The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-28
FRIDAY. .......... FEBRUARY %, 1879
From the Missouri Republican, 22d
President Grants Farm-DestruetioE
OF the Residence by Firc-Descrip.
ttOn Of the Building.


tton Of the Building.
The country residence of President Grant,
or his farm on the Grayois road, was de
stroyed by fire yesterday. 1t was conlno.
dious brick house, two stories in height, and
was known as Wish-ton-wiSh." 1t com,
menced burning at noon yesterday, and was
in ruins at 4 O'Clock. " >
The farm is one Of eight hundred acres
ten miles from the courthouse, on the Gra.
vols road. in this county, aud Is a fine tract
Of land, through which GraVois creek passes,
Watering it very well. A portion of 1t Is
heavily timbercd, and about onc-third Is ina
nigh state of cultivation. There were two
residences upon it, and this one was upon
The summit OF the hill. 1t commanded an
excellent view Of Carondclet, the ILLINOIS
bluffs. and the country about the insane asy'
lum. 1t was in the southwestern part OF the
tract, and about half mile from the Other
building. 1t was erected by Mr. Lewis Denl
in 1915 or 1919, and was built of what Is
known rs "stock" brick. The ground be.
tween it and the Gravos road was timely sci
with shrubbcry, ccdars, birch, ana various
kinds of shade trees:
The house had double piazzas or porrhes,
and was designed with an "L." There were
on the ground floor of the main building I;
large paror, Il wide hall, and Il sitting-room
On the same floor in the "L " was the din
ing-room and the kitchen was in the base
nent Of the same part OF the bulldlng
There were three chambers in the second
story. The place had been fancfuly finished.
md there was good deal of elegance about
it. Mrs. Grant occupied it during part o
The war, and mt the time Of the first election
of her husband. Upon removal to the w llltt
House, a Mrs. Edwards was placed in the
building as tenant 10 take care Of it; bu
during the last two years Mr.. Peter Smm:
has been in charge Of it, he, with his family
,ccupyinc three rooms. The furniture IL
these belonging to the President was packed
I'D and placed in other parts of the building
rhe parIor was always kept in order as 4 re
ccptiOn-room for the visitors who callct
there in 'summer to sec tho house.
The building cost Mr.. Dent $1,000. There
was about $1,000 worth of furniture be
ionging to the President, and a quantity be
ron~ing to Mr.. Simms in it. A few valuable
articles had been removed to Washington.
As stated before, the fire commenced a
noon. 1t is supposed that it originated
rom the kitchen fire, as it has not been Gus
'omarv TO heat the parlor. 1t gained consi
icr:ble hcadway, there being no special mp
Dliances TO cXtinguish it. and, az there wa
nuitc 4 breeze, The flames were too powerful
.i,r the simple means 1t hand. There Is
.istcrn near il, and energetic eiloltS Wer
made with buckets to subdue the tlrc, bu
without effect. The roof fell in, anu t!ee y! \
kent burning uutil 1 O'Clock, when the build
ing was thoroughly guttcd. The length o
imc which cnsucd before the residence WA
DESTROYED enabled the parties at the scene t
remove Il large portion of the furniture
The loss will probably be about Sj,3VO, an'
it is stated there was no insurance.
The other residence which WAS not burnet
was considered more valuable than the bricl
one. 1t is frame one, much larger, and WA
ouiIt by Mr.. William l.. Long, father of Hon
John +. Long, in 1914. 1t was greatly lin
proved in 1918 by Dir. Theodore Hunt, ant
was then considered magnificent countr.
rcslcncc. 1t was still further improved b.
Nr. Frederick Dent, fatller-in-aW OF tin
President, in 1923, and has always been KEEP
in excellent condition. Il is known a
"WhitcI;aven," and Is about half mile
from the site of the other residence. I'M
situation of it is about 800 yards west OF TIN
Gravois road, and on a country road known
is the Grant road, running through the farm
Mr.. james Elrod, who has been manager o
The farm four or five years, occupicsit. 1t VIII
quilt upon the style of a plantation residence
md its value is estimated to be about ST, ,0O0
Near to this building are barn and stables
which were erected three years ago, and cos
=, 900. In the stables are kept the Presi
dents fine horse stock, White Cloud. Fiio
Temple, Gold Dust, and BashaW. Ther
ire also Oh the farm some valuable imported
cattle. High fencing run between The TIVE
buildings, and the destruction OF the barr
would he almost sure to follow that OF th
frame house. In This part of the tract are
tiue well and cistern.
The President remarked last summer Il
Judge Long. at Long Branch, that if n
were not reelected he intended to max
Wi.h-ton-wiSh his home within few month
after the expiration of bis term Of office. lie
not lony since, wrote to the same Scntleula!
that he intended to make 4 visit TO ST. Lnui
early this spring, Immediately after The inau
.:uration, but the southern tourhad not beer
tlicn talked of.