Haines Gridley

Haines Gridley
An enterprising and highly esteemed man who left a deep impression on commercial affairs in Placer County was the late Haines Gridley, a native of New York State, born in Elmira, December 3, 1880, a son of Charles and Theodote (Haines) Gridley. The father represented the third generation in his family to engage in wholesale hardware business at Elmira, Chemung County, N. Y.; while the mother was a daughter of John Haines, of an old Boston family, descended from New England stock, who were cotton-manufacturers.
Haines Gridley prepared for college at Mercersburg Academy, and then entered Cornell University, where he made an excellent record, graduating in 1904 with the degree of Mining and Civil Engineer. At college he was prominent in social affairs, being a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, at Cornell, the Nalanda Society, the Savage Club, and the quill and Dagger, and was leader of the Glee Club for four years. After his graduation he came West to work for W. A. Clark, at the Ophir Mine, in Montana, as a mining engineer, remaining from 1904 until 1911, having become assistant superintendent of the Ophir Mine.
Haines Gridley was married in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 23, 1909, to Mrs. Hazel (Pollock) Butler, a native of that city, whose father, Samuel J. Pollock, was born in Philadelphia. After he was graduated, when twenty-one years of age, Mr. Pollock came out to Salt Lake City, in the early days as agent for Wells Fargo Express Company, being stationed at Fish Spring, a pony-express station. Here he had some very interesting as well as harrowing experiences, at various times. At one time he unstrapped the dead pony rider from the saddle of his mount, to which he had been tied, the pony being trained to run for the next station when attacked by Indians, so the faithful animal would bring the rider in, even though he was shot and killed by the Redskins. Through those stirring times he lived; and as he worked, he saved his money, and then later he and his brother bought an outfit of ox-teams and wagons and engaged in business they met with signal success. Then Mr. Polock engaged in mining in Utah, locating various mines. One of these is the big mine W. A. Clark still owns. Mr. Pollock met with success, spending his last days in Salt Lake City. His wife, who was Eleanor Knox, a native of Salt Lake City, of Scotch parents, died all too soon, when only twenty-eight years of age. She was the mother of four children. Hazel, the oldest was graduated from St. Mary's Academy, a finishing school in Salt Lake City. Mr. and Mrs. Gridley's union proved happy and congenial, and resulted in the birth of a son, Haines, Jr. By her former marriage Mrs. Gridley had a daughter, Helen Butler Gridley, who is attending Leland Stanford University, in the class of 1925.
Resigning his position as assistant engineer at Ophir, Mr. Gridley went to San Pedro, N. M., where he entered the employ of the Lewisohns at their large copper mines. Here he held the responsible position of general manager of their coal and copper mines, as well as their smelter, having 1200 men under him. When the war came on, he took a leave of absence for six months and came to Auburn, Placer County, as expert for the company at the Oro Fino Mine, of which William A. Curtis was president, and later he built the plant. He intended to remain only until the plant was completed; but at the end of the time he was induced to remain and become interested in the mine, and he accepted the position as manager of the mine, in the operation of which he made decided success, producing a half million dollars from the mine up to the time of his untimely death, January 12, 1922.
Mr. Gridley was distinctly constructive in his activities. He not only made success of producing from the Oro Fino Mine, but also saw the agricultural possibilities of the surface of the land; and clearing it, he planted fifty-six acres of the 120 acres to orchards of pears, peaches and plums. He also organized the Excelsior Mining Company, that took over a mine in Forest Hill, which he worked for two years until his death.
After Mr. Griedly's demise, the Oro Fini Mine soon ceased producing, as well as operating; and later on Mrs. Gridley purchased the interests of the other stockholders in the mine and ranch. While the mine is not being operated, the orchards which Mr. Gridley, in his optimism, had the foresight to plant are now in full bearing, producing an excellent quality of fruit. Mrs. Gridley selected a beautiful site on the banks of the American River, at Auburn, where she planned and built a magnificent home, commanding a wonderful view, overlooking the canons up and down the American River, with its grand mountain scenery, and its snow-capped mountains in winter only a few short miles distant; while in the front yard the orange trees are covered with delicious tropical fruit. Active in civil and social affaires, Mrs. Gridley is a member of the Town and County Club and the Women's Improvement Club, as well as the Del Paso Country Club. She belongs to the Episcopal Church.
Mr. Gridley was very progressive, and his work in building up the county by his enterprise was greatly appreciated by the citizens of Auburn, who selected him as a town trustee, a position he filled acceptably and very creditably until his death, which proved a distinct loss to the city of his adoption. He was an ardent Republican, and worked for the success of the party. He was a member and accredited engineer of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. In his church affiliation, he was a member and vestryman of the Episcopal Church at Auburn. Fraternally, Mr. Gridley was a Mason. He held membership in the Tahoe Club; and being a golf enthusiast, he became a charter member of the Del Paso Country Club at Sacramento. He was also a popular and talented musician, possessing a beautiful lyric tenor voice, which in his liberal way was ever at the disposal of the community, his selections being much enjoyed and appreciated by the music-loving public. Well-read and well-posted, and a good talker, Mr. Gridley was an interesting conversationalist.