Charles Gilby Abbey
Home Up




Charles Gilby Abbey was born September 20, 1887, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, and died June 15, 1964, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, at age 76. He was the son of Abner Nathaniel Abbey of Port Hope, Durham Co., Ontario, Canada, and Emma Gilby of York, England.

Pearl Georgina Peoples was born September 20, 1889, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, and died December 3, 1959, in San Diego, San Diego Co., CA, at age 70. She was the daughter of Samuel J. Peoples and Sarah A. Derry, both of English Canada.

Charley and Pearl were married December 24, 1917 in the Peoples' country home in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND.

Charley and Pearl had five children:

  1. Merle Ruth Abbey: Born October 2, 1918, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND; Died February 7, 1998, in Grand Forks, Grand Forks Co., ND (age 79). Married March 21, 1942, in Gilby, Grand Forks Co., ND, to Adolph Richard Kvamme: Born February 21, 1918, in North Dakota; Died July 1981 in Gilby, Grand Forks Co., ND (age 63).
  2. Kenneth Gilby Abbey: Born November 18, 1919, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND; Living. Married August 27, 1978, in Los Angeles Co., CA, to Beverly D. Smith: Born about 1928; Died Unknown; Divorced August 30, 1984, in Los Angeles Co., CA.
  3. Donna Louise Abbey: Born May 1921 in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND; Died March 3, 2000, in Sharp Memorial Hospital, Community of Kearny Mesa, San Diego, San Diego Co., CA (age 78). Married 1947 in California to Richard Burton James: Born May 5, 1921, in Garnet Mesa Pct., Delta Co., CO; Died December 8, 1996, in San Diego Co., CA (age 75).
  4. Samuel Abner Abbey: Born April 13, 1924, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND; Died August 1, 2001, in Grand Forks, Grand Forks Co., ND (age 77). Lived in Oregon. Buried in a Veterans Gravesite, Sunnywood Gardens Cemetery, Grand Forks, Grand Forks Co., ND. Served in the U. S. Navy in WWII. Never married.
  5. Charles Orrin Abbey: Born October 1928 in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND; Living. Married to Marilyn B. Unknown: Born July 1932 in Unknown; Living.



TIMELINE

Charles Gilby Abbey was born September 20, 1887, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND.

Pearl Georgina Peoples was born September 20, 1889, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND.

Marriage Certificate of Samuel J. Peoples and Sarah Derry

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 27, 1900, shows Abner Abbey (age 50) born August 1849 in Canada is a farmer living in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND. His wife Emma Abbey (age 52) born June 1848 in England is living there, as well as their daughter Aliecmon Abbey (age 14) born September 1885 and son Charles Abbey (age 12) born September 1887. Both of their children born in North Dakota. Abner is shown as coming to the USA from Canada in 1870. Emma was shown as coming to the USA from England in 1882.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 4, 1900, shows Samuel Peokles (age 25) born June 1867 in English Canada to Ireland and Canadian-born parents and emigrating in 1889 is a Farmer owning his own farm in Fertile Twp., Walsh Co., ND. Living with him is his wife of 14 years, Sarah Peokles (age 33) born July 1866 in English Canada to Massachusetts and English Canadian-born parents, and emigrating in 1889, with all 6 of her children alive, unmarried and living at home: Farnk Peokles (age 13) born October 1886 in English Canada and emigrating in 1889; Robert W. Peokles (age 12) born February 1888 in English Canada and emigrating in 1889; Georgina P. Peokles (age 10) born September 1889 in North Dakota; Gertrude M. Peokles (age 7) born May 1893 in North Dakota; Milton E. Peokles (age 5) born January 1895 in North Dakota; and Florance M. Peokles (age 2) born October 1897 in North Dakota. 

The 1910 U. S. Census taken on April 28, 1910, shows Charley G. Abby (age 22) is an unmarried head of household farm laborer working out born in North Dakota of Canadian and English parents, living in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND. Living with him were five other people unrelated to him.

The 1910 U. S. Census taken on May 7, 1910, shows Samuel Peoples (age 46) born in English Canada to Irish-born parents and emigrating in 1891 and a Naturalized citizen is a General Farmer owning his own farm in Fertile Twp., Walsh Co., ND. Living with him is his wife of 24 years, Sarah Peoples (age 45) born in English Canada to Vermont and English Canadian-born parents, and emigrating in 1891, with all 8 of the children born to her still living, and all born in North Dakota to English Canadian-born parents. The six children living at home are all unmarried and born in North Dakota to English Canadian-born parents: Georgina P. Peoples (age 19); Gertrude M. Peoples (age 16); Milton Peoples (age 15); Florence M. Peoples (age 13); Ethel J. Peoples (age 9); and Harry C. Peoples (age 4). Also living there is an unrelated servant.

The 1915 North Dakota State Census taken on April 1, 1915, shows Charles G. Abbey (age 27) is living in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND. Living with him are: Albert G. Olson (age 27); Cecil E. Lee (age 20); Roy A. Harris (age 20); Warren Harris (age 22); and Heneritta Gratmo (age 40).

On June 5, 1917, the WWI Draft Registration Card for Charles Gilby Abbey shows he is an unmarried Farmer living in Gilby, ND.

Charley and Pearl were married December 24, 1917, in the Peoples' country home in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND.

The WWI Draft Registration Card dated September 7, 1918, shows Alton Percy Van Vorst (age 20) born March 13, 1898, with permanent home of Paynesville, Stearns Co., MN, is employed in Farming for Chas. G. Abbey in Gilby, ND. His nearest relative is Wallace Van Vorst of St. Cloud, Stearns Co., MN. Leigh Larson note: Alton Percy Van Vorst is the first cousin once removed of Charles Gilby Abbey.

The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 22, 1920, shows Charles Abbey (age 32) is a dairy farmer living in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND. Living with him were his wife Pearl Abbey (age 29) as well as their five children: daughter Merle Abbey (age 1-3/12) and son Harold Abbey (age 3/12). Both children born in North Dakota. Also in the household were a cook and three boarders.

The 1925 North Dakota State Census taken on April 1, 1925, shows Charles Abbey (age 37) is living in Gilby, Grand Forks Co., ND. Living with him are: Pearl Abbey (age 34); Merl Abbey (age 6); Donna Abbey (age 3); Samuel Abbey (age 1); Milton Peoples (age 29); John Wansink (age 27); and Gilbert McAlters (age 51).

The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 10, 1930, shows Charles Abbey (age 42) a farmer living in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND. Living with him were his wife Georgina Abbey (age 39) as well as their five children: daughter, Merle Abbey (age 11); Kenneth Abbey (age 10); Donna Abbey (age 8); Sammy Abbey (age 5); and Charles Abbey (age 1-6/12). All children born in North Dakota.

Pearl Georgina (Peoples) Abbey died December 3, 1959, in San Diego, San Diego Co., CA, at age 70.

Charles Gilby Abbey died June 15, 1964, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, at age 76.


CHARLES ABBEY

Spouse: PEARL PEOPLES

In 1915 Charley decided to go into the dairy business. A new modern barn was constructed. (See special feature story.) Charley had a herd of about one hundred cattle, good grades and some purebred Holsteins which he had shipped in from Iowa. The herd included some of the finest milch cows in the northwest. With the most up-to-date ideas in the marketing as well as in the handling of his products, Charley established a large milk business in Grand Forks. The quality of milk sold by the Abbey Milk Company was very high. It was the only pasteurized milk sold in Grand Forks and the volume of business, which was enormous, attested to the appreciation of the wholesome product. Whole milk, cream, whipping cream, skimmed milk and buttermilk were available. The demand for the Abbey products exceeded the supply and an ideal plant in the city was planned for the handling of the increasing production.

In 1915 the dairy farm had about 1,700 acres of land including spacious pastures, well shaded trees and a good supply of water. In winter the stock was watered from a deep well, with water piped to each individual stanchion. Besides the farm home a second house was built for cooking and housing the hired men and cook. Everything on the farm was done by electricity. A complete set of power driven machinery took care of the milk through the entire process of preparing it and its products for market.

For a few short years the dairy business seemed to be profitable, but the entire enterprise of building, construction, maintenance, purebred cattle, labor and transportation of milk products all were very expensive and put Charley heavily in debt. Though the dairying business was increasing, it became too large a venture, too far from the distribution point. Financially the overhead costs in Grand Forks became overwhelming. With much deliberation, the decision to sell the cattle was made. At first the dairy barn was used for a chicken project, raising capons and laying hens. Gradually Charley went into raising Great Northern beans along with the other crops. These beans, hand sorted and picked over, financed the college education of his sons and daughters.

In 1917, at a 4th of July celebration in Minto, Gilby's baseball team was scheduled to play. That same year Gertrude Peoples of Park River had taught in the Gilby School. She knew Charley who played on the team and introduced him to her sister, Pearl. Pearl Peoples was the eldest daughter of eight children. Her mother was frail and much of the responsibility for the family cooking and management fell on Pearl's shoulders. When she was in her early 20's she went into Park River to clerk in the dry goods section of a department store. She loved the work and her contacts with people. She had been employed there five years when she met Charley in Minto. A courtship began for Pearl and Charley and wedding bells were soon set. On Christmas Eve under a large white wedding bell, at the country home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Peoples, the couple were united in marriage. Due to inclement weather the young couple had to spend the first night on the farm...in separate bedrooms. But the next day they left by train for an extended honeymoon to Minneapolis and then to California for the winter, returning to the Gilby community after the first of April. Ten months following their marriage she had her first born, followed with a child again at 13 months, 18 months and 22 months apart with the youngest born five years later. In the order of their birth they are: Merle Ruth, Kenneth Gilby, Donna Louise, Samuel Abner and Charles Orrin. Pearl was a busy mother and a hired girl was employed to help during the busy seasons on the farm. She sewed for her family and participated in local church activities, P. T. A., Homemakers and the Order of the Eastern Star. Her parents, sisters and brothers and their families all lived within driving distance. Family gatherings were frequent and every holiday brought all her family together alternating the feasting and entertainment at each home. Pearl loved picnics and lunches were always packed for trips to visit families at a distance, at the annual county fair or just to go berry picking. The praise and encouragement given her growing children during these years are some of their fondest memories of her.


KVAMME, Merle Ruth Abbey and KVAMME, Adolph Richard are buried in St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gilby Twp., Honeyford, Grand Forks Co., ND, along with his parents.

 

Name Country Date Papers County Volume Page
 Peoples, Alexander   Ireland   January 31, 1896   1st   Walsh   D-5   144 
 Peoples, Con   Ireland   November 03, 1884   1st   Morton   D-01   136 
 Peoples, Con   Ireland   April 05, 1880   1st   Burleigh   D-1   047 
 Peoples, George   Ireland   April 05, 1880   1st   Burleigh   D-1   046 
 Peoples, Hugh   Ireland   March 07, 1885   1st   Foster   D-1   044 
 Peoples, Hugh   England   August 13, 1890   2nd   Eddy   F-6   016 
 Peoples, James   Ireland   June 01, 1881   1st   Burleigh   D-1   092 
 Peoples, James   Ireland   June 19, 1891   2nd   Morton   F-12   183 
 Peoples, John   Ireland   May 21, 1889   1st   Eddy   D-1   082 
 Peoples, John   Ireland   October 03, 1896   1st   Walsh   D-5   205 
 Peoples, John   Ireland   October 31, 1900   2nd   Walsh   F-19   496 
 Peoples, Lizzie   USA   May 13, 1935   2nd   Walsh   P-30   020 
 Peoples, Robert   Ireland   April 02, 1880   1st   Burleigh   D-1   044 
 Peoples, Robert W   Canada   July 09, 1920   1st   Walsh   D-10   129 
 Peoples, Samauel Joseph   Canada   October 31, 1900   2nd   Walsh   F-19   494 
 Peoples, Samuel   Canada   November 01, 1894   2nd   Walsh   F-17   445 
 Peoples, Samuel J   Canada   November 02, 1896   1st   Walsh   D-5   285 
 Peoples, Samuel J   Canada   November 15, 1919   2nd   Walsh   F-26   098 
 Peoples, Samuel Joseph   Canada   June 02, 1915   1st   Walsh   D-9   193 

 

 

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record about Kenneth G. Gilby

 

Name: Kenneth G Abbey
Birth Year: 1919
Race: White, citizen
Nativity State or Country: North Dakota
State: North Dakota
County or City: Grand Forks
   
Enlistment Date: 2 May 1942
Enlistment State: Minnesota
Enlistment City: Fort Snelling
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life
   
Education: 1 year of college
Civil Occupation: Actor (Motion picture actor. ) or Director, Motion Picture (Motion picture director.) or Entertainer
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 69
Weight: 123

 

Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005 Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005

Name: Donna Louise Abbey
Gender: Male
Spouse: Roy Monroe Lacey Jr
Marriage Date: 13 Sep 1975
Marriage County: Clark
Officiant type: Civil celebrant
Recorded Date: 17 Sep 1975
Recorded county: Clark
Book: 471
Instrument number: 808475

Merle Kvamme, 79, 2396 27th Ave S., died Saturday, Feb. 7, 1998, at home. Merle Ruth Abbey was born Oct. 2, 1918, the daughter of Charles and Pearl (Peoples) Abbey, in Gilby, N.D., where she graduated from high school in 1936. She graduated from Mayville (N.D.) Teachers College, in 1938. She received her bachelor of science in education in 1968 and later attended UND. She taught rural school in Gilby and the Grand Forks Air Force Base. She married Adolph Kvamme on March 21, 1942, in Gilby.

Published on February 10, 1998, Page 07, Grand Forks Herald (ND)

 

 

Grand Forks Herald (ND) - February 10, 1998

Deceased Name: MERLE KVAMME

Merle Kvamme, 79, 2396 27th Ave S., died Saturday, Feb. 7, 1998, at home.

Merle Ruth Abbey was born Oct. 2, 1918, the daughter of Charles and Pearl (Peoples) Abbey, in Gilby, N.D., where she graduated from high school in 1936. She graduated from Mayville (N.D.) Teachers College, in 1938. She received her bachelor of science in education in 1968 and later attended UND. She taught rural school in Gilby and the Grand Forks Air Force Base. She married Adolph Kvamme on March 21, 1942, in Gilby. They lived and farmed in Honeyford, N.D., before she began her teaching career. Adolph Kvamme died July 2, 1981. She had lived in Grand Forks since 1995.

She is survived by a son, Richard (Beverly), Pipestone, Minn.; three grandchildren; brothers, Kenneth, Los Angeles, Samuel, Grand Forks, and Charles, Larimore, N.D.; and a sister, Donna James, San Diego.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Honeyford.

Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, with a 7 p.m. prayer service, Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks, and one hour before services in the church. Burial: St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

 

 


The Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, ND, August 3, 2001

Samuel A. Abbey, 77, Gilby, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, in Grand Forks. Samuel A. Abbey was born April 13, 1924, the son of Charles and Pearl (Peoples) Abbey, in Grand Forks. He served in the Navy Seabees. He was disabled in World War II. He was a resident at St. Anne's Guest Home and had been living in the Lakota (N.D.) Good Samaritan Center. He is survived by brothers, Orrin (Marilyn), Larimore, N.D., and Kenneth (Grace), Monrovia, Calif. He was preceded in death by

 


The Valley News, Van Nuys, CA, Sunday, August 30, 1970

In Sepulveda -

SOME 50 GUESTS were entertained yesterday evening in the home of the Kenneth G. Abbey family, 10016 Orion Ave., where they enjoyed viewing photographs of the Abbeys' European vacation. A prime rib dinner was served, followed by a review of the family's travels throughout Germany, Switzerland, France, England and Belgium. The Abbeys purchased a Mercedes in Frankfurt and drove it over 4000 miles covered during their journey.


In 1954, Ken Abbey was chairman of International Missionary Films, a group which sends various kinds of visual aids to missionaries in the field.

Kenneth G. Abbey (Born about 1920) and Beverly D. Smith (Born about 1928) were married August 27, 1978, in Los Angeles Co., CA.

Kenneth Abbey and Beverly were divorced August 30, 1984, in Los Angeles Co., CA.

 

 

 


The Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, ND, August 3, 2001

SAMUEL ABBEY

Samuel A. Abbey, 77, Gilby, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, in Grand Forks. Samuel A. Abbey was born April 13, 1924, the son of Charles and Pearl (Peoples) Abbey, in Grand Forks. He served in the Navy Seabees. He was disabled in World War II. He was a resident at St. Anne's Guest Home and had been living in the Lakota (N.D.) Good Samaritan Center. He is survived by brothers, Orrin (Marilyn), Larimore, N.D., and Kenneth (Grace), Monrovia, Calif. He was preceded in death by sisters, Merle Kvamme and Donna James. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, Amundson Funeral Home. Visitation: One hour before services in the church. Burial: Sunnywood Garden Cemetery. Military rites: Grand Forks American Legion Post No. 6.


The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, CA, March 10, 2000

Donna James, 78 educator, world traveler

As a specialist in early-childhood education, Donna James didn't confine her concern for kids to the classroom. In 1992, five years after retiring from Kate Sessions Elementary School in Pacific Beach, Mrs. James took clothing to distribute to needy children during visits to Madagascar and Africa. But there was one cultural barrier she had to surmount: Only village chiefs were authorized to perform such tasks. Thanks to an intermediary, the matter was resolved, and with the chief's permission Mrs. James gave out dresses, pants and shirts. Mrs. James, who taught for 30 years in the San Diego Unified School District, was fatally injured March 3 when she was hit by a pickup truck as she walked across Navajo Road in El Cajon. She was 78. A few hours after the accident, she died at Sharp Memorial Hospital in Kearny Mesa, said her son Kerry. El Cajon police are investigating the accident. Mrs. James began teaching in San Diego County shortly after World War II, during which she had worked as a dispatcher for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft, the forerunner of the Convair Division of General Dynamics. In 1963, after earning a bachelor's degree at San Diego State, she began a 24-year career at Kate Sessions. While at the Pacific Beach school, she earned a master's degree in early childhood education from Pepperdine University. In 1968, she began the extensive travels that were a highlight of her life. Her trips through the years took her to the British Isles, Greece, other nations in Europe, Africa, Madagascar and India. Mrs. James served as a mentor teacher during her career and was active in the San Diego and California teachers' associations and the American Association of University Women. For nearly a decade after retiring, she served as historian of United Church of Christ in La Mesa, where she was a charter member. Mrs. James was born in Gilby, N.D., where she grew up on her family's farm. She began teaching in public schools after graduating from high school. Familiar with San Diego from a childhood visit, Mrs. James returned during World War II to work in the administration office of Consolidated Vultee, which manufactured B-24s. Although she did not know it at the time, her future husband, Richard, was assigned to a B-24 bomber crew in Italy. They married in 1947 and raised four children in La Mesa. After her husband's death in December 1996, Mrs. James moved to El Cajon. In 1992, she fulfilled a lifelong dream to tour India. On an Indian Ocean cruise, she visited the ports of Madagascar, the Maldives, the Seychelles and Zanzibar. She also toured African game parks. "At the time of her death she still desired to travel and had hopes of seeing the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan," Kerry James said. Survivors include a daughter, Colleen Link of Lakeside; three sons, Kerry, of San Diego, Richard, of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Randall, of El Cajon; three brothers, Kenneth Abbey of Los Angeles and Samuel and Orrin Abbey, both of Larimore, N.D.; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. A memorial service is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Sunday at United Church of Christ, La Mesa. Donations to a children's literacy program of choice were suggested. Christ, La Mesa. Donations to a children's literacy program of choice were suggested.