Gridley's Mother: Ann Sholes Gridley

From Charles V. Gridley Find-A-Grave.

Charles Gridley's mother, Ann Eliza  Sholes Gridley (1825-1909) is listed as a Civil War nurse and a Daughter of the American Revolution.  She is buried with Charles' father at Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsdale, Michigan.

From the Hillsdale (Michigan) Historical Society.

ANN SHOLES GRIDLEY

In her obituary in the local newspaper, the statement is made, "no one knows how much this esteemed woman did for Hillsdale."  Ann became famous as the mother of Capt. Charles Gridley of Manila Bay "You may fire  when you are ready, Gridley!"

She was also well-known nationally for her thirty years' service in the land office in Washington, D.C.

Known locally for her tireless work as a volunteer nurse on the fields of battle of the Civil War, Ann went to the front to administer aid to the sick and wounded.  She received personal thanks from Generals Grant, Sherman and Sheridan.

--Old Secesh

Find-A-Grave: Charles Vernon Gridley From Mobile Bay to Manila Bay

CAPTAIN CHARLESVERNON GRIDLEY

BIRTH:  24 November 1844,  Logansport, Indiana

DEATH:  5 June 1898, Kobe, Japan

BURIAL:  Lakeside Cemetery, Erie, Pennsylvania

United States Naval Officer.  Am 1864 graduate of the USNA. (which had temporarily moved to Newport, Rhode Island during the Civil War for safety), he served as acting ensign on board the USS Oneida at the August 5, 1864, Battle of Mobile Bay.

By the time of the Spanish-American War in 1898, he had risen to the rank of captain, and was in command of the USS Olympia during the May 1, 1898, Battle of Manila Bay.  The Olympia served as the American Asiatic Squadron's commander  George Dewey's flagship.

At the start of the battle, he  commanded Captain Gridley to commence his bombardment on the Spanish ships with the words: You may fire when ready, Gridley."  The phrase, widely reported in American newspapers, became a popular catch-phrase of the time.

Captain Gridley would die a month later after an illness on board a different ship while it was anchored off Kobe, Japan.

--Old B-Runner