The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-07-30
A Great Life.

SHADOW OF Thousand dangers before.
During his long illness, filled with
the most intense suffering, there was
no murmur of impatience, no ruffiing
of the even and Christian-like temper
The brave old soldier dropped quietly
to sleep, all his conquests over save
the last great victory over death, sur
rounded by the family he loved SC
well, and who almost idolized him
His life was complete. Had he died
few years sooner, the record Of his
life would have lacked some Of the
points Of beauty which now belong to
it.
Like all men who have occupied a
prominent position in public life, he
was the subject of a great deal OF
criticism. His enemies were of the
most unrelenting kind, and often per-
mitted their criticisms te degenerate
to the leyel Of personal abuse. Yet
the current Of the great life flowed
smoothly onward, all unmindful of
the impurities cast upon its bosom by
enemies along the shore. When SO
near death, few months ago, Gen.
Grant expressed an earnest desire to
live to complete his memoirs of the
military movements in which he was
the central figure. 1t seemed that he
could last but few days, at most,
and in his enfeebled condition, he de-
voted portion of his time, daily, to
the task Of completing his literary
work. Fortunately, he was spared to
complete this work, but shortly after
ward passed away. Few lives have
been so complete in the scope of their
achievements. Called into service
from comparative obscurity, at the
beginning Of the war, the unknown
tanner Of Galena rose, through his
sterling genius, to the highest posi-
ton attained by any American save
two-Washington and Lincoln. In
military genius he was far superior to
the former, while in patriotism, re-
gard for duty, and the warmth and
strength of his friendship, he was the
equal Of the latter. His name will
live in history joined to these two.
Grants was the one character needed
by the country at the beginning of
the war. In conflict where jealous
les Of rival commanders babe fair to
sacrifice the lives of many valuable
soldiers, and indefinitely prolong the
struggle, it needed but the calm self
reliance and earnestness of purpose
of Grant to shape the grand march to
victory. With luster never excelled
in military history that life stood
forth all through the long and terri
BILE struggle, and when at last the
armies of the traitorous foe were COM
PEELED to yield, the great heart dis
played a magnanimity unequaled.
Every officer and man captured had
by his acts forfeited his right to live,
yet the brave leader who commanded
the victorious armies treated them as
brethren, feeding the half-starved
captives. They had striven bravely
to overthrow the authority of the
Government for which he fought,
and he had crushed them The flow
Of the sea Of blood was stopped, and
he saw but the misguided, weary SOL
diery. When these were forced to
lay down their arms, the great COM
mander ceased to be their enemy, and
in all the years since the close Of the
conflict he had longed for the estab-
ishment Of fraternal relations be-
tween the sections.
Gen. Grant was born at PIT Pleas
ant, Clermont County, Ohio, April
9th, 1922, entered West Point Mill
tary Academy in 1889, and graduated
in 1S43. He took part in the Mexi-
can war as an officer Of the Fourth
Regiment, and was promoted for gal
lantry on the field Of battle In 1913
he was married to Miss Julia Dent
at st. Louis. In 1852 he was ordered
with his Regiment to California, and
from that place to Oregon. n 1854
he resigned his commission and re-
turned to st. Louis, and engaged in
the real estate business. He after
ward removed to Galena, Illinois,
where he was located in the tanning
business when the war broke out.
His services since that time are fami-
lar to our readers. He entered the
army as Colonel Of the Twenty first
Illinois, but soon displayed those
soldierly qualities which enabled him
to move rapidly up the ladder of mill
tary fame. His brilliant military
career was supplemented by the call
to the Chief Magistracy OF the Nation,
and on the 4th Of March 1869 he as
sumed the duties of President Of the
United States. In 1872 he was re-
elected. In 1880. after his trip
around the worId-during which time
he was shown the most distinguished
honors in every country visited-his
name was presented at the Chicago
Convention as a candidate for the
Presidency, and he was honored with
a large following among the delegates.
He engaged in the banking business
in New York, and lost everything
through the confidence reposed in
others.