Charles Gramesly - often refers to himself as C. in the journal
Birth 2 June 1842 in Palmyra, Wayne, New York, USA
Death 2 Mar 1925 in 720 Sixth St, Charleston, Coles, IL, USA
Charles is interested in many things including Fungi, photography, history, silk worms, gardening, etc. He loved to write. He wrote many stories of his childhood. At one time he owned a billiard Hall and a tavern. He owned property in the Fox Ridge area, and in Loxa. At the Fox Ridge property they milled lumber, railroad ties, fence posts and cords of wood. As a young boy he sat on a fence and listened to the Lincoln-Douglas at the Coles County Fairgrounds. Charles Gramesly was crippled and used a cane. He was hit in the shoulder by a meat hook that further crippled him.
Polly Keturah Hildreth - Often called Tu, Tue or Turie in the journal. She is the wife of Charles and the mother of Margaret, Phebe and Marie. Turie had many friends and often went calling. She was a member of a Reading Circle from a young lady into her 90's. It is said that Tue was a beautiful seamstress. In the journal, Tue is often sewing for the family..
Tue suffered from toothaches and neualgia.
In 1914 she voted.
Tue with Charley and Marie @ 1912 or 1913
Margaret Amidon Gramesly - Charles and Tu's eldest child. She is sometimes refered to as Muggs. She never married. She had a college degree and taught Library Science at the University of Illinois. She helped start libraries across the country including, Memphis, Nashville, Ohio, Oklahoma, Jefferson City, MO. and many other places. She collected books and beautiful dishes.
Phebe Hildreth Gramesly - Charles and Tu's second child. She married and divorced Tom Chambers. Her second husband was George Marvel. She was a milliner and was very talented.
Death 13 Jun 1965
Marie Sayre Gramesly - Charles and Tu's youngest child. Married Walter Henry Reasor. (My grandmother) She was the keeper of the family history. The last of her family she knew the stories and kept the journal, family letters, and much more. She knew how much I valued the family history and shortly after I married she gave me dishes that were her sister Margaret's, and that had been in the family for over 200 years. Not until I urged her to read the journal, had she read more than a few entries from special dates. She and I shared the joy of discovery. My Grandma Reasor became a close friend to me.
- Birth 17-Feb- 1887 in Charleston,Coles, Illinois, USA
- Death 1981-02-13 in Charleston, Coles, Illinois, United States
Tue, Charley, Marie @ 1912 or 1913 -
William Sayre Gramesly - Charles' father. He lived with them during part of the journal. He is referred to as Father. He was a tanner, grocer, and owned a canal boat named the Indiana on the Erie Canal. He moved his family west. At age 65 he went to the Civil War with his 16 year old son. When he later went to Leadville, CO where he mined silver.
- Birth 17 Nov 1809 in Goshen, New York, USA
- Death June 2, 1898 in Charleston, Coles, Illinois, USA
Henry Gramesly- Charles' brother. Married to Hat. Henry went to the Civil War at the age of 16.
Birth 10 Oct 1844 in New York, United States
Henry wrote a journal when he was prospecting.
Gramesly, Henry. 1 bound volume, 114 pages. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Contact an Archivist to learn more about access to materials in this collection Contact Information Notes and summaries Henry Gramesly (1844-?) was born in Ontario County, New York. His family moved to Charleston, Illinois, and Henry and his father William Sayre Gramesly (1809-1898) both served in Company B of the 5th Illinois Cavalry Regiment. Henry joined in November 1861, re-enlisted as a veteran, and served at least through the siege of Vicksburg in 1863. In 1880 he was working as a store clerk in Charleston and living with a family named Hays. He prospected in the Colorado silver mines near Leadville and Chaffee County from May-July 1880. He returned to Colorado from July-August 1881 and established a tunnel company. Gramesly then returned home to Illinois and married Harriet Dowling in 1882. Diary kept by Henry Gramesly while he prospected in Colorado from May to July 1880, and resuming with his return trip from July to August 1881. The diary opens with Gramesly traveling by rail through the Kenosha Pass in Colorado and his arrival in Leadville. Shortly after his arrival 6,000 miners went on strike demanding higher wages. Gramesly tracks the strike, which continued throughout the month of June until it was broken by militiamen sent by Governor Frederick Pitkin. Gramesly writes of men being shot, the introduction of martial law, and "great excitement" in the city. He reflects several times that the setting and situation "puts me in mind of the Army." At the same time as the strike, high winds drove a major forest fire through the area. "Damn the country...the forests are on fire in every direction," Gramesly wrote, continuing it was so "smoky [I] can't really see the mountains." At this time a circus also came to town, which Gramesly notes in passing. In the midst of all these happenings, Gramesly went on prospecting, on July 5 some of his companions discovered gold and staked a claim not far from their camp, called Gramesly's Camp. The diary ends on July 10, 1880, and picks up again in June 1881, when Gramesly returned to Colorado from Illinois. He writes of setting up a tunnel company with his five companions, and that he was given 10,400 shares, with a total value of $104,000. The tunnel was built near Eagle Point, and Gramesly mentions the Cave, Tray, and Waterloo Lodes, among others. He continued prospecting and hiking in the area, and records hunting sheep on La Plata and the view from Eagle Point. He also records his sighting of the Great Comet of 1881 and mentions in passing that "the President [James A. Garfield] is dying." The back of the diary contains a list of letters Gramesly sent, some miscellaneous accounting notes, and additional diary entries from early May 1880. In the diary Gramesly refers to his father as WSG, his brother as CG, and his fiancee Harriet as Hat. HM 76185. The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. All inquiries about this manuscript should be directed to the H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts. This collection covers: Gramesly, Henry.
Martial law United States.
Harriet Dowling Gramesly- Known as Hat in the journal. Married to Henry Gramesly.
- Birth Mar 1857 in Illinois, United States
John F Hildreth- Tu's father and Charles' uncle. Referred to as Uncle John in the journal. Was a whaler in younger years. Married to Eliza Cordelia. He was a farmer and a carpenter.
- Birth 1-19-1823 in North Hudson, Essex, New York
- Death 3-27-1895 in Charleston, Illinois
Eliza Cordelia Amidon Hildreth- John Hildreth's wife. Known as Cordelia. She is also referred to as Aunt Deal. Tu's mother and Charles' aunt.
Death 5 Oct 1888 in Charleston, Illinois
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On March 22, 1883, Mr. Hildreth was united in marriage to Irene, daughter of William and Eunice Leitch, natives of Pendleton County, Va., who came to Coles County November 15, 1845. To Mr. and Mrs. Hildreth have been born eight children, of whom five are living: Charles, Dora, Helen, Grace and Everett. Those deceased are: John, Chester and an infant. From:
In his political views Mr. Hildreth is a Republican, and he is now serving his second term as Assessor of Lafayette Township. He is a member of the Christian Church.
From the History of Illinois 1906 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilcoletp/history/history_of2/index.html
John Henry Hildreth - Tu's brother. Called Henry. Married to Ora.
Ora E 'Hildreth'- wife of Henry Hildreth.
Fanny Isadora Hildreth Snyder- Tu's sister. Known as Fan in the journal. She and her husband lived in the Blakeman house on the hill next to where you turn into L ake Charleston.
Helen Clare Snider- Fanny's daughter
Gus Rogers Ferrish - Helen Snider's husband
Birth 25 Dec 1882 in Charleston, Coles, Illinois, United States Death
Walter Henry Reasor [Sr.]
Walter in his high school football uniform.
Walter married Marie. He is my Grandfather.
CHS 1903 Football team
Cousin Mary Sayre
Cousin Addie Sayre
Walter Henry Reasor [Sr.]
Walter in his high school football uniform.
Walter married Marie. He is my Grandfather.
CHS 1903 Football team
Cousin Mary Sayre
Cousin Addie Sayre
Thank you for sharing this Catherine.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, I hope you are enjoying getting to know our ancestors through the journal. I feel so privileged to have a copy of this wonderful history.
ReplyDeleteCatherine