Smyrna times., 1873-09-03


to Fort Jefferson and never met Grant from
the time of his graduation until after his |
marriage, although their close friendship has |
never been broken. The betrothei of the |
young couple, about whom this sketch is |
written, occurred in 1913, at this same old |
hOspitable mansion at White Haven Farm-a
tarm which, by the way, now belongs to Gen. |
Grant, and is one of the most valuable
i'll tie country, the whole extent of
which is about a thousand acres. Soon
after the engagement, the young officer
OF infantry was ordered to Natchitoches, La.
The Mexican war, during which Grant won his
epaulets as Captain, soon followed, and it did
not seem possible for the young couple to be
married until lS4S-five years of engagement
"a lesson Of cUnstaAcy rarely taught.
The marriage occurred at Mr.. Dents city
residence on Fourth ST., st. Louis, at about
0 clock IN the evening. The house was com
mOdlous for those days, and was filled to over
moving with guests who represented the best
people in St. Louis The ceremony was
performed by the Rev. DR.. Linn, Methodist
The grOomsmen were Cadmus Wilcox, an
army officer, who, by the way, was afterward
general officer III the Confederate army, aud
now lives in Baltimore; Bernard Pratte,
citizen Of St. Louis, who, strangely enough
also went into the Confederate army. now
living in Augusta, and Sidney Smith, who died
several years ago. The bridesmaids were
Nellie Dent, sister to the bride, who is now
Mrs. Sharpe of Washington, Salie Walker, a
daughter of an army officer and j ulia BoggS, a
relative of the family.
After the marriage, Capt. Grant was ordered
to Sackett's llarbor, n. Y, and it was here
that the young couple began their housekeep-
! ing. 1t was modest enough, this beginning
| for the quarters were furnished by the Govern
ment, and the present Mistress Of the White
House, whom courtesy calls the first lady of the
Land, began her married life and her house
keeping in Government barrack. They lived
mOdestly, sometimes with one servant and
sometimes without any; but they were very
happy for all that; for Gen. Grant has always
been domestic man, fond of his own friends,
a faithful husband, and u kind father. 1t was
| here that he became acquainted with e. W.
! Ford, now OF St. Louis, and an intimacy
sprung up which has never been broken.
There is probably no man having closer rca
tiuns of affection with the President than Mr.
! Ford He was once offered the Assistant
Secrctaryship of the Interior, with the promise
of promotion, and if Mr. Delano ever does his
country the service to get out of the office,
there is little doubt that Mr. Ford would fill
his place. Mr.. and Mrs. Grant continued at
Sackett's HarbOr over year, when he was
ordered tO California. She, on account of
delicate health was unable to endure the 18th.
mus trip, and returned to her fathers house.
Their first child, Frederick Dent Grant, now
Second Lieutenant of the 4th Cavalry, but
temporarily on Cen SherldanS staff as aid,
with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was born
soon after, in 1850, at the same house in St.
Louis where his parents were married. Grant
remained in California D years, and then left
the service and came to ST. Louis, not having
seen his wife in all that time. Mr.. Dent at
this time gave Grant a portion of White Ha,
ven farm, and he began to live the life of a
farmer, living with his wife $ parents until a
house could be built on the land he had so
easily acquired. Farming was sealed book
to him, and although he worked hard he could
mot get the hang OF 1t, as my informant ex-
pressed himself. So plain Mr.. Grant traded
off his farm for a house and lot in ST. Louis,
and opened a real estate and collecting buSi-
ness. lie found he knew less of this than of
farming, and he was again denied success. AT
this time he found something defective in the
title OF the town property, and the trade was
Cancelled. So he tOok$back his farm, which
he now owns AS is we'll known, Mr. Grant
never prOspered in any business, and he had
some diScouraging times lie and his family
were often with his father, Jesse Grant, at
Bethel Ohio, and with her father 1t was at
his fathers house in Bethel that Mr.. Grant
second child, Ulysses 5. Grant, IT., was born,
in 1852. He goes by the nickname Of Buck, u
on account of his having been born in Ohio.
lie has been in Europe and is said to be a
very promising young man. The third child,
Nellie WrinShall Grant, was born at Wish-to
WISH a portion of the old Dent farm, in 1856.
, The fourth child. Jesse Root Grant, was born
at White Haven Farm in 1853. Miss Nellie
has been educated by private tutors at home
with Jesse, who enters Cornell University
as q student at the next term. Mrs. Grant has
fbo md Of, tbo
and here she has recOmpense for all her care
in the rbectiOn that she has never lost child
by death. The four children are now all here
and participated in the enjOyments this even
ing. Mr. Dent was unable to leave his bed.
Mrs. Casey, Mrs Grants sister, is also quite
i'll, and unable to leave her bed at the hotel.
A young son of hers is also dangerously sick
Mr.. Casey, however, dined with the President
to day, and was present this evening
There were no ceremonies this evening; no
! invitations whatever were issued, and no
preparations made for reception or banquet.
II A few friends called in sans cerenlOnic, con-
graduated the family, and extended appro-
pirate compliments. There were no relatives
of the family present, except those mentioned
above. The presents were few and of a
modest character. The names of the donors
were not given out, the desire of the President
being to avoid any gossip or remark on a
matter of such purely personal character
Correspondent Of the ~. T. Tribune.
At Westminster, Maryland, William V.
Matthias, aged 22, died on Sunday morning
week, as was supposed, after an attack of brain
fever. His body was placed upon ice, and re-
maned there forty eight hours. On Tuesday,
when the family assembled for the funeral, it
was noticed that his skin had assumed a nat.
ural appearance, and an examination showed
that the young man was still living. Physi-
clans were called in, and, at last accounts,
Matthias was doing well.
A young lady in Nashville is changing her
r views somewhat relative to the question oi
} matrimony. She says that when she "came
: OUT in society she determined that she would
not marry man unless he were an Episcopa-
J lian. Time passed on, and she did not gel
l married, and then modified her views, and
! concluded she would marry no man who was