Crawford avalanche., 1885-07-30

IIntsIM
the marriage was celebrated, now stands on the
southwest corner Of Fourth and Cerre streets,
st. Louis.
dilapidated exterior Of the house to suggest the
elegance that characterized IL in the days when
it was the city residence snR Of tes Rehf answers
the old-style bell and admits the caller to
spacious hall, from which very precise stair
way leads to the floor above, with one abrupt
and uncompromising turn at the middle OF the
ascent The stairway affords the first strong
trace OF the old-time richness Its balusters are
exceedingly plain and straight, and its sharp
cornered newell post is innocent OF carving, but
all the parts are of mahogany and the top OF the
post is inlaid with pearl. The double parlors in
which the wedding occurred open of the hall to
the left. They are commodious rooms OF about
16xlS feet in dimensions, and separated by Verv
heavy sliding doors. The door facings and win
dow facings are very broad, but without cary
ing or molding, and arc painted white just as
they were In their DAYS Of glory. The knobs OF
the doors are OF solid brass, and perfectly
smooth, as was the fashion when the house was
built. The fireplace Is surmounted by wooden
mantel, and is faced by an ornament,
ed oheetiron dtc front which has n,urS sscapea s
these years. The most notable fea-
ture, however, is the chandelier, which
is the same that lighted the memorable bridal
festival. 1t is a very unique affair in bronze,
with three burners and three supporting rods,
between which latter is a handsome kniGhtly
this has remained safely through all the muta-
tions to which the house has been subjected.
The front room Is now Sleeplng-rOOm. Cne
back parlor is a dining-room. There is nothing
in the general plan of the house to call for spe-
cial mention, as 1t is an ordinary dwelling place,
with three large rooms on each OF the three
floors, and ballroom additional on the second
floor.
1t would appear that the days of this relic are
already numbered, as it lies directly in the line
of the proposed route of the elevated road which
is to connect the Iron Mountain Road with the
Union Depot.
The bridal couple did not make this house
their home, but after q wedding trip they
turned to St Louis, and lived for some
time with Mrs Grants parents out at the
farm, on the Gravois road. Young Grant
resigned his army commission in 1854, and
located with his family out on the Dent farm,
Mr.. Dent having made his daughter a present
of eighty acres and four slaves. They lived
there very nicely, but Grant did not find the life
congenial. The chief farming he did was to
haul cordwood to town and sell 1t, on which oc-
casion the very familiar costume which clad his
gaunt form was a jeans pants, gray woolen
shirt, one or two @galluses, pair OF raw-hide
boots, slouch hat, and an untrimmed beard.
blacksnake whip made him complete
Tiring completely OF farm life, he moved into
town. and at first occupied for time house at
the southeast corner OF Seventh and Lynch
streets, and then moved to a little house which
Is now numbered 1908 Barton street. his en-
ployment was the real estate business, but no
did not prosper. and in 1857 moved to Galena,
Ill, where he went into business with his father
as a tanner. Soon afterward the war broke cut.
and Grant was not long in discovering that
there was at least one way in which he could
earn living. and earn 1t noblv.