Yuba County CA Archives Biographies.....Greely, Fred Henry 1856 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 5, 2012, 11:38 pm Source: See below Author: Peter J. Delay HON. FRED HENRY GREELY.— In many capacities Fred Henry Greely has served the public, always doing able and conscientious work in every position to which he has been elected. He is now serving as recorder and auditor for Yuba County, having been continued in those offices for the past twelve years. He is one of California's native sons and was born at Galena Hill, July 5, 1856, of the marriage of Justus and Margaret (Rideout) Greely. His grandfather, John Greely, lived and died in Palermo, Waldo County, Maine, being the seventh, as our subject is the ninth, in lineal descent from Andrew Greele (as he spelled the name) of Salisbury, Mass., the records of the town first mentioning his name as a resident of the place in 1640, though he may have been in Massachusetts at an earlier date. John Greely was born in 1801 and died in 1886. Members of the family, quite generally, have been of advanced age when they passed on. The emigrant Andrew Greele built the first mill in Salisbury. General A. W. Greely and Horace Greeley were of the same family, and members of the family served in the Colonial and Revolutionary Wars. The first four generations resided at Salisbury, Mass.; thereafter members of the family moved to Newcastle, Maine, and later to Palermo, Waldo County, Maine. Justus Greely, the father of our subject, was born in Palermo, Maine, and was twenty-one years of age when he came to San Francisco, via the Nicaragua route, in 1851. He came on to Yuba County and mined at Parks Bar on the Yuba River. In 1854 he returned East and was married to Miss Margaret Rideout, a sister of N. D. Rideout, later the banker of Marysville. Immediately returning to California with his bride, he and N. D. Rideout were partners in mining at Galena Hill. In 1860 Justus Greely returned to Maine with his family and engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business near his old home, later locating in Portland, Maine, where he continued the business for three years, when he sold all of his holdings and returned to California with his family on one of the early overland trains. In July, 1869, he located in Marysville and purchased an interest in the old Buckeye Mill, engaging in manufacturing flour; and in time buying out the other partner, he became sole owner and incorporated the Buckeye Milling Company, enlarging the business as his trade grew. Later he consolidated it with the Pioneer Mill in Sacramento, and the two did business together for many years. When the Sperry Flour Company was organized, it absorbed both of these companies as well as others. Justus Greely was a member of the board of directors of the Sperry Flour Company until his death on April 6, 1911, at the age of eighty-one. He was levee director in Marysville for many years and was one of the prime movers in the building of the permanent levees that today so well protect the city; he did not believe in doing things by halves, but wisely builded the levees much higher than the limit of high water. He was also city treasurer for many years. The mother, Margaret Rideout, also came from an old Maine family and was of English descent. Her three brothers, Henry, Benjamin and Ransom, were all river captains in Maine. Benjamin and Ransom Rideout came to California in pioneer days and were captains on the Sacramento River; and their sons followed in their footsteps and are captains on the Sacramento River at the present time, as well as some of their grandsons. Mrs. Justus Greely died in 1904 at the age of seventy years. This worthy pioneer couple had two children, Fred H. and Margaret, who resides in Berkeley and is now the widow of Dr. David Powell. In 1860 Fred H. Greely accompanied his parents via the Isthmus of Panama to Maine, attending school there until 1869, when the family returned to California. Here he graduated from the Marysville High School in the first graduating class, of which Mr. Greely is the only member now living. He then went East and at Kents Hill fitted for Harvard, from 1874 to 1876; but he decided instead to enter a smaller college, and so matriculated at Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., continuing his studies for two years, when his eyesight became impaired and he had to give up his studies for the time. Returning to California, he took a position in the Buckeye Mills and became secretary of the company, a position he filled for many years. When the Sperry Flour Company absorbed the mill, he became a director in this company, continuing as such for many years until he sold his stock. He took up the study of law in the office of W. H. Carlin of Marysville, and on March 13, 1900, was admitted to the bar of California. On beginning his professional career, Mr. Greely became associated with his former preceptor, Mr. Carlin, a relationship that was continued until September, 1901, when he withdrew from the partnership and began practicing independently. His ability in solving intricate legal problems soon became recognized and led to his selection for the office of district attorney, which he filled from 1907 to 1911. Meanwhile, in 1886, he had been chosen mayor of Marysville, and in 1889 he was elected to represent his district in the State Senate. For seven years he served on the board of trustees of the Normal School at Chico, under appointment of Governor Markham, and in 1903 he was appointed register of the United States Land Office at Marysville, with which he was connected until the removal of the office to Sacramento in 1906. In December, 1910, the then incumbent, S. O. Gunning, auditor and recorder of Yuba County, who had just been elected to the office to succeed himself, died and Mr. Greely was appointed by the board of supervisors to fill the vacancy, serving out his full term until January, 1915. In the meantime, in the fall of 1914, he was nominated and elected county auditor and recorder by a big majority. In 1918 he was reelected without opposition, and in 1922 he was again reelected, also without opposition. He is giving these offices all of his attention, his long retention in the office being proof of his efficiency and trustworthiness. He is a member of the County Recorders' Association of the State of California. All this time he has also been engaged in ranching and cattle-raising. From 1889 to 1914 he owned about 3000 acres in Yuba County. Selling this, he then bought a 1400-acre ranch in the valley of Yuba County, which he also sold at a profit; and he now owns a ranch in Sutter County devoted to the growing of olives, grapes and prunes. On October 5, 1879, Mr. Greely was united in marriage to Miss Lettie Bost, and they have a large circle of friends in Marysville. Mrs. Greely was born in Marysville, a daughter of Jacob M. Bost, who was born in Ohio and there married Sarah White. Coming to California across the plains by ox-team in 1854, he became a pioneer of Marysville and engaged in teaming for several years, until he began ranching. He is now living retired, with our subject, and is hale and hearty at the age of ninety-one. Mrs. J. M. Bost died in 1891, aged fifty-nine years. Lettie Bost, their only daughter, was educated in Marysville, and her entire life has been spent here. She is a member and treasurer of the Woman's Improvement Club. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Greely was blessed with two children: Helen, Mrs. Waste of Marysville; and Donnell, who was assistant cashier of the Rideout Bank on the outbreak of the World War, when he entered the officers' training camp at the Presidio. He was commissioned second lieutenant in 1918, and was promoted to first lieutenant at Camp Fremont. He went over seas with the 13th Regulars and did not return until after the armistice. He is now Captain of Headquarters Company, 91st Division, U. S. Reserves. He is interested with his father in ranching: and horticulture. Fred H. Greely is a member of Marysville Parlor, No. 6, N. S. G. W. He is a Past President, and also served as Grand President of that order in 1885, and is also Past Exalted Ruler of Marysville Lodge, No. 783, B. P. O. Elks. He is intensely interested in preserving the old historical pioneer landmarks in California. He was one of the four-minute speakers, making over 600 speeches, or one a day, during the World War, and was active in selling the Liberty Bonds and boosting the county over the top each time. He was for ten years a member of Company C, 8th Infantry, N. G. C, serving on General Montgomery's staff as Major Inspector of Rifle Practice, himself holding a record as one of the crack shots of old Company C. He has closely studied the questions and issues of the day, and believing that the principles of the Republican party contain the best elements of good government, he has ever labored for its success. He stands high in his profession, and at all times has been actuated by an unselfish spirit of devotion to the general good. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF YUBA and SUTTER COUNTIES CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified with Their Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY PETER J. DELAY ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 1924 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/yuba/photos/bios/greely1103gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yuba/bios/greely1103gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 9.9 Kb