Last Updated on November 15, 2019 by City of Logansport – Mayor's Office
A United States Naval hero who is a Logansport native was honored this morning with the naming of a city walkway in his honor.
As part of today’s Veterans Day festivities, Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell recognized Charles Vernon “Steve” Gridley who was born in Logansport on Nov. 24, 1844. In recognition of Gridley’s distinguished service to the nation and his work in commanding the decisive battle against the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay in 1898, the walkway in the veterans memorial south of the City Building has been named Gridley Common in his honor.
Gridley, Kitchell said during remarks at the Doughboy Monument today, is Logansport’s most famous veteran.
Gridley died before he could return to the United States after the battle. While his age would have allowed him to retire from military service, he continued to serve during the Spanish-American War as a Naval commander. Suffering from dysentery and cancer, Gridley he passed away on June 5, 1898, above the vessel Coptic in Kobe, Japan.
Commodore Dewey recommended that Gridley be advanced 10 numbers on the promotion list as a reward for his conduct in Manila Bay, and the Navy advanced him six places. After cremation, he was buried Erie’s Lakeside Cemetery.
Gridley was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1860 after he attended Hillsdale College in Michigan. He was promoted to captain on March 14, 1897. Dewey uttered the famous phrase, “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley,” starting the battle.
Since then, four U.S. Navy ships have been named for him and a monument to him was erected in Erie, Pa., which named the park surrounding the monument Gridley Park.
SOURCE: News release from Loganpsort Mayor Dave Kitchell