Gledhill Family History & Genealogy

JL Gledhill, electrical engineer, custom robot designer, animated film maker, tree grafter, gardener, was loved by all. I never heard him say one negative word about a fellow human being in my lifetime. He lived at 1610 Taylor in North Beach San Francisco for many years with his girlfriend Liz. He spent the last years of his life back at the family ranch where he kept the old place in repair, re-roofing, rewiring, painting the old barn, and having a new well put in due to the diminishing water table caused by over population and lack of proper conservation. John loved animals too, especially the farm cats, and he built owl boxes for the wildlife. He could canoe, and fish, and hunt as well. Once I brought my son Vito to visit my mom at the other end of the property, and I woke up about 4 am as usual. My son and my mom were still sleeping, so I walked the long distance up Apricot Lane, down Dillard, and down Plum Lane to see if Johnny was up--he was usually an early riser, too. The house was dark, and I need to use the bathroom. I thought, well, no one is around, I could just pee in the vineyard near the house. I would just see if John was awake first. I walked to the back of the old farm house to the window of John's room, the room Auntie Ed (short for Edvigia) used to inhabit, the room closest to the vineyard. I tapped lightly on the window with my fingernail. In a second or so I heard a step, then a creak of floor boards, then "Khu Khu!" the sound of a shot gun getting cocked. I dropped to my knees under the window: "John, John, it's me Deb!" then I walked quickly to the back door. He opened it, holding the shot gun end up against his shoulder, his tall, lanky form lit from the porchlight. "Want some oatmeal?" he said calmly, sporting a half smile. "I sure as hell don't need coffee now John--you woke me the F up!" John replied, "There is that unmistakable report of a shotgun that rarely makes me have to deliver it." This story is only matched by the time when I, perhaps 14 years old, visited Uncle John in North Beach where he had me put on a blindfold, walked me down the steep hill of Taylor and stopped at a spot below. He removed the blindfold and pointed to the sign on the bookstore: "This is your Mecca." City Lights Bookstore, intiated by the late great Alan Ginsberg and other Beat Poets, stands today as a multi floor, multi perspective bookstore, a part of the heart of San Francisco for more than 70 years. Thank you, Uncle Johnny, for all of the wonderful memories. Love and Peace, Deb Cat

Caterina Gledill, nee Barbero, gave me my heart and my soul. As a child she walked to the one room school house in Wilton, California with her older sisters Ed (short for Edvigia) and Del (short for Delfina). As a young woman she owned and operated her own beauty shop with Del. She married Louis Gledhill and had two children, Caroline, who without a college degree became the Vice President of Acme Auto in San Diego where she started as minimum wage bookkeeper and made investments that were lucrative enough to have one of the partners name her as VP on his passing, and John who became an Electrical Engineer who worked as an Administer for Caltrans in the traffic division. When I was a girl, she worked full time at Holiday Market in Sacramento and still found time to make us delicious holiday meals. When I graduated from UCLA I wanted to become a teacher; however, I was weary from the long hours and poverty associated with working my way through school. She convinced me to get my teaching credentials, saying, "The time will pass anyway--where do you want to be at the end of it?" Now I am retired from teaching after 30 years of service to the youth of California, levels preschool through university, in mostly public and some private venues helping 1000s of young people to become more literate, to become viable citizens and procure the work they like and that supports themselves and their families. When some of them thank me in person or via letters I often think, and sometimes say, thank my grandmother Caterina--I would not have become a teacher without her words of wisdom and the $200 a month she sent me during teaching school. Love you Grammy Whammy!

William F Gledhill of King of Prussia, Montgomery County, PA was born on November 15, 1919, and died at age 78 years old on October 30, 1998.

Clarence C Gledhill of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee was born on January 3, 1921, and died at age 60 years old in June 1981.

James H Gledhill of Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington was born on July 11, 1899, and died at age 87 years old in December 1986.

Charles W Gledhill of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA was born on February 9, 1919, and died at age 74 years old on January 31, 1994.

Harry E Gledhill of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA was born on December 11, 1908, and died at age 81 years old on March 14, 1990.

Harry L Gledhill of Flushing, Queens County, NY was born on May 12, 1917, and died at age 62 years old on November 3, 1979. Harry Gledhill was buried at Calverton National Cemetery Section 4 Site 1380 210 Princeton Boulevard - Rt 25, in Calverton.

Robert S Gledhill of West Hartford, Hartford County, CT was born on December 15, 1919, and died at age 75 years old on May 14, 1995.

Virgil H Gledhill of Bath, Steuben County, NY was born on June 12, 1913, and died at age 67 years old in January 1981.

Lee F Gledhill of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah was born on May 8, 1916, and died at age 67 years old in November 1983.

Everett S Gledhill of South Orleans, Barnstable County, MA was born on February 26, 1910, and died at age 94 years old on January 3, 2005.

Howard L Gledhill of Crestline, Crawford County, OH was born on February 27, 1924, and died at age 77 years old on December 4, 2001.

Samuel Gledhill of Springfield, Hampden County, MA was born on July 16, 1918, and died at age 69 years old on September 30, 1987.

John E Gledhill of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA was born on December 28, 1919, and died at age 74 years old on November 21, 1994.

Ethel Beatrice (Errington) Gledhill of Geelong Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ethel Beatrice (Errington) Gledhill.

Emily Emily (Mann) Gledhill of Colac Australia, was married to Richard Young Gledhill, and has children Emily Gledhill, Richard Young Gledhill, Richard Gledhill, and Richard Young Gledhill. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Emily Mann Gledhill.

Richard Young Gledhill of Geelong Australia, was married to Ethel Beatrice (Errington) Gledhill in 1901, and has children Edith Florence Gledhill, Agnes Irene Gledhill, Harold Young Gledhill, Albert Joseph Gledhill, Ethel May Gledhill, and Jean Lilian Gledhill. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Richard Young Gledhill.

Richard Young Gledhill of Colac Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Richard Young Gledhill.

Elizabeth Ann (Gledhill) Somerville of Strathfieldsaye Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Elizabeth Ann (Gledhill) Somerville.