The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-30
o b. TT u "A q Y.

HERALD telegram, special from Cincinnati,
under date OF half-past ten O'Clock last night the
10th instant reports the death OF President Grants
father, Mr.. Jesse R Grant, in the following
words:-
Jesse r Grant the venerable father OF the
President OF the United States, expired this
sabbath evening, at eighteen minutes OF seven
O'Clock, at his home in Covington. Ky. He
had been sick more than one year,
just after having been stricken with paralysis
The immediate cause OF his death was
softening Of the brain and spinal marrow
He suffered intensely during Friday night
and for twenty-four hours preceding his
death was wholly unconscious lying with
closed eyes and almost imperceptlble pulse. He
was seventy-nine years old on the 18th OF January
last and had been married ffty-two years the Oath
Gay OF June last. His native place was Westmore-
land county, Pennsylvania There were present
ct his bedside tonight his wife-the Presidents
Wonderland the following other persons:-Mrs
Rose, the Presidents aunt Mrs. Metcalf
Amos Shinkle, Esq, prominent Methodist and
family friend; DR.. J. O. Beck, OF Cincinnati; two
grandchildren and private soldier, named Ben.
ner, OF Newport barracks who had been detailed
to nurse the aged postmaster OF Covington. The
death not anticipated to occur so speedily, and
the Presidents arrival was hardly expected
The body viii be inferred at Spring Grove Gene
terry next Tuesday afternoon at his lot on the Ohio
side OF the river, where two deceased children Of
Mr.. Grant have been buried. His OFFSPRING were as
| follows Ulysses, the eldest; Samuel, who died
after attaining manhood, OF consumption;
daughter, also deceased; Orville Grant, Of Chi
cago; Mrs. Corbin OF New York. and Mrs. Kramer.
Jesse R Grant, when in his prime, was possessed
of both force Of character and influence. He was
In very good circumstances up to the year 1866,
when he divided his possessions among his chill
dren, giving them $4,000 apiece General Grant
excepted, who did no: need his share.
Sketch OF Jesse r.. Grant.
Jesse r. Grant, the father OF Ulysses 8. Grant,
President OF the United States, was plain, hard
working. earnest and honest man, and enjoy In
his declining years the great consolation OF having
seen his son receive and administer the highest
honor and authority which the people Of the
American nation can confer on man, and this by
almost unanimous repetition on two different coca
sions
The family OF Jesse R. Grant descended from
Noah Grant, who came over to America from Scot
land at early period, but its authenticated rec
ord begins with Captain Noah Grant. He entered
the United States service as Captain IN 1855 and
was killed In battle on the 10th OF September 1855
He was the great grandfather Of General Grant
His son, Noah Grant, was born ut Windsor, Conn.
July 4, 1744 He served through most OF the Revo-
lutionary War, rlsing to the rank or captain. He
lived for time in New London county, it is be-
heved, but he Is known to have resided In
Coventry. After the death Of his first
wife he emigrated from that place to West.
ern Pennsylvania where he married again. The
father OF General Grant, now deceased, was
born OF this marriage IN January, 1894, in West
moreland County, Pa. He was named Jesse Root
Grant, after Judge Jesse Root oil Connecticut, with
whom his father claimed relationship. The family
moved to Ohio in 1909. At that time schools were
almost entirely unknown in that country, and the
only education Jesse Root Grant obtained was de-
rived from few months schooling when he was
about fifteen years OF age. His father, although
toler ably well educated himself took litteainterest
In instructing his children. and the family could
not well afford to seek abroad for the advantages
which they lacked at home. Young Grant had mat
ter of fact turn OF mind, and seeing that he des
tined to obtain his living by the OF his brow
he cast about for some remunerative employment.
He finally selected the tanning business. In 1920
he removed to Point Pleasant small village,
came acquainted with his future wife. This lady,
Miss Hannah Simpson, was born IN November
she was brougn up ana educaieS in s sse
with her iather's family, emigrated TO Ohio and
settled in Claremont county In June, 1921 Mr.,
settled at Point Pleasant. On the 9th OF April,
1922, their frst child was born. AS Is
stances, there was no little discussion on the
subject oil naming the iustr0ns stranger Finally
the following method was adopted OF solving the
difficulty. The various names which had been sug-
gested were placed in hat and shaken together,
and 1t was agreed that the first one drawn out
should be adopted. 1nat name was ULYSSES"
ana the future Lieutenant General was called
Ulysses simpson Grant, receiving ior his middle
name the maiden name OF his mother.
About year alter the birth OF the General Mr..
Jesse K. Grant removed TO Georgetown, the county
permanently in the tanning business. Here dve
other children were born to him. Mr.. Grant, ST.,
prodted by his own early experience and gave all
his children good education. Indeed, he did
rather more than that, Tor We find him writing to
friend very few years since that he had ''divded
Tor the support Of himself and wife.S lie did not
include the General IN this division as he was then
in the receipt OF large salary from the govern
ment. At The age OF seventeen years Ulysses
began to reject upon his future career, and ex-
pressed to his latner desire to be educated rather
than follow the tanning business. Mr.. Grant
sented and suggested West Point which fully met
the boys wishes. As there was not supposed to
ST., wrote to Hon. Thomas L. Hamer who repre-
sented the district to inquire II Ulysses could not
~ 70 HsmeT he s sa
OF his term, and 1t happened that the
district .us, nad just become vacant by the
Mr. Hamer therefore directed the appoin tment
OF Ulysses. Who at once went to West Point, passed
career % the son Is well known. HIS father bore
the honor while II reflected upon himself modestly.
His cup OF earthly happiness was filed TO over
Moving however, when he received the following
note from the General u few weeks previous TO the
action which terminated the war OF the rebellion
against the Union. General Grant wrote to his
father under date OF March "a, 1865, as iollows:-
We having fine weather and l think we will
be able 10 Wind matters about Richmond
anxious 10 have Lee held on where he Is short time
longer so that get him iRo q position where he
must lose great portion OF his army The rebellion has
lost it. vitality and am not much mistaken there
VIII be no rebel army OF any great dimensions few
weeks hence.
letter rom Covington, written after the sur
render OF Lee, said:-"The proudest and happiest
man In the Union at present Is the father OF Gene
raj Grant, who resides In our CITY,"
In the month OF February, 1866 Mr. Grant was
appointed Postmaster OF Covington. KY, an hon.
orable position, In city OF about twenty thousand
inhabitants and worth about SIX hundred dollars
per annum. Mr.. Grant was said to be conserva-
tive republican in politics and strenuously opposed
TO negro suffrage and negro equality. In his posi-
tion OF Postmaster he endured some personal an