JeremiahandJames,traveledbytraintofarmsomelandinShellCreek,
Colfax,Nebraska.Intime,Hannahwouldjointhem.
HannahGradywaslivinginNebraskaby1880,accordingtotheCensus.
Shemayhavecomeoutforavisitortwobeforeactuallyrelocatingover
theyears,butthisisaguess.Shewastwenty-fiveyearsoldwhenshe
livedwithherbrothers.AccordingtotheCensustaker,Hannahwasa
housekeeper.HerbrotherJeremiahwaslistedasbeinganineteen-yearoldmale,listedastheHeadofthathouseholdandafarmerbytrade.
TheirbrotherJameswasfifteenatthetimeandwaslistedasafarm
laborer.AlsolivingwiththemwasJohnMulligan,age12.Heislistedasa
servantandcattleherder.
91
AmannamedFrancisPatrickLeecametotheUnitedStatesfromthe
villageofDoon,CountySligo,Irelandin1866withhisbrotherPatrick
andhissister,MargaretLeeRogers,andtheirIrishspouses.Hewas
thirty-fouryearsoldatthetimeofhisNaturalization,whenhebecamea
citizenoftheUnitedStates.
FrancisPatrickLeewasmarriedtoawomannamedLetitiaMulligan.
TheyfirstsettledinSterling,WhitesideCounty,Illinois.In1870,Francis
wasworkinginIllinoisasalaborerfortherailroad.Theirbrother
Dominick,ontheotherhand,decidedtoliveandworkinNewYork.
About1880,theLeefamilymovedtoColfaxCounty,Nebraskaand
farmedsomelandthere.LetitiadiedofcholeraonAugust7,1883.
FranciswentontomarryHannahGradyonSeptember8,1884in
Nebraska.Shewasatwenty-eight-yearoldfarmgirlandFranciswasa
widowerwithsevensons.
ThebranchoftheLeefamilytreeintheUnitedStatesthatintersects
withtheGradyfamilybeginswithFrancisPatrickLee.Hewasbornin
thevillageofDoon,CountySligo,Ireland,toPatrickLeeandHonora
McCoy.
ChildrenofPatrickandHonoraare:
1.MargaretLee,bornin1832inIreland.ShemarriedJamesRogers.
ShediedinNebraskain1882.
2.JohnLee,bornin1839inIreland.HemarriedEllenMeehan.3.
PatrickLee,bornbetween1840and1842inSligo,Ireland.Hemarried
AnnCryananddiedinIreland.
4.FrancisPatrickLee,bornin1846inSligo,Ireland;hediedin1884in
Nebraska.HemarriedHonoraGrady.
5.DominickLee,bornin1851inIreland.HemarriedMaryMcDonaugh
andtheysettledinNewYork.
ChildrenofPatrickLeeandAnnaCrain(Cryin,Cryan)are:
1. FrancisFrankLee,bornInAprilof1867inIllinois.
2. MaggieLee,bornMarch7,1870inIllinois.
3. JohnLee,borninabout1873inIllinois.
4.EdwardFrancisLee,bornMay22,1876inSterling,Illinois.
5.Honor(NoraOrOnor)Lee,borninNovemberof1877inIllinois.
92
6.PatrickLee,bornFebruary27,1879inNebraska.
7.JamesLee,borninJanuaryof1883inNebraska.
8.DominickLee,bornJune20,1886inNebraska.HediedinJanuary
of1963inNebraska.
9.Anna(Annie)Lee,borninIllinois.
10.RichardLee
TheLeegenealogycontinueswithFrancisPatrickLee,whocametothe
UnitedStatesin1866:
FrancisPatrickLee,bornin1846inSligo,Ireland.Hemarriedtwice:
1)LetticiaMulligan;2)HannahGrady.
ChildrenwithLetticiaMulligan:
1.DominicJosephLee,bornin1878inNebraska.HemarriedMary
ElizabethEnglenin1919andhediedin1950inIllinois.
2.FrancisF.Lee,bornbetween1867and1870inIllinois.Hemarried
FrancesDupsky.
3.JohnLee,bornin1874inIllinois.HemarriedHannahMitchell.
4.MarcusLee,bornin1876.
5.JamesG.Lee,bornin1869inNebraska.HemarriedEmilyHennessey
in1905.
6.EdwardLee,bornin1868inNebraska,.HemarriedMaryTigheand
hediedin1932.
7.PatrickLee
8.Margaret(Maggie)Lee,bornin1870inIllinois.ShemarriedElmer
Miller.
ChildrenwithHonora(Hannah)Grady:
1.WilliamGeorgeLee,bornDec25,1887inNebraska.
2.HanoraLee,bornSeptemberof1889inNebraska.(Shewasateacher,
livingwithhermother,accordingtothe1910Census.)
3.MargarettaLee,bornJanuary22,1892inNebraska.
4.ThomasFrancisLeeb.Oct6,1893,Nebraska
In1885,FrancisandHannahmovedtoSchuler,Colfax,Nebraska.
AccordingtoaNebraskaCensustakenthatyear,Frankwasworkingasa
SaloonKeeper.Hewasthirty-eightandhiswifeHannah(Grady)Lee
wastwenty-nine-yearsold.Livingwiththemweretheirchildren;Mark
93
agenine,Dominicageeight,andJamesagesixteen.Fiveyearslater,in
1900,theywouldrelocatetoBoone,Nebraska.
FranciswasrentingahouseandsomefarmlandinBoone.HewasfiftytwoandhiswifeHannahwasjustforty-threeatthetime.Theyhadbeen
marriedforsixteenyears,accordingtoaCensustakenin1900.Inthat
year,HannahandhersonWilliamwerestayingwiththeJohnsonWillis
familyinLancaster,Lincoln,Nebraska.Frank,however,isnot
mentionedintheCensusforthatyear.Wherehewasatthistimeis
unknown.ItispossiblethathewentaheadofhisfamilytoColfax,
Nebraskawhereherfather’slandwaslocated.Frankmayhavegotten
everythingreadyforhisfamily,whoperhapsmovedthereshortlyafter.
HannahownedeightyacresoffarmlandinColfax.FrancisPatrickLee
diedin1902,leavinghiswifewithoutahusbandtohelpherrunthe
farmandraisetheirchildren,butshemanaged,andherchildrenwent
ontohavefamiliesoftheirown.
Inacensustakenin1910,Honoraislistedasafarmerwhoownedher
houseandland.LivingwithHannahwereherchildren:Noraagetwenty,
Maryageeighteen,andThomasagesixteen.Hannahhadmovedtoher
family’slandsometimebetween1902and1910.
ItappearsasthoughJeremiahGradyhaddividedhislandupamonghis
children.ThispartofNebraskawouldbecomehometomanyofhis
descendants.Hannahhadadeedtoherfarmshowingfullownership.
Shelivedthereformanyyearsfollowingherhusband’sdeath.
Hannahworkedthefarmwiththehelpofherchildren.Thisfamilylikely
hadcows,pigs,andchickens,sofeedforthemwasrequired.Hayhadto
beharvestedandstored.Gardenshadtobeplanted,weeded,and
picked.Treeshadtobecutforfirewood.Thenthechildrenhadtodo
whateverdailychoreswereleft,whetheritbesewingormending
clothes,milkingthecow,orstackingfirewood.
Eachdaybeganbeforesunriseandusuallyendedaftersunset.Farming
backthenwashardenoughforcouples,butimaginehowhardithadto
beforthewidowslikeHannahandhersisterMary,anotherbrave
pioneer.
94
Honora(Hannah)GradyLee,aboutage90,waslistedasaresidentof
Seattle,Washington.AccordingtotheFarmers'DirectoryofShellCreek
Precinct,dated1925forColfaxCounty,Nebraska,Hannahownedeighty
acresofland.SheisrecordedasHannahLeeandherchildrenwere
listedasWilliam,Nora,Marjorie,andThomas.Theiraddresswas
shownasapostofficeinRichland.
InaCensustakenin1930,Hannahisdescribedasa”widowwoman,”
age72,nooccupation,livinginShellCreek,Colfax,Nebraska.Another
Censustakentenyearslater,in1940,tellsusshehadmovedto
Seattle,Washingtonsometimebetween1930and1940.Hannahwas84
yearsold,livingwithhersonThomas,in1940.Hewasage46atthe
timeandworkedinamilltosupporthimself.Hannah'sdaughterNora
waslivingthereaswell;shewas50yearsold,andateacherbytrade.
WilliamGeorgeLee,alsolivedinSeattle,Washingtonin1940withhis
wife,Ada,andtheirchildren.Heworkedasapatrolmanforthepolice
departmentthere.Thus,someofHannah'schildrenwerelivingcloseby
duringherlastdays,includingThomas,William,andNora.
HannahGradyLee,age90,Seattle,Washington
HannahhadlivedinNebraskaformorethanfiftyyears.Shewould
eventuallymovetoWashingtonState,wherehersister,Ellenand
95
brother,Edmundhadalreadysettled.Sadly,Honora“Hannah”Grady
LeediedonMarch,7,1951inWashingtonState.
WilliamGeorgeLee,thesonofFrancisLeeandHannahGrady,was
bornDecember25,1887inOmaha,Nebraska.Hemarriedhisfirstwife,
BlancheTeilden,in1910.HethenmarriedAdaBurdettinVancouver,
BritishColumbia,CanadaonFebruary17,1918.Shewasthedaughterof
FrederickGeorgeBurdettandMaryShuttleworth.Note:Frederick
GeorgeBurdettandMaryShuttleworthimmigratedtoCanadafrom
Englandin1908.TheyspentsometimeinQuebecandthensettledin
Vancouver.Theyhadfivechildren.
AdawasborninRichmond,England,butlatermovedtoCanadawith
herfamily.Ontheirmarriagelicense,Williamislistedasa“livestock
dealer,”andAdaasa“bookbinder.”Williamwasapatrolman(police
officer)priortoenlistinginWorldWarII.Asforreligion,Williamwasa
Baptist.
WilliamGeorgeLee,SeattlePoliceOfficer
WilliamGeorgeLee,SeattlePoliceOfficer,1927
Note:WilliamandAdamovedtotheUnitedStatesin1919.Theyhadtheir
firstson,Robert,in1920inSeattle,Washington.In1922,theyhadtheir
secondson,Terrence.TheirdaughterMargaretwasbornin1926
WilliamJ.Lee
(TheCensustakermadeamistakebyaddinga“J.”insteadofan“G.”for
George,butthiswascommonplacethen.)
Event:FirstMarriage
96
EventDate:22Jan1910
EventPlace:DesMoines,Polk,Iowa,UnitedStates
Age:23
Birthplace:Richland,Neb.
Father'sName:FrancisP.Lee
Mother'sName:HannaGrady
Spouse'sName:BlancheTeilden
Spouse'sAge:21
Spouse'sBirthYear(Estimated):1889
Spouse'sBirthplace:NorthDakota
Spouse'sFather'sName:LawrenceFielden
Spouse'sMother'sName:MaryHagerty
WilliamG.Leemarriedhissecondwife,AdaBurdett,eightyearslater
andhadthefollowingchildren:
1.TerenceRaymondLee,bornin1919inCanada.
2.RobertEmmetLee,bornin1918inCanada.
3.EdwardPatrickLee,bornin1933inWashington.
4.MargaretLeeKlein,bornin1926inWashington.
WilliamGeorgeLeeandhisfamilyinthe1930CensusinSeattle,King,
Washington:
GeorgeWLee,age40,borninNebraska.
AdaEMLee,age37,borninEngland.
RobertELee,age10,borninWashington.
TerranceRLee,age8,borninWashington.
MargaretBLee,age4,borninWashington.
WilliamGeorgeLeeandhisfamilyinthe1940Census:
TractA-2,Seattle,SeattleElectionPrecinct,King,Washington
GeorgeWLee,age50,borninNebraska
AdaELee,age47,borninEngland
RobertLee,age20,borninCanada
TerrenceRLee,age18,borninCanada
MargaretLee,age14,borninWashington.
EPatrickLee,age6,borninWashington.
Note:“TwoyearslaterhewouldregisterforthedraftduringWWII.He
was52yearsoldatthetime.”
97
WorldWarIIDraftRegistrationforWilliamGeorgeLee:
Name:WilliamGeorgeLee
EventDate:1942
EventPlace:Seattle,Washington,UnitedStates
ResidencePlace:Seattle,Washington,UnitedStates
Age:52
BirthDate:25Dec1889
Birthplace:ColfaxCounty,Nebraska
TheChildrenofWilliamandAdaLee
TerrenceRaymondLeewasbornin1922inCanada,thesonofGeorge
W.LeeandAdaBurdetteLee.Hehadtwobrothers,BobandPatLee.He
alsohadonesister,MargaretKlein,onehalf-brother,JoeLee,andtwo
half-sister's,GladysSchneiderandIreneStanich.
TerencegrewupintheBallardDistrictofSeattle,stayingthereuntilhe
finishedhighschoolin1939.Duetothelackofavailablejobsduringthe
GreatDepression,hejoinedtheFederalConservationCivilianCorps
(CCC)programandbecameatruckdriverforoneyear.Hethenwasan
arcwelderintheshipyards.
Atagetwenty-one,in1942,TerenceenlistedintheNavyandwaslater
assignedtoaNavyminesweeperasasignalmanandshiplookout.After
theNavyin1946,atagetwenty-five,hebecameaSeattlepolicemanfor
oneyear.
TerenceLeecontractedrheumaticfeverin1947andwassentto
Oakland,Californiawherehestayedinthehospitalforfivemonths,
closetodeath.AfterprayingtoGod,hequicklyrecoverednearly
overnightandalwaysconsideredthishismiracle.Hewasabletogeta
jobasasecurityofficerattheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeleycampus
forthenexttwoyears.Later,hebecameanOaklandpolicemanfrom
1952to1955.
From1955to1978,Terence,whowasbythenknownas“Terry”,
becameaCaliforniaHighwayPatrolman,wherehefinishedhisCHP
careerasaSergeantinRedBluff,California.Forfourteenyears,from
98
1979to1992,TerryworkedasasecurityguardatLongacreshorse
racingtrackinSeattle,withhisbrotherBob.
In1948,TerrymetawomannamedVestaSendersattheAliBabaDance
ClubinOakland,California.TheyweremarriedonApril15,1950.They
spentoverfifty-eightyearsoftheirlivesmarried,untilVestapassed
awayin2008.Together,theyraisedthreesons;Tom,Ken,andTerry
William.
In1972,TerryfinishedhisBachelorofArtsDegreeinPoliticalScience
withaminorinHistory,whileworkinghisfulltimeCHPjob.By1975,he
completedhisMasterofArtsdegreeinPoliticalScience,alongwith
acquiringhisteachingcredential.
TerrenceR.LeediedDecember27,2012attheBurienLifeCenterin
Seattle,Washington.Thisinformationwastakenfromtheactual
obituaryasitwaswrittenbythefamily.Terry’ssons,Joe,Terry,Bob,
andPatLeewereallpoliceofficers,astheirfatherhadbeenbefore
them.Heleftaremarkablelegacy.
MargaretB.LeewasbornFebruary2,1926inSeattle,toGeorgeand
AdaLee.Thethirdoffourchildren,andtheonlygirl,Meggrewupin
Seattlewithherthreebrothers,Bob,Terry,andPat,andgraduatedfrom
BallardHighSchool.In1949,shemarriedWilliamRees,alsoofSeattle,
andspentmostofherearlyadultyearsasahomemaker,raisingher
threechildren.MegmovedwithherfamilytoOlympiain1964.In1970,
shebeganatwenty-yearcareerwiththeEmploymentSecurity
Departmentasasupervisorinunemploymentinsuranceservices,
workingbothinOlympiaandLongview,wheresheretired.Megmarried
SidKleinofLongviewin1990andspentsixteenveryhappyyears
travelingandenjoyingtheirOregonbeachget-awaywithSiduntilhis
deathin2006.ShelaterreturnedtoOlympiatobenearfamily.
MargueriteKlein,ageeighty-six,diedatSt.Peter’sHospitalonJuly31,
2012,inOlympia.
99
Margaret“Meg”LeeKlein
Meg’shusbandSidhadaremarkablebackground,whichisworth
relating.Sybren"Sid"Kleinwasbornin1922intheNetherlands,inthe
ProvinceofFriesland,toJohannesandGrietKlein.Sybren"Sid"Klein
livedaprettycalmexistencefornearlyfortyyearsintheLongviewKelsoarea,buthisintrigue-filledyouthinEuropewasthestuffof
movies.InhislateteensandearlytwentiesintheNetherlands,Klein
wasamemberoftheDutchUnderground,whichworkedagainstthe
NazisduringtheGermanoccupationoftheNetherlandsinWorldWarII.
MembershipintheUndergroundwasextremelydangerous,andKlein
sawsixteenfellowUndergroundmemberskilledonedayafteradouble
agentexposedthem,hiswidow,MegKlein,saidaweekafterhisJanuary
eighthdeath.
Kleindiedonhiseighty-fourthbirthdayfromcomplicationsoflung
cancerandpneumonia."Thesixteen,theywerealltakenatonce
becausethisyoungladywastakingthemoutdininganddancingand
gettinginformationfromthem,"Megsaid.Kleinneverwentoutwiththe
woman,perhapssavinghislife,MegKleinsaid."Itwasdangerous,butit
wasquiteanexcitinglife.Thatwashisjoy,tothinkhewashelping
someoneout.Sohedidallthatwithgreatdelight."
OneofKlein'sjobsintheUndergroundwastomakefalsepassports,
whichJewsusedtoescapeNazioccupation.Healsopersonallypassed
JewsthroughtheGermanlines,hiswifesaid.Kleinwasn'tJewish,but
alsomadehisownfalsepassportsohe'dbetoooldfortheforcedlabor
campsmandatoryforallyoungmeninGerman-occupiedcountries.He
alsohadasafehouse,completewithasecretsignalhislandladywould
useifitbecametoodangerousonanygivenday."Itwasalmostlikethe
100
AnneFrankstory,"saidfriendandformercityofLongviewco-worker
ChuckMunger."He'dhelppeoplehideoutandthatsortofthing."
KleinlefttheNetherlandsafterthewar,andusedhiscivilengineering
degreeandlinguisticskills—hespokefivelanguages—totravelthe
globeinvariousjobs.HeworkedinVenezuelaandCanadabefore
movingtoWenatchee,Washingtonin1965.HemovedtoLongviewin
1968,afterhewashiredasassistantpublicworksdirectorforthecity.
KleinjoinedtheGibbs&Olsonconsultingfirmin1974,andreturnedto
thepublicsectorin1980,headingupKelso'sPublicWorksDepartment
foreightyears.Hemethissecondwife,Meg—hisfirstwifewas
deceased—whenshemovedinnextdoortohimattheMonticello
Hotel.Aftertheir1990wedding,Kleinbuilthisnewbridewhatshecalls
"thebestpossiblekindofhouse."Shewasabitnervouswhenhefirst
announcedhisplans,butKlein'sfriendsknewshehadnothingtoworry
about."Hewasagreatengineer.I'daskhimquestionsandhe'dalways
knowwhattodo,"saidfriendHerbHadley."Hewasareallybrilliant
man.""Andwasalwaysreadytohelp,"addedMunger(Takenfrom
LongviewDailyNews,January22,2006,ByBarbaraLaBoe)
101
ChapterEight:TheRedFarmhouse
Rememberinganoldfriend
OntheGradyhomestead,therewasared,two-bedroomhouse.Athird
bedroomandabathroomwereaddedlateron,perhapsbyoneofthe
Gradyboys,orbyJerryFay,thegrandsonofJeremiahandHonora
Grady.
Whenmyparentsfirstrentedthishousebackin1970,ithadgasheat.
Therewasasmallgasheaternexttotherefrigerator.Itwasalightbrowncolorandmeasuredabouttwofeettall.Myfathertookthat
heatingsystemoutandreplaceditwithanoldoilfurnace.Asyou
walkedintothesidedooryouenteredthekitchen.Straightaheadwasa
windowfacingthebackofthebarn.Totherightwasmyparents’
bedroom,acounterandasink,thenthebathroom.Totherightwasthe
entrancetothelivingroom,arefrigeratorandgasstoveagainstthe
wall,followedbyacounterwithupperandlowercabinetswithdoors,
andfinallyadoorleadingtoasetofstairs.Asyouturnedrightyou
enteredthestairhall.Totherightofthestairswasourhotwaterheater.
Thesestairsledtoalargeopenroomonthesecondfloor.
102
MybrotherandIsharedtheroomonthesecondfloor.Theroomhad
windowsatboththefrontandtheback.Thechimneywasjustbehind
thestoveandcouldbeseencomingupthroughthefloorinourroom.
Behindthestove,aholehadbeencoveredwithsomethingthatlooked
likeametalplatewithapictureinthecenter.WhentheGradyslived
there,theyhadtheirwoodstovesetupinroombelow,withastovepipe
runninguptothathole.Thedesignofthatoldhousewassimpleyetwell
thoughtout.Agoodwoodstovewouldeasilykeepahomethatsizenice
andwarmallwinter.
Asyouwalkedintothelivingroomtherewasalargemetalgrateonthe
floortoallowheatintothehouse.Itwaslocatedtoyourright,maybe
twofeetfromthewall.OurfloormodelTVwasinthecornerbehindthe
grate.Asecond,butsmallermetalgratewasplacedontheceiling,
allowingheattocirculateupstairs.Myfatherattachedablowertothat
oldfurnace,whichblewhotairstraightup.Goodthingmyfatherdid
thatforalivingoritcouldhavecostusmuchmoretoheatthatold
house.Myfatherpickedthatfurnaceupforfiftydollars.Afteralittle
work,itwasrunninglikenew.
Ifyouweretolookatthehousefromthestreet,youwouldseethered
farmhouse,anouthousetotheright,andthenalongreddairybarn.A
redwaterwellwithfourwhitepostsandaroofstooddirectlyinfrontof
thebarn.Thegraveldrivewayhadthreeentrances.AlargeOaktreehad
grownbytheroadinfrontofthehousetowardstheRisleys’place.It
wasoldenoughthatitmusthavebeentherewhentheGradyswere
around.
Myparentshadplacedapicnictableunderthatoldtree.Itwasgreatfor
shadeduringthesummermonths.ThebarnwasbuilttheoldEnglish
way.Thetimberframewascomposedmainlyofhand-hewntimbers
joinedwithsquare-ruleframingandwoodpegs,withsomesawn
materialusedforthediagonalbraces.Therewerearoundeight-to-ten
windowsonthefrontandthebackofthisbarn.Underneaththebarn
wasarockfoundationvisibleonlyfromtherear.Therewasawide
entrancebuiltintothefoundationwall,allowingfarmequipmenttobe
stored.Itwasplacedinthebackwherethefieldsoncewere.
103
Thebarnwasbuiltonaslightdecline,whichcoveredmostofthe
foundationtowardsthefront.Asyouwalkedoutback,youcouldsee
farmequipmentjustinsidetheentrance.Mostofthatequipmenthad
beenownedbytheGradys,althoughsomemayhavebelongedtotheir
grandson,JerryFay.
TheGradypropertyhaschangedovertheyears.Allevidenceofthe
Gradyfarmhasbeentorndownandforgottenbymost.Treeshave
overtakentheoldcowpasturesandnewhomeshavereplacedthe
Gradyhouseandbarn.Iknewnothingaboutthispropertyasateen,nor
didIunderstandwhotheGradyswere.AmanIknewasaboyoncetold
meaboutLakeStreetduringtheearly1900s.Hesaidtherewerenot
manyhomesonthestreetthen,exceptfortheRisley,Buckland,and
Gradyfarms.Hecontinuedbysaying,backthentheroadswerestilldirt,
andLakeStreetwasafavoriteplaceforlocalstohunt.
GradyfarmwasoneofthetopdairyfarmsinVernonduringthe1800s.
ThiswasconfirmedbyJerryFay.Infact,JerryFayoncedescribeditasa
largedairyfarmwithmanycows.Wheneverhespokeofit,asmile
appearedonhisface.Heobviouslyadmiredhisgrandparents’
accomplishments,especiallyhisgrandfather’s.Heneverhadachanceto
knowhisgrandfatherbecauseJeremiahGradydiedthesameyearJerry
Faywasborn.IamsurethatJerryFay’smothersharedstoriesand
photoswithhimabouthisgrandparents.Thename“Jeremiah”wouldbe
passeddownasatestamenttoJeremiahGrady’scharacter.Hewas
definitelyatrustworthysortwhoothersrespected.
PhilRobertsonfromDuckDynastycomestomindwheneverIthinkof
JeremiahGrady.Philpresentlylivesinthecountry,hasabeard,alarge
family,andbelongstoachurch.JeremiahGradylivedthesamewayback
inthe1800s.OldJerryandPhillivedoffthelandtoprovidefortheir
families.
Theygreworraisedmostoftheirfood.Occasionallytheybarteredwith
otherfarmersandstorestogetwhattheyneeded.
MymotheroncetoldmethattheoriginalGradyhouseandbarnsaton
aroundseventyacres.ShegotthatinformationfromJerryFay.The
originalboundarylinemaystillbetheretoday.Backin1985whenI
paidavisittothatarea,therewasarockwalltowardsthebackofthe
104
property.Itwasperhaps200-350feetfromtheroad,buthadbeen
coveredoverbynewgrowth,includingsmalltreesandbrush.Itwas
obviouslylaiddownasapropertyline,eitherbytheGradysorthe
Bucklandfamily.AsaboyIwouldplayinthatarea,andIremember
askingmyfatheraboutthatrockwall.Hetoldthatduringthe1800s,
homesteadersmarkedtheirpropertylinesbybuildingrockwalls.
ManyoftheoldrockwallsstillexistinConnecticut.Infact,wherever
yougoinNewEngland,youaresuretostumbleacrossatleastone.
Theywereoncecommonplaceinthispartofthecountry,especiallyin
areaswherepeoplefirstsettledandbuiltfarmsforthemselves.
AfterlivinginVernonayearorso,myfatherstartedagardenbehind
thehouse.Hegrewcarrots,greenpeppers,potatoes,stringbeans,
spinach,mustardgreens,radishes,cucumbers,onions,corn,sunflowers,
cabbage,lettuce,pumpkins,cantalopes,andsquash.Myparentshad
theirchildren,includingme,weedthegardenafterschoolwheneverit
neededit.Momwouldmakehomemadepicklesandcannedtomatoes
everyyear.
BothofmyparentswereborninMaineandwereraisedaroundfarms.
Tobehonest,Ineversawthembuycannedvegetableswhentheycould
growtheirownproduce.Myfatherwouldoftenhuntbehindthatold
housewherewildgamewasplentiful.Mostofthetimehewentbackto
Maineduringhuntingseason.
Myfatheralsolovedtofish.HisfavoritespottogowasCrystalLakein
Ellington,Connecticut.Mydadalmostalwayscamehomewithsome
fish.Myparentsreallydidnotownmuch,justmyfather’sfishingrods
andfourrifles.Hisfavoritepossession,however,wasa44-40
Winchesterhisfathergavehim.Itoncebelongedtohismaternal
grandfather,IsraelBois,fromGrandFalls,NewBrunswick,Canada.
Duringthesummermonths,mysiblingsandIwouldrideourbikes
downTunnelRoadandridethroughthetunnel,takingarightonthe
othersidetowardsValleyFalls.Thiswasagreatplacetoswim.Ifwe
weren'tuptoridingthatfar,wewouldwalkdownLakeStreetto
Risley’sReservoir.
105
TowardsthebackofthepondthatwascalledRisley’sReservoir,there
wasaropeswingthathungneartheplacewhereweswam.Iusedto
hangoutwithCliffordHall,thegrandsonofJohnStrongRisley,the
originalownerofthereservoir.CliffordandIusedtohikethetrails
behindthepond,goinginthedirectionofBoltonNotch.Onoccasion,we
wouldspendthenightinatent,downbytheRisleyDam.Weusedto
talkaboutLakeStreetandwhathousewethoughtwastheoldest.Cliff
alwaysbelievedhisgrandfather’shousewasamongtheoldest,andhe
wasright.
TheRisleysfirstsettledonLakeStreetintheearly1800s.Theylived
justdowntheroadfromtheGradysandtheBucklands.LakeStreethad
justafewhomesonitbackthenanditremainedthatwayformany
years.SometimesmyfriendsandIwouldrideourbikesupBox
MountainDrivetowardsthequarryandthenbackdownasfastaswe
couldpedal.Youngboyslovegoingfastandracingoneanotherandwe
werenoexceptiontotherule.Whennoonefeltlikeriding,wewould
oftengointothewoodsbehindmyhouseandbuildfortsand
treehouses.
Ourparentsneverallowedustohangaroundthehouse.Theymadeus
playoutsideandIamgladtheydid.Itgaveusachancetoexpandour
imaginations.Duringthewintermonths,wewouldrideourFlexible
FlyerSledbehindourhouse.Therewasaslightinclinetoslideon.We
neverwentfast,butwehadalotoffun.Sometimesmyparentswould
takeustoHenryParkinRockvilletoslide.Welovedittherebecausewe
couldgoprettyfastonthathillandthereweremorechildrentomeet
andplaywith.
MyfirstjobwasdeliveringnewspapersfortheHartfordCourant.Iwas
maybetwelveorthirteenatthetime.MyrouteincludedLakeStreet,
BoxMountainDrive,RosewoodDrive,andafewhousesdownonScott
Drive.Onedaywhileitwasraining,mylandlordJerryFay,askedifI
neededhelpdeliveringmypapers.Isaidyesandgotintohiscar.Aswe
drovearound,heaskedifIhadeverbrokenintohisbarn.Idenieddoing
itbuthecouldseerightthroughme.ThetruthisthatIhadbrokeninto
hisbarnandIshouldhavetoldhimthetruth.
106
OldJerryFaywasnotfooledsoeasily.Helookedatmeandsaidwitha
slightsmile,“Iknowitwasyou,butIamnotmad.Ijustwantyoutoask
nexttime.”HiskindnessandhiseagernesstoforgivewassomethingI
wasnotusedto.HewasamemberoftheCatholicChurchandattended
servicesweekly.Hisupbringingandhisrelationshiptothechurchmade
himthemanIknewandadmired.
TheyearwemetandbecamefriendswasthesameyearJerrylivedin
ourbarn.Itwasduringthesummermonths.Sometimeshewouldeat
withusandshareastoryortwo.Toshowhisgratitudeforthedinner,
hegavemymothersomedinnerplates.Theyoncebelongedtoeitherhis
grandmotherHonora,orhismother,Abbie.Sometimeshewouldshare
somespringwaterwithme.Hesaiditcamefromtherocksin
Manchesterandwasperhapsthebestwaterhehadevertasted.
JerryFaypromisedtotakemetotheSportsHallofFameinManchester
someday,butmyfamilymovedtoMainein1977andIneverhadthe
chancetogo.OldJerrydiedthefollowingyear.Hehadbeeninducted
intotheManchesterSportsHallofFameandaccordingtohimtheyhad
afewthingsfromhisprofessionalfootballdaysondisplaythere.
Ineverhadthechancetogo,butIwillalwayshavememoriesoftheman
himself.Ihadwornhiscollegefootballshoulderpadsandheldthe
winningballhehadusedinhisgames.Ihadtheopportunitytohearthe
storiesabouthisfootballdaysfirsthand.Iwaitedforhimwheneverhe
flewouttovisithisfriend,WiltChamberlain.Theymetmaybeoncea
month.JerryFaywasaveryinterestingguy.Helovedtotalksportsand
oftenlistenedtosporteventsontheradio.Theradiohehadinthebarn
ranontubesandtookawhiletowarmupbeforetheradiowouldwork.
WehadafewradioslikethataroundwhenIwasgrowingup,aswell.
Therewassomuchfamilyhistorystoredupinthatbarn,itwouldtakea
weektolookthroughitall.TheGradysandtheFaysobviouslytook
goodcareofpersonalitemsconnectedtotheirfamily.Therewere
objectsbelongingtoboththeGradyandFayfamiliesstoredthere.Most
oftheitemswerekeptontheleftsideofthebarn.Inonecornertothe
right,JerryFayhadacot,aradio,anelectricheater,andanold-style
recordplayerwithastackortwoofoldrecords.OldJerryprobably
missedthefarmandthepeoplewhooncelivedthere.Perhapshefelt
107
theirpresenceasmemoriesofthemreturned.Heenjoyedwalking
aroundthebarnandlookingbehindit,wherethefarmequipmentwas
stored.
JerryFay’smotherAbbieGradywasraisedonthatfarm.Infact,shewas
stilllivingtherewhenshemarriedJohnJ.Fay,whowasalsofrom
Vernon.Thatoldbarnhadboxesofphotographsstoredinside.Perhaps
thereweresomepicturesofhisparents,butthiswewillneverknow
becauseitwasalllostinatragicfire.
ItisbecauseofthisterriblelossofhistoricitemsthatIfeltsomeonehad
towritethestoryoftheGradysandtheFays.Ithasbeendifficultat
times,butintheenditwasworththeeffort.TheGradysandtheFays
haveleftbehindagreathistory,onewecouldalllearnfrom.Whileliving
thereinthe1970s,Iwasfascinatedbythewaythehouseandbarnwere
built.AsIbeganwritingthisbook,oldmemoriesbegantoreturnoneby
one.
Forinstance,IrememberthedayIwashavingasnowballfightwithmy
cousin,BobbyWilbur.Wewereontherightsideofthebarnfacing
towardsVernonCircle.Bobbyhitmeinthebackoftheheadwitha
snowball,knockingmedowntomyknees.WhatIdidnotrealizeatthe
timewasthatsomethinghadstuckintomykneeasIfell.Later,we
foundittobethebladeofanoldhaysicklewiththelonghandlestill
attached.ItwasareminderofthefarmthatoncestoodonLakeStreet
acrossfromBoxMountainDrive.
IwillneverforgetthatoldhouseorletgoofthememoriesIhavefrom
havinglivedthere.Therewasjustsomethingspecialaboutthatfarm.
Perhapsitwasthewayitwasbuiltthatintriguedme.Everythingwas
donebyhandbackinthe1800s.Structuresweremadetolastalong
time.TheGradyhouseandbarndidlast,untilsomeoneburneditall
down.
Asaboy,Iusedtowonderaboutasignsomeonehadnailedtothefront
ofthehouse.Thesignwasontheright-handsidejustbelowawindow.
Itwaspositioneddirectlyaboveapieceofsandstonethathadsunkinto
theground.Thisstonecontainedaprehistoricbirdprint.Ibelieve
JeremiahGradyhaddugitupitwhenheworkedinthequarries.The
108
signaboveitsaid“GradyHomestead”,butthatisallIcanremember.I
believeitmentionedthebirdprintaswell,butIcan’tbesure.
Afterthefire,myfriendCliffordHalltriedtodigupthatsandstoneslab
withtheprintsonit,butsaidithadbeenbrokenbythebulldozersthat
wereusedtocleartherubblefromthefire.Iwouldhavelovedtohave
hadtheslabasmemorabilia,butitwasnotmeanttohappen.
ThatoldpropertywasfullofGradyartifacts,suchasoldcorkbottles,
tools,andsomerockwallsalongtheboundaryline.Wehadagood-sized
yardtotheleftsideofthehouse.Thelandbehindthehousehadbecome
overgrownwithsmalltreesandsomebrush.Asmallstreamran
throughthebackoftheproperty,butwhereitled,I'mnotsure.Ihad
spentmanyhoursbackthere,aloneorwithfriends.Itwasfunjustto
exploretheproperty.
IusedtoaskJerryFayalotofquestionsbutheneverseemedbothered
bythem.Hewouldjustsmileandtrytoanswerthequestionsthebest
hecould.IonceaskedhimaboutthefieldwhichranalongLakeStreetto
theGrady’sroad.Hetoldmethatthisfieldwasoncetheircowpasture.
Jerrytookpleasureinsharingstoriesaboutthefarmandhisancestors.
Genealogyisimportanttoallofus.Ituncoversstoriessuchastheones
inthisbookandaddsmorepagestoAmerica’shistory.
TheGradyfamilyleftbehindalegacyofsuccessandhappiness.Thelife
andtimesofJeremiahGradywereonceamysterytome,butnowIfeel
asthoughIhaveknownhimmostofmylife.Manymonthsof
researchingafamily’shistorycandothat,Isuppose.Nevertheless,ithas
beenapleasuretolearnabouttheGradysandtowritetheirstoryfor
otherstoenjoy.Itwasalsoapleasuretorememberanoldfriend.
JerryFaywasinhislateseventieswhenwefirstmet.Beingthatage
neverstoppedhimfromgoingabouthisdailybusinessassomeone
youngermighthave.Hewasforeveronthemove.Hemadeanamefor
himselfinfootball,servedhiscountryintheArmyinWorldWarI,and
tookcareofthefamilyfarmformanyyears.Hecertainlyusedhistime
onthisEarthwisely.
109
Jerrywasakindmanwithaloveforlifeandforothers.IntheSports
HallofFameinManchester,Connecticut,Jerry'ssportslegacyliveson.
In1926,onenewspaperreferredJerryas“BigFay.”Itwastheyeara
teamcalledtheQuakersplayedsomeofthebestfootballthiscountry
hadtooffer.TheyhadbeateneveryoneintheAFL,buteventuallylostto
thePhiladelphiaYellowJackets.TheYellowJacketswasJerry'soldteam
beforejoiningtheQuakers.
JerryFaywasextremelyproudofthefootballhehadhangingonapost
thatyousawasyouenteredtheoldGradybarn.Itwasoneoftheballs
thathadbeenusedin1926.Jerrysavedjustabouteverythingfrom
thosedays.Hehadfootballschedules,newspapers,photos,and
magazinesthatmentionedhim.Jerrywasalsoprettygoodatbaseball
andplayedfortheNewHavenWeissmenteamin1919.Hemayhave
playedfootballwithsomeofthegreatswhenNewHavenplayedthe
HartfordSenators.
Inadditiontofootball,JerryFayplayedbaseball.DuringJerry’sbaseball
career,lawswereestablishedinBoston,declaringSundaysastheLord’s
Day;allsportseventswereforbiddenonthatday.However,thisdidnot
stopteamsfromplayingbaseball.Someoftheprofessionalteamswould
traveloverstatelinestoplayagainstotherprofessionalandsemi-pro
teams.Thiswasawaytoimprovetheirskills.
Jerrywasahardhitter,andmadethepapersatimeortwoforhis
baseballskill,butitwasfootballhelovedmost.JerryFaywasonce
consideredtheoldestlivingprofessionalfootballplayer.Hewasalso
regardedasoneofthebesttacklestheQuakerseverhad.Hehad
honoredhisgrandfather’snamebythelifeheled.JerryFaywasaman
withavision.Heknewwhathewanted,andheworkedhardtoachieve
it.
110
ChapterNine:JerryFay’sBaseballYearsandSportsCareer
1919–1920,NewHaven’s,WeissmanBaseballteam.
Inthebook,Baseball'sLongestGames:AComprehensiveWorldwide
RecordBook,theNewHavennewspaperreportedthattheWeissman
team,asitwascalled,playedoneofbaseball’slongestgamesin1919.
ThiswasoneoftheyearswhenJerryFayplayedontheWeissmanteam,
addinghisathleticskillstothatgame.
ThefollowingwastakenfromtheHartfordCourantregardingJerryFay:
“Manymajorleagueballplayers,atonepointoranother,playedforthe
originalManchestertownteam,coachedbyBreckenridge.Localtalent
includedinfieldersJerryFay,HermanBronkie,SammyMasseyandBill
Dwyer.SouthpawSamHymanheadedthepitchingstaff.Inonestretch,
hewon16straightgames.Collegeplayersplayedintownonthe
weekends,someunderassumednamestoprotecttheireligibility.They
gracedthelocallineupwhengameswerestagedatthelong-gone
stadiumsatthecornerofMcKeeStreetandHartfordRoad,nowa
housingdevelopment,andFlowerandMainStreets.Sundaybaseball
wasbannedinBoston,soManchester,RockvilleandWillimantic,in
particular,wouldbringinmajorleaguerstoplaythatday.Theplayers
wereusuallypitcherswhocouldpickupanadditional$25”(Source:
HartfordCourant2001).
“ThreeofManchester'sbestbasketballplayersduringthe1920s:
George‘Stiffy’Stavnitsky,Henry‘Hank’McCannandJerryFaywere
teammatesatGroveCityCollegeinPennsylvania.Allwerestarters.Fay,
whoalsoplayedfootball,wentontoplaywiththePhiladelphia
Yellowjackets,betterknowntodayastheEaglesintheNFL.Allthree
localmenalsoplayedbaseballatGroveCity.”(HartfordCourant2003).
111
Leo“Jerry”Fay,CensusReports
ThefollowingwastakenfromtwoCensusReportsdated1910and
1930.JerrywasnamedLeoJeremiahFayatbirthandusedthe
nickname“Jerry”ashisfirstnamethroughoutmostofhislife.
1910Census
Name:LeoFay(Leo“Jerry”Fay)
Place:Manchester,Hartford,Connecticut,UnitedStates
Gender:Male
Age:12
MaritalStatus:Single
Race:White
Race(Original):White
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold:Son
BirthYear(Estimated):1898(ItwasactuallyJuly18,1897)
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Birthplace:Connecticut
Father'sBirthplace:Connecticut
Mother'sBirthplace:Connecticut
HouseholdMembers
AbbieFay,Head;Age47;BorninConnecticut
JosephFay,Son;Age20;BorninConnecticut
ElizabethFay,Daughter;Age15;BorninConnecticut
LeoFay,Son;Age12;BorninConnecticut
Theylivedat70PearlStreetinManchester,Connecticut.Inthe1930
CensusReport,Jerryislistedasbeingsingle.Hewaslivingwithhis
motheratage33.IfhehadownedtheGradyfarmbythen,perhapshe
wasrentingitout.ThiswouldexplainwhyhewaslivingonPearlStreet.
AsfarasIknow,hewasstilllivingonPearlStreetwhenmyfamily
rentedthefarmhousefromhimduringthe1970s.
1930Census
Name:LeoFay
Place:Manchester,Hartford,Connecticut
Gender:Male
Age:32
MaritalStatus:Single
Race:White
Race(Original):White
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold:Son
RelationshiptoHeadofHousehold(Original):Son
BirthYear(Estimated):1898
Birthplace:Connecticut
Father'sBirthplace:Connecticut
Mother'sBirthplace:Connecticut
AbbyFay,Head;Age65;BorninConnecticut
ElizabethFay,Daughter;Age31;BorninConnecticut
Leo(“Jerry”)Fay,Son;Age32;BorninConnecticut
ThechildrenofJohnandAbbieFayare:
1.LeoJeremiahFay,bornin1879inRockville,Connecticut
2.ElizabethFay
3.JohnJ.Fay,Jr.(HemarriedMableLindermanBerg,fromPutnam,New
York)
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4.JosephFay
TheWar;TheSports
TheFaybrothersweresubjecttothedraftduringWorldWarI.JohnJ.
FayandLeoJ.FayservedtogetherintheArmy.Theykeptaliveafamily
tradition,goingbacktotheirgrandfather,JeremiahGrady.Threeoftheir
cousinshadbeendraftedaswell:JeremiahGrady,JJGrady,andWilliam
Grady,whowereallfromNebraska.JerryFaywasdraftedatage
twenty-one.Heleftthemilitarythesameyear,in1918.Jerryapparently
wenttocollegeayearorsoafterhegotoutofthemilitary,accordingto
TheNewsHeraldissueofNovember18,1925.Hewasinhistwenties
duringhiscollegeyears,havingenteredcollegearound1920-1921.He
wastwenty-ninewhenheplayedprofessionalfootballin1926.
JerryFay’sBaseballYearsandSportsCareer
1919–1920,NewHaven’s,WeissmanBaseballteam.
Inthebook,Baseball'sLongestGames:AComprehensiveWorldwide
RecordBook,theNewHavennewspaperreportedthattheWeissman
team,asitwascalled,playedoneofbaseball’slongestgamesin1919.
ThiswasoneoftheyearswhenJerryFayplayedontheWeissmanteam,
addinghisathleticskillstothatgame.
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ThefollowingwastakenfromtheHartfordCourantregardingJerryFay:
“Manymajorleagueballplayers,atonepointoranother,playedforthe
originalManchestertownteam,coachedbyBreckenridge.Localtalent
includedinfieldersJerryFay,HermanBronkie,SammyMasseyandBill
Dwyer.SouthpawSamHymanheadedthepitchingstaff.Inonestretch,
hewonsixteenstraightgames.Collegeplayersplayedintownonthe
weekends,someunderassumednamestoprotecttheireligibility.They
gracedthelocallineupwhengameswerestagedatthelong-gone
stadiumsatthecornerofMcKeeStreetandHartfordRoad,nowa
housingdevelopment,andFlowerandMainStreets.Sundaybaseball
wasbannedinBoston,soManchester,RockvilleandWillimantic,in
particular,wouldbringinmajorleaguerstoplaythatday.Theplayers
115
wereusuallypitcherswhocouldpickupanadditional$25”(Source:
HartfordCourant2001).
“ThreeofManchester'sbestbasketballplayersduringthe1920s:
George‘Stiffy’Stavnitsky,Henry‘Hank’McCannandJerryFaywere
teammatesatGroveCityCollegeinPennsylvania.Allwerestarters.Fay,
whoalsoplayedfootball,wentontoplaywiththePhiladelphia
Yellowjackets,betterknowntodayastheEaglesintheNFL.Allthree
localmenalsoplayedbaseballatGroveCity”(HartfordCourant2003).
November19,1924NewCastleNewsfromNewCastle,Pennsylvania;
Page21:“GroveCityToPlayThielOnThanksgiving.DickSweetand
JerryFay,regulartacklesonCunchHawser'sGroveCityCollegeteam,
willbeinfineshapeonThanksgiving.”
November18,1925TheNews-HeraldfromFranklin,Pennsylvania,
Page10:“Theonlymanwhohasplayedfouryearsofcollegefootballis
JerryFay,gianttacklefromSouthManchester,Conn.Theotherregular
playerswhostartedthegamelastSaturdayinclude,besidesFay,six
juniors,twosophomoresandtwofreshmen.Thepresentchampionship
elevenwillbealmostintactnextyear.Whenthesixjuniorsgraduateas
seniorsoneyearfromnextspringtherewillbe10freshmenwhoare
nowonthevarsitysquadandwhowillbegroomedtotaketheirplaces.
ProspectslookgoodforGroveCityandCoachBowserforseveralyears
tocome.”
February17,1926TheNews-HeraldfromFranklin,Pennsylvania,Page
13:“ThelasthalfoftheGroveCityCollegebasketballschedulewas
begunlastnightwiththesecondgameoftheseasonwithGeneva
College.ThefirstannualWestminstergameofthe1926season,which
takesplacenextSaturdaynightatGroveCity,willcontinuethecrimson
dashdownthehomestretch.Whenthepresentweekopenedlast
Monday,CaptainJerryFayhadledhisteamthroughninegames,seven
ofwhichhadbeenwon.”
October21,1926TheNews-HeraldfromFranklin,Pennsylvania,Page
10:
“BenJones,fullback,iswiththePhiladelphiaYellowjackets.JerryFay,
tackle,iswiththePhiladelphiaQuakers,andDaveTallant,tackle,has
116
playedforseveral,seasonswiththeChicagoBears.InspeakingofFay's
appearanceinPhiladelphiaagainsttheWilsonWildcats,CoachBob
Folwellsaid:‘He'soneofthegreatesttacklesIeversaw.’Faylookedso
goodagainsttheWilsonWildcatsthathemaystartthegamenext
Saturday,despiteaheavycoldwhichhasbeenhandicappinghimin
practices.IncommentingonFay'sabilitytwoyearsago,Coach
Sutherland,ofPitt,saidthatFaywasthe'besttackle’thathadplayed
againsthisteamthatseason.ItwasthissameFaywhowasvotedthe
outstandingcollegeathletelastyear.”
JerryFayandthePhiladelphiaQuakers
ThefollowingpeopleplayedforthePhiladelphiaQuakersforatleast
onegameinthe1926AFLregularseason.Infact,1926wastheonly
seasontheteamandtheleagueexisted.
Name-Position-College
LesAplundh-Back-Swarthmore
BobBeattie-Wingback-Princeton
BullBehman-Tackle-Dickenson
CharlieCarton-Tackle-HolyCross
BillColeman-Guard-Pennsylvania
SavilleCrowther-Guard-Colgate
BobDinsmore-Back-Princeton
DocElliott-Back-Lafayette
JerryFay-Tackle/Guard/End-GroveCity
AdrianFord-Wingback-Lafayette
Lou“Red”Gebhardt-Wingback-Lafayette
KnuteJohnson-End-Muhlenberg
GlennKillinger-Tailback-PennState
JoeKostos-End-Bucknell
AlKreuz-Fullback-WesternMichigan,Pennsylvania
JoeMarhefka-Tailback-PennState/Lafayette
CenturyMilstead-Tackle–Wabash/Yale
KarlRobinson-Center-Pennsylvania
JohnnyScott-Blocking/Back-Lafayette
ButchSpagna-Guard–Brown/Lehigh
GeorgeSullivan-Tailback-Pennsylvania
117
WhiteyThomas-End-PennState
GeorgeTully-End-Dartmouth
CharleyWay-Back-PennState
Articlecontinuesonthenextpage.
118
ThePhiladelphiaQuakerswereaprofessionalAmericanfootball
team.TheycompetedinthefirstAmericanFootballLeaguebackin
1926.Theyeventuallywentontowintheleague’sonlychampionship.
SincetheteamwasownedbyL.S.Conway,theQuakersplayedtheir
homegamesinSesquicentennialStadiumonSaturdays.Thiswas
becauseofthePennsylvania’sBlueLawsprohibitinganyformofwork
orsportsactivityonSundays.TheteamwascoachedbyBobFolwell.
Someoftheplayershadpreviouslyplayedcollegefootballin
Pennsylvania,includingJerryFay.
119
TheQuakershadnineplayers:CenturyMilstead,CharlieWay,Butch
Spagna,JerryFay,andBullBehman.Theyhadallplayedforvarious
NationalFootballLeagueteamsbeforejoiningtheQuakers.JerryFay
hadpreviouslyplayedfortheYellowJackets.Eventually,atagetwentynine,hewassignedbytheQuakers.Jerrywasagoodplayerwithalotof
practicebehindhim.Thecombinedexperienceofthemenonthisteam
gavetheQuakersanupperhand,especiallyondefense.
TheQuakerswononlyfivepointspergameduringthe1926season.AllAmericanGlennKillingerclearlyaddedtothedefensiveline.Glennhad
interceptedfourpassesduringhisleaguedebutonNovember4,1926,
ina24-0victoryoverthetoughRockIslandIndependents.
QuakerStadiumwaslaterrenamedtheMunicipalStadium,butthe
QuakersstilldrewalargecrowdwhentheybeattheNewYorkYankees
13-7.ItwasBobDinsmore'spuntreturnthatdecidedthegameand
eventuallytheleaguechampionshiponNovember27,1926.Duringthe
timeofthechampionship,theAFLhadfouractiveteams,theQuakers,
theYankees,theLosAngelesWildcats,andtheChicagoBulls.
Threeoftheseteamsplayedgamesinthelasttwoweeksoftheseason
whiletheQuakersstartedchallengingotherteamsintheNational
FootballLeaguefora“profootballchampionshipgame.”
TheNFLchampionsFrankfordYellowJacketswerethefirsttorefuse.
Theirreasoning?Theirpostseasonschedulehadalreadybeensetand
couldnotbealtered.ChallengesbytheQuakersweregettingnowhere
untilTimMara,owneroftheseventhplaceNewYorkGiants,accepteda
challenge.TheyscheduledagameforDecember12,1926,atthePolo
Grounds.
TheYankeesandtheBullswereplayingtheAFL’slastofficialgame.The
Yankeeswonbya7-3victoryinComiskeyPark.TheQuakersandthe
Giantswerebattlingeachotheraroundthesametime.Theygavethe
gametheirbestinfrontof5,000fans,duringasnowstorm.Whilethe
scorewasonly3-0athalftime,QuakererrorsledtotheGiantswinning
thegame31-0.BoththeQuakersandtheAFLwereover.
120
Attheendoftheseason,WilfredSmithoftheChicagoTribune
presentedacombinedNFL-AFLAllProTeaminhiscolumn.Three
Quakerswerenamedtothesecondteam:GeorgeTully,BullBehman,
andAlKreuz.
JerryFaywaspartofsportshistory.Helovedthegameoffootballand
honoredthememorieshehadofhiscollegeandprodays.LeoJeremiah
Faywillforeverbepartoffootball'sgoldenyears.Hemaybegone,but
thegamehelovedcontinuestodrawinlargecrowds.
Leo“Jerry”Faywasamanwhonotonlyplayedwell,buthadadeep
respectforthesportsheplayed.Hetrainedhardandmadeothers
aroundhimtrainhardaswell.Hewasagreatfirstbaseman,andahardhittingtackleonthefootballfield.Heledhiscollegebasketballteamto
victoryastheirteamcaptainwhenincollege.Hedefinitelytookafterhis
grandfather,JeremiahGrady.Bothmenwerehardworkers.Laziness
wasnotanoptionforthemembersofthisfamily.TheGradysandthe
FayswerebothdescendantsofIrishimmigrants.Theyknewwhatitwas
liketostruggletomakealifeforthemselves.
Timeline:LeoJeremiahFay
1917-1918
JerryFayservedinWorldWarI
1919
Afterthemilitary,JerryFayjoinedtheNewHavenWeissmanbaseball
team.
1920-1921
JerryenteredcollegeinPhiladelphiaaround1920-1921.
1922
Jerryplayedcollegebasketballin1922.
1924-1925
Jerryplayedcollegefootballin1924-1925.
121
1925
JerryplayedfortheYellowJacketsfootballteamin1925,afterhis
collegeyearswereover.
1926
JerryjoinedthePhiladelphiaQuakersin1926.
1930
In1930,Jerrywaslivingathismother’shouseinManchester.
122
ChapterTen:GradyFamilyTimeline
ThefollowingtimelinefollowstheGradyfamilythroughtheyears.
Dateshavebeentakenfromvariousdocumentsandotherresources.
1815JeremiahGradyisborninIreland
1825HonoraMyers(Maher)isborninIreland
1844JeremiahGradymarriesHonoraMyer(s)inIrelandandemigrates
toBoston,Massachusetts
1845-1846JohnGradyisborninMassachusetts,perhapsinBoston
1845-1846JeremiahandHonoramovetoKeene,NewHampshire.
Jeremiahworksfortherailroad
1846-1849JeremiahhelpsbuildTunnelinVernon,Connecticut
1848MaryGradyisborninKeene,NewHampshire
1849TunnelinVernonisfinished
1850-1854TheGradysarelivinginVernon,Connecticut.Firsttrain
passesthroughVernon,overthetunnel(1850)
1850-1860EdmundGradyisborninConnecticut
1852AbigailGradyisborninConnecticut
1853JamesGradyisborninConnecticut.
1853RisleyDamisbuiltonLakeStreetinVernon,Connecticut.Risley
DamisownedbyWellsN.Risley
1857HannahGradyisborninConnecticut
1859EllenGradyisborninConnecticut
1861JeremiahjoinstheArmyduringtheCivilWar;hejoins14th
Regiment,DCompany,Connecticut
1862JohnJ.FayisborninRockvilleConnecticut.Heeventuallymarried
AbbigailR.Grady
1862-1863JeremiahiswoundedinFredericksberg,VirginiaintheCivil
Warandisdischargedby1864
1867JeremiahGrady(sonofJeremiahandHonora)isbornin
Connecticut
1868-1869ThomasGradyisborninConnecticut
1870HannahandEllenarelistedasworkersforaCottonMillatages11
and12inRockville,Connecticut
1872JeremiahisintheHartfordCourantbecauseofaconfrontational
situationbetweenhimandanotherman
1872GradychildrenMary,Jeremiah,andJameshelptheirfather
homesteadinNebraska
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1873MaryGradymarriesDanielFoleyinNebraska
1874-76JeremiahreturnstoVernon,Connecticut
1874-76WilliamGradyisborninConnecticut
1877DanielFoleydies(founddeadinhiswagon,horsescutloose).
1880Jeremiah,sonofJeremiahandHonora,inNebraskaliveswith
siblings,James,andHannah
1880Jeremiah,Honora,Abbie,Willie,andThomasarelivinginVernon,
Connecticut.Willieisafarmhand,age14
1880EdmundGradylivesinPlatteCenter,Platte,Nebraska,listedas
single
1881MaryGradymarriesMartinN.BurnsinNebraska.(Hersecond
marriage)
1884HonoraGrady(daughterofJeremiahandHonora)marriesFrancis
PatrickLeeinNebraska
1886JamesGradymarriesMaggieKilloraninNebraska
1887JeremiahGrady(sonofJeremiahandHonora)marriesCatherine
SullivaninNebraska
1888AbbieGrady,daughterofJeremiahandHonora,marriesJohnJ.Fay
onNovember14th
1888JeremiahGradyshowshisClydesdaleStallionattheVernon,
Connecticutfair(asreportedintheHartfordCourant)
1889WilliamandThomasGradyarelivinginVernonwiththeirparents
helpingwiththefarm
1897Jeremiahdiesat82yearsold,afterlivingintheUnitedStatesfor
about53years
1897LeoJeremiahFay(JerryFay)isborntoJohnJ.FayandAbbie
(Grady)Fay
1899Honorahdiesatabout74yearsoldinVernon,Connecticut
1900EdmundGradyisaboarderinWashingtonState
1910JohnGrady,sonofJeremiahandHonoraislivingwithhisbrother
JerryinNebraska
1910EdmundliveswithhissisterEllenGradyMonathaninWashington
State,listedaswidowed
1917-18JerryFay,JeremiahandHonora'sgrandson,joinstheArmy
duringWWI
1920Edmundislivingwithsisterandbrother-in-law,Humphrey
Monathan;heislistedasapartnerinEdmund’sbusiness
1932EdmundGradydiesinWashingtonState
1940ThomasGrady,sonofJeremiahandHonora,livesinCoventry,
124
Connecticut
1951EllenO'GradyMonahandiesinWashingtonState,daughterof
JeremiahandHonoraGrady
125
ReferencesandSources
HistoryofTollandCounty,Connecticut,byJ.R.Cole
ACenturyofVernon,Connecticut1808–1908
Tolland:thehistoryofanoldConnecticutPostRoadtown
Bolton'sheritage:historicalsketchesofBolton,Connecticut
TheMilitaryandCivilHistoryofConnecticutDuringtheWarof1861-65
HistoryofNebraska,FourthEdition
TheAmericanPast:ASurveyofAmericanHistory,VolumeII:Since1865
TheIrishPotatoFamine:IrishImmigrantsCometoAmerica(1845-1850)
TheGreatIrishPotatoFamine,Brittanica.com
ImmigrantsinAmericanHistory:Arrival,Adaptation,andIntegration
MoreIrishFamilies(surname,Grady,Gready,Brady)
TheBoysfromRockville:CivilWarNarrativesbyRobertL.Bee
Internetwebsites:
Familysearch.org(U.S.Census,birthcertificates,marriagepapers,etc.)
Rootsweb.com
Ancestry.com
Cyndi'sList
126