Did You Know – Flour
Reuel Colt Gridley was an American storekeeper who gained nationwide attention in 1864. Gridley supported the Democratic candidate for mayor in Austin, Nevada where he operated a grocery store.
He made a bet with a Republican friend that the loser would carry a fifty-pound sack of flour through the town. He performed his punishment with the accompaniment of the town band, and at the end someone offered that the sack should be auctioned off to raise money for the Sanitary Commission’s Fund, a new organization that aided disabled Civil War veterans.
After finally selling for $250, the winning bidder did not take the sack, but donated it back to Gridley to be auctioned off again. It was auctioned repeatedly until over $8,000 was raised.
When nearby Virginia City, Nevada heard of the event (and where young newspaper editor Mark Twain was working at the time), they invited Gridley to come there, which he did.
He then traveled to California where San Franciscans donated $2,800 and Sacramento citizens donated $10,000 before heading to St. Louis and the major eastern cities. These bidders added around $170,000 to the Sanitary Commission’s fund.
Within twelve months Gridley had more than $250,000 with his one sack of flour (equivalent to $5,026,000 in 2024).
Source: Wikipedia
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Did You Know, Flour
That is a wild story–I love it!!
Me too Beth! Thank you
It is interesting that the two friends were one from each party
If they weren’t they never would have the bet and there would be no money.
What a neat story!
It sure is, thank you for stopping by!
Interesting. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼
You’re welcome Randy. Have a great day!
Thank you for reposting Ned!
Thanks for sharing this, Diane. I think I would have done better in history if they had told us fun stories like this one. 😉
I didn’t care for history in school either. I definitely agree stories like this would have made it so much more fun.
What a great story!
I thought so too Dorothy.
I’ve never heard this. Such an interesting story!
I never had either, very interesting.
Oh wow, that’s an interesting part of history !
It is so fascinating!
Close to self “rising”
Good one Danny!
Great, inspirational story!
It sure was Linda!
Great things start with small steps!
Absolutely! Have a great day Ab!
That’s interesting! I also did not know that Mark Twain was a newspaper editor – he was a man of many talents it seems!
I thought it was interesting too Linda.
An amazing story. It shows the good side of people.
It definitely was a feel good true story.
Fascinating!
Thank you Barry!
That is pretty amazing! Thanks for sharing. Karla
I agree, a fascinating true story. You’re welcome Karla!
Wow a lot of money raised by a flour sack!
Too bad the person that thought of it didn’t get credit too.