An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, page 372

WILLIAM S. GRIBBLE, a prominent and popular citizen of Wasco county, is located
at Mt. Hood, where he handles a general merchandise establishment and also is
postmaster. He has a choice stock of well selected goods and is doing a fine
business. His birth occurred in Clackamas county, Oregon, on November 28, 1862,
and he carries the distinction of being a native of the Web-Foot state and is a
son of whom Oregon may be proud. His father, Joseph B. Gribble, was born in
Missouri and crossed the plains with his parents in 1846, with ox teams, being
then twelve years of age. They had an uneventful journey, as the Indians were
quiet; but they broke out the next year. Our subject's father took a donation
claim and also traded for unsurveyed land, giving a gun and pony for a large
tract. The grandfather died on the old donation claim. The father also died in
the Willamette valley. He had married Miss Eunice Fish, a native of Clackamas
county, and her parents were early pioneers of that country. William was
educated and reared in the Willamette valley, and, excepting a trip of six
months to California, he remained there until 1892. In that year he came to this
section and filed on a homestead, which lies one mile north from the store. He
cultivated that for several years, and in 1902 decided to embark in the
mercantile business. He accordingly erected a commodious two story structure and
selected a stock of goods and opened for business. He had a good patronage from
the start and is a man of good ability in this enterprise. He possesses a
geniality and affability that wins friends and he has the confidence and esteem
of the people. In January, 1904, he was appointed postmaster and is giving the
best of satisfaction in this capacity.      

While in Clackamas county Mr. Gribble married Miss Hattie E. Hodges, a native of
Iowa, and to them two children were born, Alta G. and Hazel B., who are with
their mother in Los Angeles county, California. Owing to sufficient reason, Mr.
Gribble secured a divorce from this woman, and, at The Dalles, on March 18,
1903, he married Mrs. Nettie M. Booth, a native of Maine, and the daughter of
Charles Hobart, who is now in Massachusetts, but he was for many years master
mechanic for the O.R. & N. at The Dalles. Mr. Gribble has the following named
brothers and sisters: Raymond N., Walter J., Elmer W., Martin J., Clarissa E.
Cooper, and Kate E. Cooper, and one half brother, Bruce O. Billings, our
subject's step-father being Amos Billings. By her former marriage, Mrs. Gribble
has two children, Hobart and Leah Booth, both living with our subject and his
wife. Mr. Gribble is a member of the United Artisans, and is an influential and
active Republican. Mrs. Gribble belongs to the Congregational church, while her
husband is a member of the Methodist.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.