Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-09-13
GEN. GRANT AT HOME.

GGI7id-ItS History and Typography
-Gdpt GrdHf Comes to THIS Torn
H0tc he toOrksci for HIS Father
Small ,odges-Fs,r Acquaintance
An hcident-He OCerdrdlrS His
.SdLary--7he FdH of iS,tmt=r- CAPT
Grant Offers HIS .SerUiceS-He BE-
comes C0l0Hei-SerUeS Under Free
mOnt-His carly military record
From the n. Y. Tribune Special Correspondent
GALENA, II, Aug. Is, 1865.
About fifteen years ago Gen. Grants
father established leather house here
under the firm of Collins Il Co The
leather was tanned at Covingt0n,
Kentucky, and sent hither The
firm did well, and it is understood
made fortune. The firm was dis
| sOlv ed, and son came on to conduct
the business but in about two years he
died of consumption. He was well
liked, and was an excellent business
man.
Meanwhile, Ulysses Grant, having
graduated at " est Point, went into
the Mexican war. where he distin-
guished himself in every battle cx-
cept one, when he was not present,
that was fought; thence he went
to Oregon, and acted as captain
in the Quartermaster's Department.
Eleven years since he resigned his
commission, and went to st. Louis,
where he had some interest in piece
of land, was told he engaged in
hauling wood to market, himself dri-
wing bis own oxen.
On the death of his brother, his
father engaged him to come hither,
and take charge of the store. Now |
como to mention things never before
related. have to tell hard story.
Statements previously made about
Gen. Grant will be blown away
Many young man on reading what
follows will be encouraged. | gath
or my account from the most trust
worthy sources.
Capt. Grant, as he was called,
found the affairs of the concern in
great disorder, but he went to work
and, in three weeks had everything
straight. There was one clerk be-
side himself, and generelly more or
less hired men. As this was the only
establishment of the kind in tho place
the trade Of which is large, there was
much business to do. Capt. Grant
was not remarkable as salesman,
but he was good 10 oversee and to
manage. Generally, he bought the
hides as they were brought to the
Store in country wagons. He took
them in himself That he might not
dirty his clothes, he had q short leath-
er apron, which he always wore.
Those not acquainted mistOok him
for the porter. In this way, here in
the city of Galena, he toiled on for
two long years. He was employed at
$40 month The intention on the
part of his father was, after while
to establish him in the business; but
he was expected to live on $3.50 year.
To do this, and to live in society, is
impossible Everything must be
cheap and plain Sometimes his wife
had hired girl, but usually she did
her own work.
During these two years Capt. Grant
made very few acquaintances. There
were plenty of business men on the
street who did not know him, and
who never heard his lame spoken.
[ presume it would be easy to number
his associates on ones fingers.-I
have heard business men say that
they never heard of him till he was
put in command at Cairo. On his
arrival hero to-day the vast majority
of the citizens of Galena are able 10
recognize him only by his portraits,
and yet this is the only home he
has
a few knew him intimately. A
mOng these was Ill. H. HOughtOn,
editor of the Galena Gazette for over
thirty years. Mr. Houghton learned
most of the Captain from his father,
and he came to admire and respect |
him; in fact. he had studied him.
Hon. b. B Wsshburn partly knew !
him, and he became one Of the best |
friends he had on earth.
Those two years were years of trial
and encouragement In fact, the
captain came hithor from St Louis |
in a great degree disheartened, still |
he would not give up. He is de-
scribed as a broken down man.
This anecdote is related: During the
great depreciation in currency, Capt. |
Grant bought pork OF the farmers to
send on East to get New York eX-
change One day some farmers sold
him their pork; they inquired where
they could get gold; they must have
il TO pay taxes. The clerk in the |
houses would sell it for certain fig
ure; Capt. Grant said he believed
this was too much; he did not know ex-
actly what it ought to be, but he ad-
vised them to 90 to the bank and in
quire. The result was that the far
mers saved S12 That was the style
of the man.
At this same time, Capt Grant was
drawing beyond his expenses, though
this was not ascertained till the end
of the year He could not live on $40
a month He seldom went abroad.
A few near neighbOrs were all he visi-
ted; here he would sit and smoke his
pipe. His conversation was varied,
but he liked to talk on the Mexican
War. Mostly he was man OF silence.
Mr. Wasbburn tells me that he seem
I'd TO him to be thinking on some ab-
tract subject, and that he took him
, be o thoughtful, reflective and large
man. Such being his condi-
ton, one is reminded of the case of
FIR derrick the Great during the years
he was banished by his father But
N whatever makes man, Grant, the
American Hero, far excels. | will
say here, that he always was tenn
Derate, and every way correct in his
behavior.
A month or so before the Fort Sum-
5er outrage, and afterward, Captain
Grant was uneasy. He walked thro'
he streets, and to and fro in the store,
,aVino nothing. and apparently WAS