Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-12-24
GRANTS RELATIONS.
A VISIT TO HIS MOTHERS HONE
STEAD,
find a Taik .76out the Generals Travei
ing Incog. Through the Country.

Under the above head the Pbiladel-
phia Record last Thursday published
the following arricleJ Grant like other
men, has his relations. In Bucks
county are the Mckinstrys, the Weirs
and the Houghs, whose connection is
traced through the Generals venerable
mother, who was born and resided in
Montgomery county near the Bucks
comfy line
Ii is now sixty -one gears since his
mother, then nineteen years Of age, de-
parted IN company with her father from
the old homestead, about six miles
from boy iestown. Mrs. Grant is the
daughter of James and Ssllie Simpson,
an old family who occupied the little
stone house N question for years before
the Revolution. After the removal OF
the Simpsons the farm and property
passed into other hands, and is to day
owned BY John Daddy. With the eI-
ceprion Of few frame buildings which
have been erected lately on the farm,
the premises are the same to day as
they were hundred years ago.
For the past five years the house has
been vacant, and now presents lone
some appearance. 1t stands some
yards back from the road, and is bull,
of Tough stone stuck together with
plain white mortar in layers almost as
thick as the stone itself. The house
IS in three sections, the main building
beng q square two story structure con-
tanning four rooms. Adjoining this on
the south is lower building which is
again supported by still lower struct-
ure of about 7 feet high, and which
was used as q kitchen and baking oven
The doors leading from the Kitchen to
the dwelling part of the house still con
taIu the little latch striugs Of the an
cient style of fastening doors. South
Of this house is corn crib tha. was US
ed by the Simpsons. Further OIL are
the ruins of the old stone barn, which
was the highest in the county.
Situated east of the dwelling is the
old spring house. This is large one
story stone building covering large
spring. The roof of this house is de
cayed FROM time, and adds not q little
to picturesque diiapldation.
The old farmers of the neighborhood
recolect Mrs. Grant ditinctly, and point
ed out to the reporter the old school
near by in which she received the rud-
iments of education.
Within sight of the Simpson farm re-
sides William McKlnstry, who is full
cousin Of the great General. In
boy lestown reside DR.. A. j. Hines
aud Mr.. Harry Hough, who are also
closely related to the General ON bis
mothers side. The latter gentleman's
father entertained the General after he
had graduated at West Poin, and took
him to the old farm to view the spot
where his mother vas born.
Sheriff Simpson, of Doylestown, is
remotely related to the General, but
be has had more personal acquaintance
with him than any other relative resid-
ing in Bucks county. The SberIff re-
sembles General Grant 10 his facial sp-
pearsnce, and has on more than one oc-
casiou been taken for him. Subse-
quent to his election to the Sberiffaltg
be was for long time employed as
conductor on the through line of the
Pennsylvania Railroad from Washing
ton to New York, and tells an interest
ing story as to how be first made the
Generals acquaintance while on night
run to New York city. He says:
"The time was just about the close
of the war. The train left Washington
after nine o'clock in the evening, and
IS it was always heavy train it took
me . long time to get through with
taking up the tickets. As | passed
through the train l came to fellow all
hunched up In one of the seats. l shook
him, but could not get him to wake up.
So l went through the train and lef,
him. After We had passed Philadelphia
l thought l would make another effort
to see bis ticket. l went To him again
and shook him, but he did not answer.
His head would fall back over the seat,
| said to myself that this fellow was
either tremendously sleepy or very
drunk. Finally | shook him so hard
that he opened his eyes and raised his
head little. Il want your ticket,
says l. sWell,' says be, 'the truth is |
have been up for so many many nights
night along that am pretty near play
ed out. Where are We q we are just
above Tuliytown,' says I, sin Bucks
county, Pennsylvania Bucks county,
says he 'why, | know something about
Bu> Ks county. 1 have distant relatives
there, and my mother used to live just
over the Montgomery county line
'Well,' says |, 'Pm a Bucks county
man. 'Wha. is your name q said he
Ny name is Simpson, says l. Sand my
name is Grant says be. My mothers
name was Simpson. [ an the man they
call General Grant
"We had long talk then about the
people of Bucks county whom he re-
garded as relatives. When we got
near Trenton | said that had to IN axe
a stop there, and he asked me to come
back when We had passeo that place. |
did so and be theu told me of the fact
that his name was not U. s. Grant, bu.
U Hiram Grant rhe way it came to be
changed, be said, was through the mis-
take of the Congressman who had him
appointed at West Point, contour ding
the middle letter OF bis name with that
of his brother Simpson The General
said that he never took the trouble Of
rectifying the mistake. At West Point
be was called Uuiied States Grsut.
"After this experience with the Gen.
eral l very frequently met him on my
train. He would say how are my Bucks
county relatives 2 and would tell him
concerning their welfare. l always
found General Grant a pleasant, unas-