The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-08-06
ERoM GEN. GRANzrs rAru

FROM GEN. GRANTS FATHER
Hartford (Ct) Times: Mr.. Richard A.
Wheeler, of Stonington, 10 much inter-
ested IN genealogical matters and twenty
years ago when he was engaged in
gathering statistics regarding the Grant
family in Connecticut, he wrote TO Mr..
Jesse Il. Grant, father OF General Grant,
who was ut that time living In CoYing-
ton, KY, and from him obtained some
important facts. Many of these facts,
however, with reference to the Grant
family, have been published; but there
are some things In thu letter received by
MIR. Wheeler, which have not been in
print. The letter itself is now In the
possession of the Hon. Charles j. HoadIy,
state librarian. One curious revelation
msde by Mr.. Grant is concerning the
adoption Of the name of Ulysses for his
son. II has been generally understood
that the name given him by his parents
was Hiram Ulysses, and that the con
gresham who obtained his appointment
at West Point made a mistake In having
his name appear ON the cadet roll as
Ulysses 8. Grant; but his father tells
different story, which Is now made
public Tor the first time. He says-writ-
ing for Mr.. Wheeler IN 1865: 'In June,
1891, MIR. j. Il. Grant and Miss Hannah
Simpson were married and settled at
Point Pleasant, Ohio. On the 9th of
April, 1922, their first child was born.
AS Is usually the case with the first, there
was a good deal OF anxiety about select
ing q name for the child. 1t was finally
settled that the halt dozen names
selected by the family should be all put
in hat, and the first drawn should be
the name, Ulysses was drawn, and his
mothers maiden name (Simpson) adopt
cd for his middle name"
Proceeding further Mr.. Grant writes in
detail concerning his son. and gives
these particulars of his early life:
"In very early lie Ulysses showed 9
| great aptness tor business, which he ex-
ecuted with great energy and prompt
ness He also had great fondncss Tor
horses, with great skill and Judgment IN
their management. Such was his skill
and tact In the handling of horses that II
was said when quite IA small boy that he
would take team that refused To pull
for the owner-an experienced driver
and IN a few minutes il would start of
as II nothing were the matter. He was
very tond OF school, and when he attend
ed learned rapidly, and specially such
studies as involved mathematics.
Ulysses was OF q quiet. modest, unassum.
ing turn OF mind, and yet in all his in
tercourse with his play fellows he waE
universally and by common consent
made their leader. At seventeen years
OF age Ulysses suggested a desire to be
educated, in preference to following the
tanning business. suggested To him
West Point. which fully met his view
Although there was supposed 90 be nc
vacancy from the district, wrote to the
Hon. Thomas L. Hamer, who then repre-
sented the district, asking him If he
could get him in on some other vacant
district. The letter was received the
last day of Mr.. HAmcr's term, and il
happened the district was vacant by thu
failure of the cadet previously appoint
ed. Mr.. Hamer then directed tho Ap
pOintaIent of Ulysses, and he went i'm
mediAtely on, passed an examination
] and was admitted q cadet"
Mr.. Hoadly has in his possession
/ Grant, In which he goes into matters O
B more private nature and not of publ
T interest. In this letter he mentions tha
D he was named after Judge Jesse Root, {
Coventry, who was an intimate friend {
e his father. Judge Root las many Cot
necticut readers kuow) was a Judge {
the superior court. and chief justice
y 1796. He wSs a member of the cont
|. mental congress in i7S0-l, aud his ON
o copy OF the record of proceedings. wit
> two of his autograph signsturcs-one {
D. the cover aud the other on the title pa,
>, lis another Of Mr. HoadlY's COLLECTION
IN The state librarian has also g page
w manuscript-an IuventorY-In the ban
Nd writing Of Matthew Grant (snd iucludil
nv his sIgnature@ the first American Ance
o. tor of General Grant. who settled
IN Windsor IN 1895. This Inventory "
of made up in 1918.