The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-11-26
THE GRANT OF GALENA.

Galena (IllO Letter in Cincinnati Saturday
Night,
An accurate account of the incl
dents connected with President
Grants sojourn in Galena, / believe
has never been furnished the press,
and thinking that brief letter in
reference thereto would not prove
undressing to the many readers Of
Saturday Night, | respectfully
submit the following, claiming for
it the merit, if it possess none other,
ct plain, unadulterated truth:
Ulysses s. Grant came to this
city from 81. Louis in September,
1859, and Immediately entered the
service of j. r. Grant, his father,
leather dealer, whose business at
that time was in charge Of Orville
Grant, the General's brother and
Junior by ten years. His salary
was fixed at $40 per month, and
was not increased so long as he
remained in the employ of his father
and during his stay in Galena he
did not acquire, either by purchase on
otherwise. a single dollars worth of
interest in the establishment. While
thus employed, Grant was principal
ly engaged in buying hides on the
street, and, when necessary, acting
as clerk; but in this latter capacity
he is acknowledged to have been a
failure. His dress consisted of a
gray military suit.sssand slouched hat,
which were the only dlstinguishable
features in his makeup. In his
appearance he was no more than
a man in the ordinary walks of life,
and in his department quiet and
unobstructive, mingled but little in
society. and possessed but few friends
and acquaintance. Among the
number were Captain IckMorehouse
now dead; JACK Booth, formerly
Station Agent of the Illinois Cen,
trail Railroad at this city; John A.
Rawlins, at that time rising young
lawyer of Galena; J. G. Calderwood,
keeper of a livery. stable F. Smith,
then a jeweler and one or two others
whose names cannot now call.
With these congenial associates
Grant would pass his evenings,
after business hours, in room 1873,
De Soto House, playing cards or
lndulging in social conversation.
The impression prevails among
manyEthat Grant, while resident
of this city, and during his military
service, INDUCED in the use ofintox-
icailng liquors, This I am prepar-
cd TO deny, and can substantiate the
assertion by the evidence of both his
friends and political enemies who
knew Linn while here, as we'll as that
OF his only surviving staff officer
General W. r. Rowley, Of Galena, a
man whose integrity cannot be
questioned. The story, therefore, of
his debaucheries during these periods
possesses no foundation in truth,
and is dilect libel upon a Nah
whom fate had destined to be great,
and whose star of glory history shall
emblazon among the renowned
deeds of men with imperishable
brillancy.
The successes which has marked
the career of the President since ne
TOOK command of the 21st regiment
OF illinois volunteers as Colonel, is
regarded by many as extraordinary
and unaccountable, from the fact
that while a resident of this city he
seemed to be utterly wanting in
those char ,terist;cs which develop
1nto greatness. On the ether hand
there are few who were not the least
surprised at the events which have
marked his latter history, claiming
them as the fuIfillment ofprophecies in