Grider, Katie
(born: 1858 - died: 1921)Katie Grider was a 52-year old widow who left Kentucky to live in Missouri before settling in the African American town of Brooklyn, IL. Free persons and escaped slaves from St. Louis, MO established Brooklyn in 1830 in St. Clair County.
In 1910 Grider was a successful businesswoman, the owner of a tavern, restaurant, and boardinghouse. She was one of two persons who owned a restaurant in the town. Grider lived on 8th Street, where she operated her business, and according to the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, her 23-year-old daughter, Lottie, lived with her. Lottie was born in Missouri.
Katie Grider died in Missouri 1921 [source: Find A Grave]. For more see America's first Black town: Brooklyn, Illinois, 1830-1915, by S. K. Cha-Jua; and Guest Viewpoint, B. L. Betts, "Brooklyn's proud past is foundation for future," Belleville News-Democrat, 3/6/2007, Local/National section, p. 4A.