Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-09-02
NUMBER 33.

"was full of rooms" and there was al.
ways in those old days Of Slavery an
army of servants about the premises.
1t was tho most hospitable place in the
whole country around and was never
without guests. Mr.. Dent was in aflluent
circumstances. for in those years ii was
not needed that a man should be worth
from one TO a hundred millions in order
TO be rich. Ills vile liked company and
was of the old order of houseSeepcrs,
who knew what was going on, and had
plenty of leasure. There was a troop of
young men and young girls, sons and
daughters, and it was known everywhere
that White Haven Farm was q good
place TO go to. Lieut.. Grant was a ire-
quent visitor, for he was always welcome
on account OF his intimacy with Fred
Dent, his classmate. now Lieutenant
Colonel of the 4lh Artillery, stationed 40
New London.
The betrothal occurred in 1913, at this
same hospitable mansion at White la.
ven Farm-a farm which. by tue way.
now belongs to Gen. Grant, and is one Of
the most valuable in the country, the
whole extent OF which is about thous
and acres Soon after the engagement
the young officer was ordered to Naichi.
toches. The Mexican war. during which
Grant won his cpaulctS as Captain, fol-
lowed, and it did not seem possible tor
the young couple to be married until
lsis-fve years OF engagement lesson
of constancy rarely taught.
The marriage occurred at Mr. Dents
city residence on Fourth street. St. Louis.
at about O'Clock in the evening. The
house was filed 10 overfowing with the
best people in st. Louis. The ceremony
was performed by the Rev. DR.. Linn.
Methodist. The groOmsmen were Cad
mus Wilcox. an army officer, who ras
aIterward general officer in the Conlrd-
crate army, and now lives in Baltimore,
Bernard Pratte. citizen of OF 81. Louis,
who also went into the Confederate army,
now living in Augusta, and Sidney
Smith, who died several years ago. The
bridesmaids were Nellie Dent. sister oi
the bride, now Mrs Sharpe oi Washiuc-
ton. Salie Walker, daughter Of an old
army officer. and Julia Boggs, 4 rciati,"
of the family.
After the marriage Capt. Grant Was
ordered TO Sacketl's liarbor. New Ioyk.
and it was here their housekeeping be-
gan. 1t was modest enough, this begin
ming; for the quarters were furnished by
the government, and the present mistress
OF the White House began her married
life and her housekeeping in u govern
ment barrack. They lived modestly.
sometimes with one servant and some
times without any; but they were very
happy for all that; for Gen. Grant has
always been domestic man, lond ot
his own friends, faithful husband, aud
kind father. Mr. and Mrs. Grant con-
tinued al Sackelt's Harbor over year,
when he was ordered to California. Sac,
on account of delicate health. was un.
able to endure the lsthmuS trip, and ..-
turned to her fathers home. Their first
child, Frederick Dent Grant, now Second
Lieutenant of the 4lh Cavalry, but tenn
porariy on Gen. Sheridan'S staff as a.d,
with The rank Of Lieutenant Colonel, was
born soon after, in 1880, at the same
house in st. Louis where his parents
were married, Grant remained in Cali
iornia , years, and then lell the ser
vice and came to St. Louis, not having
seen his wife in all that time. Mr.. Dent
at this time gave Grant Il portion oil
White Haven farm. and he began the liie
of farmer. living with his wife's par
ents until house could be built on the
land he had SO easily acquired. Farming
WAS u sealed book 10 him, and although
he worked "he could not get the hang OF
it," So plain Mr.. Grant traded oil hi'
farm for house and lot in st. Louis, and
opened a real estate and collecting Uusi-
ness. lie found that he knew less OF this
than OF farming, and he was again denied
success At this time he found some-
thing defective in the title TO 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 also
with her father. 1t was at mis- fathers
house in Bethel that Mr.. Grants second
child Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., was born, in
1852. He goes by the nickname OF
Buck" on account of his having been
born in Ohio. lie is a great favollle,
and is never addressed excepta as "BucE,' "
He is Il student at Harvard, but home
now on vacation. lie accompanied
his father to Maine. lie has has been
in Europe, and is said to be q promising
young man. The third child, Nellie
Wrinshall Grant, was born at Wisb-ton'
Wish. Il portion of the old Dent farm in
1856. The fourth child, Jesse Root
Grant, was born at the Dent homestead
ut White Haven Farm in 1888. Miss
Nellie has been educated by private IN
tors at home with Jesse, who enters
Cornell University as a student at the
,oxt ,ar,o %iro Grant has lppn tup