The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-03-20
|EARLY LIFI OF aBHERAL GRAFT.
By HIS FATHER.
From the New York Ledger

Noah Grant, native of Windsor, now
Toiland, Conn ecticut, was killed in the
battle of White Plains, in 1855 his great
grandfather's brother, Lieutenant Solo,
mon Grant. was killed in the same bat
tie. have in my possession an origin
al muster-roll made out by Captain No
alb Grant, In 1755-the year before his
death. His own name heads it as cap
tain the names, date of service, and
quality" of the men are duly entered
in separate columns and, as illustrative
of the sentiments OF those carly days,
one hnndred and tyr olvo y-oa-s ago, ga
the military aspect of color, may
quote the following designations of
some of the privates "Prince, negro"
''Jupiter, negro"
Captain Noah Grants son, Noah Grant,
also a nativeof Connecticut, was my
father and if he did not get killed in
battle like his worthy sire, it was not
because he did not perseveringly take
all the chances of such a death, for he
fought in the Revolutionary war from
beginning to end--over seven years He
was lieutenant of militia at the battle
of Lexington. This long period of sol
diering spoilt him for all financial bust
ness. My mother-who was his second
wife-was an excellent manager; and,
while she lived, the family were always
in comfortable circumstances but after
her death-in April, 1S05-we had to
separate, and that impressed upon the
minds of all of us lesson which we
never forgot. She left eleven children
the oldest only twelve. Every one of
them subsequently, became wealthy.
Ny father was born rich, and was man
of education; but he died poor. His
children were born poor, but all acquir-
ed a comfortable competency.
was born in Westmorcland- ~santyy,
PENNSYLVANIA, January rs, l194. When
1 was FIVE years of age, was taken by
my father, who emigrated with his fam
lily, to that part of the Northwestern
Territory, which is now COlumbiana
county, Ohio. When was ten years Of
age, we moved to Portage county, in
the Western Reserve. At sixteen,
was regularly apprenticed to my half
brother, to learn the tanning business,
at Maysville, kentucky. I faithfully
served out my apprenticeship and, soon
after became of age, set up business
for 10 yself, at Ravenna, Portage county,
Ohio. 2l3
Here suffered severe and protraet-
ed illness from fever and ague, which
finally compelled me to relinquish bus
mess. The savings of four years were
consumed by the expenses of this sick
ness. In 1920 settled temporarily at q
small place called Point Pleasant, situa-
ted directly on the Ohio river, twenty
five miles above Cincinnati land in j unc
1920, 1 was married to Miss Hannah
Simpson, and commenced housekeeping
at that place.
i Here, on the 9th day of April, 1922
! our first child, Ulysses S. Grant, wa;
born. The house in which this event
occurred is still standing.
Five other children-three daughter:
and two sons-were subsequently added
to our family. One son and one daugh
ter, both grown and both single, died O.
consumption during the late war.
Industry frugality and perseverance
made me fortunate in business, and ena
t bled me to accumulate acompetency TO
2 myself and my family. In 1854, at the ag'
of sixty, measurably retired; that is
: withdrew from the direct personal su
pervision of my business.
NV sons, Simpson Grant-since de
. L 4,
: Chicago-continued the business 70
2 twelve years, In my name, and mad
;. more than twice as much money as W
had ever made before. We always ha
the reputation of making the very bes
of leather-we tanned with nothing bu
! oak. and that made it superior.
About two years ago, / had made u
nv mind that should enjoy more seein
the principal part of my property in til
possession of my children than shout
'r keeping it in my own. General Graz
n said he had done nothing toward NAL
ing it, and he did not want any of
. The government had provided for hi
u so well that acquiesced in his vieN
Ny son Orvil, who is in business
Chicago, received the larger share, al
my daughters got about twenty-f'
thousand dollars apiece. I kept enous
for myself
Ny early opportunities for educatiC
Fwere extremely limited. never we
to school but about five months in n
7 life, though 1 took lessons in Engli
grammar for four weeks after W
married.
have taken pretty active intere
IS generally, in the political questions of t
day; though not to the neglect of i
, private affairs. I wrote the platfol
;, which was adopted at the last WI
% State convention that ever assenbl
-. at Columbus, and played q part in
= first election of Salmon p. Chase
tGoyernor of Ohio
was never what was technica
sE known as an Abolitionist, but 1 ne
held slave. made up my mi
when j was q young man, that wo
5 never have slaves. This was the rea
class that left Kentucky and went to Oh
L would not own slaves, and / wo
not live where there were slaves
; net own them.
IT,. voted for General Jackson for p
md ident every time he was . cal
Idate-that is, three times.
N. J Mrs. Grant was the second dang