The WWI Draft Registration Report 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 Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, Grand Forks Co., ND, Saturday, March 13, 1920

GILBY --- Where Diversified Farming Spells Wealth

The Abbey Dairy.

Charles Abbey, the proprietor of the Abbey Dairy Farm, is himself a North Dakota product. His father, Abner Abbey, is one of the most interesting of the remaining pioneers. He came to the territory of Dakota in 1873 from near Port Hope, Ontario. For two years he drove a mule team in the government service, having one of the train of 406 mule teams plying between Fort Ambercrombie, fifteen miles south of Fargo, to Fort Lincoln, near Bismarck. The main line of the Northern Pacific railway was being surveyed. Custer was in command of the cavalry that protected the great supply train of prairie schooners and herds of cattle. Mr. Abbey has a wealth of interesting stories to tell about those wild days. His recollections of General Custer, and of the many skirmishes with the Indians, and the attacks of the buffalo on the cattle, would make a thrilling chapter. The next year Mr. Abbey was in the party that surveyed the Canadian boundary. In 1880 he came to what is now Gilby, and took a homestead near Voss, which he held for several years. Then he filed on a pre-emption four miles southeast of the present townsite of Gilby, and he has lived there ever since, on the farm which his son Charles Abbey now operates. This land was bought from the Gilby brothers, George and James. The Gilby brothers came from Wisconsin in 1879. The first post office was on John Gilby's land, joining the present Abbey farm, and with it the township was named for John Gilby, the first postmaster. In '82, Emma Gilby came out to Dakota to keep house for her brothers. Here she met Abner Abbey, and a romance began, the light of which still shines from their faces as they recount the history of the early days. Mr. nd Mrs. Abbey have left the arduous work of the farm to the younger generation, and are now comfortably situated in town.

Pasteurized Milk.

During the past five years, Charles Abbey has gone extensively into the dairying business. He has a herd of about one hundred cattle, good grades and purebred Holsteins. This herd includes 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, Mr. Abbey has established a large milk business in Grand Forks. The quality of the milk sold by the Abbey Milk company is very high. It is the only pasteurized milk sold in the city, and the volume of business, which is enormous, attests the appreciation of this wholesome product. The pasteurization of the milk is a heating and cooling process which takes nothing from the milk except any possible germs which it may contain, and adds nothing to it, save an absolute guarantee of purity. Cream, whipping cream, skimmed milk and buttermilk are also obtainable from this excellent dairy. The demand for the Abbey products exceeds the supply, and Mr. Abbey plans to make a large ideal plant in the city for the handling of the increasing production.

An Ideal Dairy Farm.

The dairy farm is itself an ideal one. About 1,700 acres of land are operated by Mr. Abbey. This land includes spacious pastures, well shaded with trees and with a good supply of pure water for the cattle. In winter the stock are watered from a deep well. There is a complete set of farm buildings. There are two houses. A new modern barn, a picture of which appears with this article, greatly facilitates the expert work of caring for the herd. Everything about the place is done by electricity. The best model of milking machine is used, operated by electricity. A complete set of power driven machine of the milk throughout the entire process of producing it and its products for market. Meantime, while Mr. Abbey is making a fine thing of his dairy business, the land is increasing daily in value. The crops used for feed for the cattle are returning large quantities of nitrates to the soil. Sweet clover, alfalfa, corn and hay are raised extensively. Sedan grass is largely cultivated by Mr. Abbey. His grain yields are being greatly increased by his rotation of wheat, oats and barley with his leguminous crops. Mr. Abbey has his own threshing machine. F. J. Kinsala is employed in the dairying with Mr. Abbey.

The WWII Draft Registration Report dated April 27, 1942, shows Charles Gilby Abbey is married, unemployed, and is living in Gilby, ND.

The San Diego Union, San Diego, San Diego Co., CA, Friday, December 4, 1959

Deaths - Funerals

ABBEY - Pearl Georgina. Wife of Charles G. Abbey. Mother of Mrs. Donna A. James and Kenneth Abbey. Services Sat. 3:30 p.m. Lewis Colonial Mortuary.

Charles Gilby Abbey Death Record.

Grand Forks County Heritage Book, A History of Rural Grand Forks County, Grand Forks County Heritage Book Committee, 1976

CHARLES ABBEY

Sp. 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.