Elmer E. Gritton
1871 - 1948 (77 years)
Generation: 1
Generation: 2
1. Elmer E. Gritton was born on 21 Feb 1871 in Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 25 Nov 1948 in Los Angeles County, California. Other Events:
- Occupation: railroad switchman; railroad conductor
- Census: 1900, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
- Census: 1910, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
- Census: 1920, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois
- Census: 1930, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
- Census: 1940, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California
Notes:
Conductor Elmer E. Gritton is the most unfortunate man on the road. His family is again in quarantine, this time on account of diphtheria.
The Champaign Daily Gazette, Champaign, Illinois. Monday, 15 February 1915.
* * * *
Conductor Elmer Gritton, whose home is quarantined on account of diphtheria, is living in a caboose.
The Champaign Daily News, Champaign, Illinois. Tuesday, 16 February 1915.
* * *
The home of E.E. Gritton, 205 East Illinois street has been quarantined on account of diphtheria.
The Champaign County News, Champaign, Illinois. Wednesday, 17 February 1915.
* * *
LKH note: a lesson in searching for one than one news article about the same event. In the series above each article gave a new clue about Elmer and his family. 1. He is a railroad conductor.
2. His family has been in quarantine more than once. 3. He lived in a caboose while they were in quarantine. 4. Their home address is listed.
LKH note:
From this news article we learn that Elmer has been a railroad conductor since 1905.
* * *
Under the column “Shop and Track. Illinois Central.
A new seniority list of conducts and brakemen made up at the end of the year 1914 was posted on Saturday evening by Yardmaster Birdzell. The list shows the following sanding of trainman: Conductors –
[there follows a list of names and years, including … ]
E.E. Gritton and J.V. Spitz, 1905.
The Champaign Daily News, Champaign, Illinois. Tuesday, 9 February 1915, page 4.
Conductor Gritton had one of the longest trains ever pulled into the Urbana yards Friday night. It was an extra from the west, consisting of 91 cars and three quarters of a mile long.
The Urbana Daily Courier, Urbana, Illinois. Monday, 15 March 1915, page 2.
Elmer married Docie Gertrude McClard on 21 Aug 1902 in Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana. Docie (daughter of Henry McClard and Nancy Belle Crawford) was born on 28 Sep 1885 in Kentucky; died on 24 May 1956 in Los Angeles County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 2. Effie Mae Gritton
was born in 1902 in Indiana. - 3. Ruth Beatrice Gritton was born on 26 Sep 1903 in Indiana; died on 24 Mar 1992 in San Joaquin, Fresno County, California.
- 4. Mildred Emlyn Gritton was born on 6 Jan 1908 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; died on 10 Apr 1908 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
- 5. Forence Ellen Gritton was born on 21 Feb 1909 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; died on 11 Sep 1968 in Orange County, California.
- 6. Elmer Henry Gritton was born on 10 Jul 1910 in Illinois; died on 14 Jul 1981 in Orange County, California.
- 7. George Edward Gritton was born on 25 Nov 1915 in Champaign County, Illinois; died on 13 Jul 1989 in Orange County, California.
- 8. Kenton Milo Gritton was born on 9 Feb 1919 in Champaign County, Illinois; died on 24 Mar 1999 in California.
Generation: 2
2. Effie Mae Gritton (1.Elmer1) was born in 1902 in Indiana. 3. Ruth Beatrice Gritton (1.Elmer1) was born on 26 Sep 1903 in Indiana; died on 24 Mar 1992 in San Joaquin, Fresno County, California. Notes:
LKH note:
Ruth married William Earl Mathews, b. 28 Nov 1915 in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
In the 1940 census they are in Norfolk, Virginia.
In the 1950 census they are Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. Hattie's mother Gertrude Gritton, 64, widow, lives with them.
4. Mildred Emlyn Gritton (1.Elmer1) was born on 6 Jan 1908 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; died on 10 Apr 1908 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Notes:
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/136357683/mildred-e-gritton5. Forence Ellen Gritton (1.Elmer1) was born on 21 Feb 1909 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; died on 11 Sep 1968 in Orange County, California. Family/Spouse: Thomas Andrew Kaser. Thomas was born on 4 Jun 1914 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; died on 12 Aug 1997; was buried in Santa Maria Cemetery District, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
6. Elmer Henry Gritton (1.Elmer1) was born on 10 Jul 1910 in Illinois; died on 14 Jul 1981 in Orange County, California. Other Events:
- Census: 1940, Kern County, California
7. George Edward Gritton (1.Elmer1) was born on 25 Nov 1915 in Champaign County, Illinois; died on 13 Jul 1989 in Orange County, California. 8. Kenton Milo Gritton (1.Elmer1) was born on 9 Feb 1919 in Champaign County, Illinois; died on 24 Mar 1999 in California.