Lincoln and the Gridleys
The Gridleys are colorful characters in the story of Lincoln's Bloomington. Much of the personal anecdotes and references suggest a degree of intimacy with Lincoln, but many are also recollections that, like Herndon and his informants, must be read critically and carefully to ascertain their validity. Nevertheless, the stories provide a rich illustration of potentially factual interactions with Abraham Lincoln. |
Asahel Gridley (1810-1881)
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“I want you to understand that I am in this undertaking, to advance Lincoln and nominate him if we can, with all my might, and I don’t want any blundering accidents or mishaps.” |
- Gridley traveled with Abraham Lincoln and Judge David Davis throughout Illinois practicing law on the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court
- Elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1851.
- Gridley was instrumental in securing not one, but two, major railroad lines (the Illinois Central and Chicago and Alton) directly through Bloomington. The location of both of these railroads through Bloomington “gave a boom to the little village.”
- Involved in the formation of the Illinois Republican Party and the nomination of Abraham Lincoln
- Judge Davis and Gridley did not get along. According to local lore, Gridley and Davis got into a fight in Davis’ law office which ended by Davis pinning Gridley to the floor. Gridley then bit Davis’s finger until he let him up.
- Lincoln came to Gridley's defense in 1859 when he was sued for slander by his friend, William Flagg (Interestingly, Gridley and Lincoln had argued many slander cases together on the circuit.) See Mark Steiner's, "The Lawyer as Peacemaker."
Mary Gridley (1818-1900)
Later in life, Mary often recalled the story of one stormy night when “Lincoln was soaked to the skin by the heavy rain. My husband brought him to our house, and had him change from his drenched clothing to some of his own.” Mary recalled how “abbreviated the trousers were for him, as were the sleeves of the coat.” - The Daily Bulletin, January 26, 1899 |
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Lincoln Lore: Recollected History
Asahel Gridley's Lincoln AnecdotesGridley recalled how he and Lincoln stopped at a farm house and spent the night. The farmer’s wife “said she was so sorry they were all out of coffee and tea, but that she would make them some saxifax tea (meaning of course sassafras).” Gridley said Lincoln replied “Why madam, I was raised on saxifax tea,” which made her feel quite relieved.” - “More Reminiscences of Lincoln and Gridley,” The Pantagraph, May 21, 1918 One story published in The Pantagraph many years after Gridley’s death stated that it was Gridley who told Lincoln he would be president. “Sitting in his law office with Lincoln one day, Gen. Gridley suddenly spoke up and said ‘Lincoln you will be president of the United States someday.” Lincoln looked at Gridley and asked him what made him think so. Gridley replied, “You just wait and see.” - “More Reminiscences of Lincoln and Gridley,” The Pantagraph, May 21, 1918 Gridley’s biographer Robert Browne also claimed that Gridley advanced over $100,000 for Lincoln’s campaign. While there is no evidence to support this claim, it is plausible based on Gridley’s vast financial resources and the close relationship he had with Lincoln. - Guy Fraker. Lincoln’s Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit. (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2012) |
Mary Gridley's Lincoln AnecdotesDuring the presidential campaign in October 1860, several political rallies were held in Bloomington. Stephen Douglas and Governor Thomas Corwin (former governor of Ohio), were in town to speak at these rallies. Asahel, being an ardent supporter of the Republican Party, escorted Gov. Corwin to the Republican rally being held across town. At the same time, Mary put a Douglas flag on her husband’s carriage and escorted Douglas to town to attend the Democratic rally. Mary is known to have preferred Lincoln over Douglas so chances are that she did this to undermine her husband which was a very brave and daring thing to do at the time. Later that month, Judge David Davis wrote to his wife Sarah and told her that he was ashamed of Mary Gridley’s behavior. He stated that “a wife, making her husband, a laughing stock bringing him into public ridicule, and hurting his feelings in public, needs the chastisement that ‘Lord Hale’ thought was right under certain circumstances. A great many men would not live with her another day after such an impropriety.” |
"The Oaks" - the Gridley Mansion
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The "Oaks" was constructed in 1859 among the mighty oak trees at the edge of downtown in Bloomington, Illinois. At the time, it was the largest home in the town and cost an exorbitant $40,000. Abraham Lincoln visited the home on the same trip to Bloomington when he delivered the "Lost Speech" in May of 1859. Lincoln, when seeing the house, reportedly said, "Gridley, do you want the whole town to hate you?"
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