Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-26

The DENT FAMILY.-Who the Dents are
and what they are, are questions that seem TO
OCCUPY some of the newspapers aud the pens or
several of those pests, the interrleWers. we
gather out of much thathas been written about
Them that Judge Louis Dent is the younger OF
three brothers OF Mrs. Grant, the cider OF
whom, Frederick Il. Deot, is acting as the
Presidents military secretary, and ho'dlog lin-
cal rank in the u. $. army as lieutenant colo
mel of Infantry, rank won by regular promo
tion and long service. Gen. Dent was at West
Point, and in the same class as Ulysses 3.
Grant. They we're afterwards lieuteuantS IN
the same regiment, and fought side by side in
the Mexican war. At Molino del Rey Lieu
tenant Dent was severely wouaded, and but
for his friends aid would have probably been
killed by the Mexican caVary. tic was taken
from The field by Lieut. GRAFT. Judge Louis
Dent saws that since Gen. Grants elevation to
ofico he has found that be (Dent) had great
MANY relations. The present Gen. Loogstreet
frat introduced Gen. Grant to Miss Julia
Dent. now the Presidents wife. LoDgstreet Is
- acansin. being descended from George Dent.
Of Maryland, who was q member eft Congress
from 1893 to 1901, and afterwards moved to
Mississippi. He was Judge L?uls Dents un'
ole. The Longstreets. Magruders and others
of that region are descendants. and became
connected with the Uehts tHioush h"t'tS
The Dent family are old residents OF tnG VI
cipity OF Washington, having settled with horu
Baltimore colony 10 Prince Georges county.
Il is said that part of the DstrlcE OF Go'um-
bis was included in the tract purchaScu Gy cne
first settler OF that name from the loa!au
chief or king, who then claimed sovereign tl'ic
20 the soil. The father OF the present veneta
bic head of the family was csptsln 10 ,us
continental army, and was severely Woupaeo
while in the service. A brother was an oncer
in the feeble navy of that period. Another
brother was in Congress for four terms peg'n'
ming with the first Congress- -. ,oos
Mrs. Grants father went to Missouri IN looo;
setteipg in St, Louis, where ne at once eniergu
into business. He was for many. years a ieaa
, ing merchant there associated with Mr.; L,n.
dell,known from the giant hotel named a1teI
him. Mr. Dent did large business with keel
boats on the Mississippi, especially IN orlnglng
lead from Galena, and supplying all the mlllta
ry posts to the South and Southwest At one
time ne was large owner Of real estate, eSpec
cially in and about st. Louis. 1t no had re-
tanned this property it would to day have been @
worth not less than ten mllllon dolIars. Ihe
fainiIy homestead. on which all were born, no"
belongs to the President, the others haVln2
soId to him in order to keep the homestead
intact. Old COL Dent was an active supporter
Of Col. Benton, and though he never heiu al
Office. was leading pollhciaD, and was oltei
chosen to preside at the party eonVen.iops' -
As is still evident, advanced IN lie thouen @ M
;s' iS7 wears, we believe,) the venerable octo
oenarian was man OF .3posiliYe;,oplnlohs ao'
strong villa man ct MARKED chara'tet'
Baltimore Sun. .--------