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Gilmore M. Stratton
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Co. C, 2nd WI. Infantry
William Cutler wrote the following about this gentleman:
G. M. STRATTON, postmaster, was born in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio, July 9, 1845. In 1848 his parents moved to Peru, Miami County, Ind., and 1854 from there to Grant County, Wis. January 5, 1864, he enlisted in Company C Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served in that regiment in the army of the Potomac, following the explosion of the mine at Petersburgh (sic), Va., July 30, 1864, he received a bayonet wound in the knee. He was discharged from the service, July 29, 1865, at Madison, Wis. In March, 1870, he came to Clay County, Kan., and settled on a farm. In 1875, he moved to Clay Centre and engaged in mercantile business, carrying a stock of general merchandise, and afterwards was engaged in the furniture trade. He was appointed postmaster in May, 1878, and re-appointed in May 1882. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, and, also, the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Stratton was married January 10, 1866, in Grant County, Wis., to Mary E. Snider. They have five children – Nellie, born December 20, 1868; Addie, born April 5, 1872; Allie, born November 27, 1874; Annie, born February 28, 1876; Lottie, born April 14, 1878.
The Dispatch-Republican, Thursday, July 17, 1924, Pg. 1
Vol. 31, No. 230
G. M. STRATTON
Funeral Was Held Today
With services, characterized by quiet dignity and impressive simplicity, the last rites were paid to the memory of G. M. Stratton at the home on Lane street this morning. Rev. Geo. Mead Hughes the pastor of the First M. E. church was in charge and the male quartette, composed of Messrs, Alfred Humfeld, Ray Rankin, Sumner Vincent and F. W. Parrott, sang, “Jesus, Lover of my Soul” and “Rock of Ages,” and at the close, Mrs Paul sang, “Crossing the Bar.”
The Masonic order then took charge of the exercises and conducted the remains to Greenwood cemetery where the ritual of the order was observed, in the presence of a large number friends and relatives.
Gilmore McGrath Stratton, who died in Denver, Colorado, July 14, 1924 of acute dilation of the heart, had been a resident of Clay Center since 1870, coming here from Grant County, Wisconsin, in a covered wagon and settling on a homestead six miles south of Clay Center.
Mr. Stratton was born at Salem, Ohio, July 9, 1845. His youth was spent in Peru, Indiana, and Lancaster, Wisconsin. He was educated in the public schools of Grant County, Wisconsin but enlisted in Company C, Second Wisconsin Infantry—a part of the “Iron Brigade”—in January, 1864, and was mustered out of the service in 1865.
At the conclusion of the war, Mr. Stratton went home and was married to Mary E. Snider. To this union five daughters were born: Nellie, Addie E., Allie T., Annie M. and Lottie V. He farmed in Wisconsin until 1870 when he came to Clay County, Kansas. Mrs. Mary E. Stratton died July23, 1916.
Mr. Stratton was a strong Republican in politics. He served as postmaster at Clay Center for eight years through the Hayes and Arthur administration starting in 1878.
Mr. Stratton entered the real estate business in 1885. He became deputy collector of Internal Revenue, District of Northern Kansas in 1890 and resigned in 1900 to manage the Triple Tie Benefit Association, remaining with the insurance company for ten years. In 1907 he organized and incorporated the Clay Center Telephone Company. He has been connected with the Peoples National Bank as a director. Mr. Stratton was a trustee of the Clay County High School and aided in the erection of the building.
Mr. Stratton belonged to the Knights Templar, and was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias. He has been a member and post commander of Phil Sheridan Post 88, and was instrumental in the erection of the soldier’s monument in the court house square.
On November 18th, 1918, Mr. Stratton was married to Miss Laura M. Anthony, who survives him.
A Word of Appreciation
The Board of Trustees of the Clay County Community High school mindful of the keen interest always manifested in its welfare and the loyal support always accorded to it by the late G. M. Stratton, and also having in mind the many years of faithful service given by him as a member of this board of trustees, having hereby expresses its warm appreciation of the consistent shown by him and the constant and unwavering purpose to advance its circle of service to the community.
In Mr. Stratton, the school has lost one of its most loyal adherents, and the board, the sympathy and support of one of its most loyal friends. In this, their hour of bereavement, the board wishes to tender to the sorrowing relatives its expression of sincere sympathy—W. C. Miles, Frank Oberg, Committee.
Gilmore McGrath Stratton.—A publication of this nature exercises its most important function when it takes cognizance of the life and labors of those citizens who have risen to prominence and prosperity through their own well directed efforts and who have been of material value in furthering the advancement of the commonwealth. A resident of Clay county since 1870, Mr. Stratton has, in his various activities, realized a substantial success. He has served in public offices with honor and distinction, first as postmaster at Clay Center and during the years of 1890 to 1900 as deputy collector of Internal Revenue for the Northern District of Kansas.
Gilmore McGrath Stratton is a native of Ohio, born at Salem, July 9, 1845, son of Hon. Stacy L. and Margaret (Grimmesey) Stratton. His paternal ancestors were Quakers and settled in America during the Colonial period. Stacy L. Stratton was born in New Jersey, Oct. 3, 1811, and in early life located in Salem, Ohio, where he became a carriage manufacturer. There he met and married in January, 1831, Margaret Grimmesey, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, born in 1812, and who came with her parents to America in 1828. Mr. Stratton located in Peru, Ind., in 1848, and in 1856 in Lancaster, Wis. In each of these locations he continued in the manufacture of vehicles. In 1870 he came to Kansas and located on government land, six miles south of Clay Center. He became actively identified with the public life of the locality and was elected justice of the peace, serving six years. He was elected, on the Republican ticket, a member of the legislature, in 1873, and supported John J. Ingalls for the United States senate. In 1876 he left the farm and became a resident of Clay Center, resumed the manufacture of carriages and continued in this occupation until his death in 1891, his wife preceding him to the life eternal Sept. 9, 1890. They were the parents of eight children—four sons and four daughters. Albert and Lemon died in infancy; Alcinous L., a resident of Clay Center, died in 1900, aged sixty-three; Hannah, Adeline, and Mary have also passed away, and Gilmore McGrath and Annes, the widow of John W. Reed, of Medford, Okla., survive.
Pages 950-952 from volume III, part 2 of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. … / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar.
Gilmore McGrath Stratton acquired his education in the public schools of Grant county, Wisconsin, and was preparing to enter the University of Wisconsin when his love of country determined him to offer his services in her behalf. He enlisted in January, 1864, as a private in Company C, Second Wisconsin infantry, which formed a part of the "Iron Brigade" of the Army of the Potomac, and served until mustered out July 29, 1865. His regiment saw service in a number of the most important battles of the war. Mr. Stratton was wounded at the siege of Petersburg and was confined in the hospital about three months, but was on active duty at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. On the conclusion of his military service he returned to his former home in Wisconsin and until 1870 was engaged in farming. In that year he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas, and located on a homestead adjoining his father’s, six miles south of Clay Center. In 1875 he became a resident of the city of Clay Center and established a general merchandise business, a venture in which he met with success. He had early developed a keen interest in questions affecting the public welfare and was an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party. He was appointed postmaster at Clay Center, in 1878, by President Hayes, and was reappointed by President Arthur, serving, in all, eight years. In 1885 he entered the real estate field and in connection conducted an extensive mortgage loan business. He was appointed, in 1890, by President Harrison, deputy collector of Internal Revenue for the district of Northern Kansas, and was reappointed by President McKinley. He filled this important position with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the treasury department. He resigned on April 1, 1900, to accept the duties of secretary and manager of the Triple Tie Benefit Association, a fraternal insurance organization with headquarters in Clay Center. His services in this capacity resulted in the placing of the business of the order on a sound financial basis and in the building up of an extreme and healthy membership. He demonstrated conclusively the possession of high executive ability, sound financial sense, and that unflagging energy necessary to success in the development of a business of this character. In 1907 he promoted the organization and incorporation of the Clay Center Telephone Company, purchased a controlling interest in its stock, and was elected secretary and treasurer of the company. The properties of the Clay Center Telephone Company (a co-partnership), were purchased and more than ,000 was expended in improvements, giving the new owners a plant second to none in the state. Mr. Stratton has been the managing executive since its organization and the results obtained have been highly satisfactory, both to owners and patrons. He has important interests aside from his telephone property and is chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors of the People’s National Bank. He has served as a member of the common council of Clay Center and for a number of years on the board of education, having been president of the latter body. He has served eight years as a trustee of the Clay County High School and was elected secretary and treasurer of that body. He has attained the Knights Templar degree in Masonry and is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a member and past commander of Phil Sheridan Post, No. 88, Grand Army of the Republic, department of Kansas. The soldiers’ monument, erected by this post in the court house square at Clay Center and dedicated May 30, 1911, is largely the child of Mr. Stratton. He promoted in October, 1904, the organization of the Clay County Monument Association and was elected secretary. In 1910 he began an energetic campaign to secure the necessary funds to build it, and while many assisted in the work, he was the inspiration, the unflagging, active force which scored success.
Mr. Stratton married Jan. 10, 1867, Miss Mary E. Snider, born June 27, 1848, daughter of Jacob and Julia Snider, her father being a prosperous farmer of near Bloomington, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Stratton are the parents of five children: Nellie, born Dec. 20, 1868, the wife of Edward A. Smies, a merchant of Clifton, Kan.; Addie E., born April 6, 1871, is the wife of Daniel J. Stratton, a farmer of Kingfisher, Okla.; Allie T., born Nov. 21, 1873, is residing with her parents; Anna M., born Feb. 27, 1875, is the wife of Henry E. Smies, a merchant of Clifton, Kan.; and Lottie V., born April 17, 1877, is the wife of Eugene W. Cross, a funeral director of Tonganoxie, Kan. Mrs. Stratton is a member of the Methodist church and is active in the charitable and social work of the congregation. The family is one of the most prominent socially in Clay county. Mr. Stratton is a high type of the conservative, unassuming American, diligent in his various duties and commercial affairs and conscientious in all things.
Dimitry Orlov Presentation
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Dimitry Orlov (at the podium) seen here with the host from The Long Now Foundation. His talk was called Best Practices for Collapse because, as he wryly pointed out, predictions are useless once they come true and he wants to offer something more useful from what others have already experienced. He opened his talk by cautioning that predictions, including his own should be given an error margin of half a decade or so, but so far he has been remarkably spot on.
Dimitry’s 2006 presentation on the collapse gap, in which he compares the demise of the USSR with what he predicted would be a similar collapse in the US, captured my imagination a couple of years ago and set me on my long study of the phenomena of civilizations collapsing. I had also read his book (and reviewed it). So I was thrilled to actually see Dimitry in person and introduce Catherine to his perspective.
Though not a charismatic speaker and reading from a prepared script, Dimitry peppered his talk with amusing concepts and references to popular notions ie: thinking outside of the box. He urged escaping from the box altogether.
Once collapse happens, he explained, what was the measure of our success before collapse is turned around post collapse. For instance having a high inventory is
considered bad business practice in this era of on demand supply, but after collapse, inventory is what will be needed once supply lines are down. And where once a lean staff was prudent, post collapse, a slow bureaucratic staff would save you. Customer service, now a mark of a good company, will turn out to have spoiled the population and rendered them unable to figure things out for themselves post collapse. He pointed out that all this economic activity was a burden on our ecology and what is crashing now is our life support system. So the governemnt should forget about stimulating it with growth and jobs and focus on food, shelter, transportation and security. He then proceeded to offer suggestions.
Food: Supermarkets will empty out in a matter of days, but fast food joints will be able to carry on a little longer given that they control their own supply lines, if you can call what they offer food. What we will need is for everyone to have access to 1,000 sq ft of fertile land near a water source with transportation for the seasonal migration needed for everyone to get out there to plant and to harvest. And as there will be fewer people driving, raised highways could be used for rainwater catchment.
Shelter: Office buildings, which will empty out post collapse, can be handily converted to dorms. They already have bathrooms and kitchens lacking only beds. He referred to the workers as office plankton which got a laugh. American colleges, are already a dubious endeavor given the burden of student loans. Post collapse few will be able to qualify, leaving campuses empty. This will provide us with housing opportunity. Said campuses already provided with lots of lawns, will also offer food growing opportunity. He slipped in a sly comment about how the American education system does not manage to do in 12 years what the Russians do in 8.
He commented on how the price of housing hangs on a huge assumption that a single family dwelling is required and it was still possible to see housing prices drop and become the liability of banks as they fight squatters. He suggested having the bank hire you to housesit and maintain these properties once they kick you out for not paying the mortgage owing to hyperinflation. He suggested that shelter can include mobile homes, teepees, shipping containers, etc.
Transportation: Since this sector hinges on fuel it’s best not to use any thus cargo bicycles and sailboats. He did think that there would still be cars and trucks and that it should be illegal not to pick up hitchikers. His suggestion that the sale of new cars be banned was met with applause as he described how this would use the embodied energy in cars already made, boost the locally based repair economy and result in fewer cars overall, disappearing altogether just as we run out of gas. There was no point in subsidizng the manufacture of more fuel efficient cars, he said, because you can make any existing pick-up truck ten to twenty times more efficient by packing 20 people standing up in the back and driving no faster than 25 mph. He mentioned that Mexico is already expert at this (and so is Thailand). Big laugh here. He also suggested that freight trains be required to have one empty boxcar for those wishing to ride the rails. But best of all were donkeys. Not horses—too neurotic. He told us about his uncle who fed his donkey his subscription of Pravda and commented that ours would do just as well on a daily diet of the Wall Street Journal. The audience loved that one.
Security: Here the going gets a bit nastier for there will be an increase in crime, but luckily there will be an increase in out of work police and soldiers who will wish to freelance for you to hire them or befriend them and offer them the use of your house while you and your family move into your garage. He pointed out that because force will be the means by which things are done legal or not, there would be no need for a legal system. Thus you can violate local building codes, homeowner rules and other local laws with impunity, installing wind turbines, have livestock in your garage and operate a home business in weaponry invention. His own preference in weaponry was an AK 47 because its easy to get bullets for it.
The point was to accept failure now and prepare. Those hanging on to the old system will suffer individual failure later. He does indeed live on a boat, with his wife, having made his decision to sell his Boston condo 2 1/2 years ago once he recognized that a US collapse was a likely possibility. He said the New Yorker got his number when they called him a bourgeois survivalist. He walks to work to an office building 15 minutes away. He declined to say how else he had prepared, but I left thinking of things I would want to stockpile. I was intrigued at what a normal San Francisco crowd this was and how accepting they were of his concepts. Their questions reflected this too. I was expecting more of an anarchistic, libertarian lot sporting tatoos and mohawks. Or at least the very lean peak oil sorts on bicycles (and there were some). This audience was rather more intellectual, middle aged and middle class which is what we are. Nor was it male dominated with quite a lot of women taking notes.
Economic Fears Reignite Market Slump
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OCTOBER 16, 2008 Economic Fears Reignite Market Slump
Stocks Post Biggest Drop Since 1987 Crash as Retail Sales Fall, Commodities Sink and Investors Worry About Hedge Funds
By SUDEEP REDDY, JENNIFER SARANOW and ANN
Fears of a deep recession sparked the worst drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 21 years, as retail sales tumbled, demand for commodities sank and bank earnings fell.
Bloomberg News/Landov
SOMBER OUTLOOK: As markets fell Wednesday, Fed chief Ben Bernanke said stabilizing financial markets won’t spur a broad economic recovery overnight.
The latest data suggest the U.S. economy is poised to fall into its deepest recession since the early 1980s. That news, coupled with renewed signs of trouble in the all-important markets for credit, reignited the sell-off in stock markets, all but wiping out the huge gains that shares had made in Monday’s rally.
The Dow dropped 733.08 points, or 7.9%, to 8577.91 as recession fears and continuing doubts about the world financial system’s prospects shook investors. Wednesday’s decline marked the Dow’s largest percentage drop since October 1987 and the second-biggest point drop ever. The index is down 21% this month and almost 40% from its record close a year ago.
Other indexes plunged, too, including the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index, which fell 9.03%. Overall, investors lost about .1 trillion in U.S. stock-market value on Wednesday, the second day in history that they have lost more than trillion in one day.
In another sign of economic weakness, demand for the most important raw materials continued to slide, with oil and copper prices falling sharply.
With the big drop in stocks, many investors fled into safe-haven instruments like the two-year Treasury bond, which rose in price, sending its yield down to 1.6%, while the 10-year bond price rose slightly to yield 4%.
The stock market was unnerved late in the day by new fears of instability in the financial system, this time in the hedge-fund industry. Traders heard talk that hedge fund Citadel Investment Group, whose funds are down between 26% and 30% for the year, was facing margin calls. The rumors fed an already anxious market, where investors have grown worried that some big, highly debt-dependent hedge funds could fail, causing more market declines. Citadel said its financial situation remained strong.
Adding to the somber mood, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in a speech at the Economic Club of New York warned the economy faced tough prospects despite the government’s 0 billion rescue plan aimed at bolstering the U.S. financial system.
"Stabilization of the financial markets is a critical first step, but even if they stabilize as we hope they will, broader economic recovery will not happen right away," Mr. Bernanke said. "Ultimately, the trajectory of economic activity beyond the next few quarters will depend greatly on the extent to which financial and credit markets return to more normal functioning."
Mr. Bernanke noted that the economy had been decelerating even before the September shock to financial markets. He ticked off a broadening list of troubles that now weigh on it: slower exports from a global slowdown, nagging declines in home prices, slower consumer spending and business investment, and the time that it will take for credit markets to unfreeze after the government’s dramatic steps this week.
Mr. Bernanke subtly left open the possibility of interest-rate cuts in the weeks or months ahead, noting inflation pressures have receded as a result of falling commodities prices.
But it’s far from clear how much effect further rate cuts would have. Investors have been demanding huge premiums — known on Wall Street as spreads — over benchmark interest rates to make loans to businesses and households. As long as these spreads remain large, the benefits of rate cuts are diminished. A big priority for now remains calming the fear that has swept through financial markets. That would make financial institutions more willing to lend at narrowed spreads.
Evidence is mounting that the U.S. is likely to experience a far worse downturn than the 2001 or 1990-91 recessions. Job losses started at the beginning of this year but started deepening last month, even before the worst of the credit crisis struck. The degree of the declines is sapping consumer incomes after a decade showing few earnings gains for most Americans.
In Seattle, 25-year-old Web developer Scott Krager is curtailing his spending — especially on eating out — and now rarely pays full price for anything. Recently, when he needed to purchase new khaki pants after his older ones were ruined in the dryer, Mr. Krager visited a Kohl’s department store for the first time and bought two pairs using a -off coupon.
"Overall, you can tell that it’s not 2003 or 2004 anymore," said Mr. Krager. "It’s the first time my generation has really felt the effect of any kind of pull back."
The Commerce Department said its broad gauge of retail sales dropped 1.2% last month, a much sharper decline than in July and August. The figures followed last week’s weak September sales reports by major retailers, and they confirmed that the economy was weakening before this month’s market turmoil, suggesting deeper declines in the coming months. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than 70% of the U.S. economy, is likely to record declines in the third and fourth quarters of this year.
Retail sales slipped in almost every sector. Auto sales fell 3.8%, while furniture, electronics, clothing and food stores also declined.
The troubles are weighing heavily on the global economy. Weak prospects around the world are pushing commodity prices sharply lower, a sign that strong demand — which led to huge price surges earlier this year — has abated with the economic turmoil. Crude-oil prices tumbled .09, or 5.2%, to .54 a barrel, its lowest settlement price this year.
Meanwhile, the continuing turmoil in credit markets is likely to hit the banking sector hard in the coming months. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co., two of the nation’s strongest banks, on Wednesday said their consumer operations are likely to worsen for months amid weaker performance of mortgages, credit cards and auto loans. J.P. Morgan, which is one of the nation’s largest credit-card issuers, said charge-offs — reflecting loans considered to be uncollectible — represented 5% of its card portfolio compared with 3.64% in the third quarter of 2007. That’s expected to grow to 6% in the beginning of next year and 7% by the end of 2009, the bank said.
The Federal Reserve’s latest "beige book” report, a summary of regional economic conditions, showed weakness across the nation into early October. Consumer spending declined, manufacturing activity dropped and several regions reported lower capital spending or reductions in capital spending plans "due to the high level of uncertainty about the economic outlook or concerns over the availability of credit." Among the few bright spots were agriculture and other natural resources, though drops in commodity prices since the reports were compiled could hurt those sectors.
Job losses, which started at the beginning of this year, are expected to worsen as businesses feel the credit pinch. The effects of the worsening economy were on display at retail outlets around the country.
After years of conspicuous consumption, many middle- and upper-income Americans are morphing into cautious shoppers. The change in mood could have a dramatic effect on consumer spending on everything from cars and travel to electronics, fashion and jewelry, especially heading toward the holiday season. That’s a radical change from the 2001 economic slowdown when many people shopped to feel better.
In Chicago, Fanchon Simons, an avid 60-year-old shopper, says she couldn’t bring herself to buy a 0 blouse that she tried on at a designer-clothing boutique last week. Ms. Simons says she hasn’t bought much for herself in the past couple weeks — and not because she can’t afford it. Buying "is not that important to me right now because of the climate," she says. "Maybe it’s a way to be in sympathy with the rest of the people…or maybe it’s that I don’t really need anything."
High-end consumers aren’t the only ones pinching pennies or turning to window-shopping. Synetha Chambers, a 31-year-old single parent from Cedar Hill, Texas, who makes an hour as a service representative for AT&T, says she has pared her grocery list to the necessities — milk is a must, but she no longer buys soda and chips. "And I will be honest with you, Christmas is no longer a necessity in my household," Ms. Chambers says.
Besides worrying about the economy, stock-market investors have two other immediate concerns. One is that credit markets may remain dysfunctional for weeks or even months, which would make the recession worse. The struggling credit market in particular is making it more difficult for many companies to raise the cash they need to run their operations.
In addition, investors are watching the earnings season, in particular what companies are saying about their outlook for the rest of the year. One test comes Thursday: Citigroup Inc. is reporting its latest quarterly results, and investors will be closely monitoring the health of its huge portfolios of consumer loans.
—Jon Hilsenrath, Miguel Bustillo and Robin Sidel contributed to this article.Write to Sudeep Reddy at sudeep.reddy@wsj.com, Jennifer Saranow at jennifer.saranow@wsj.com and Ann Zimmerman at ann.zimmerman@wsj.com
