Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-06
TIE GRANT FAMILY.
Left In GOoc Cireumstances-W Where
They VIII Live,
New York Times

though far from settled, Ia regard to
the future of the Grant family, They.
will be left in comparatively good cir
cumstances, SO that they could afford
TO release the mortgage on their house
IN Sixty sixth street, and make it their
nome But If they live IN New York
CITY, which is doubtful, there is now
40 expectation of their occupying that
house. 1t could never be as It was 20
taem, endearing as would be IFS as
soclauons on the Generals account.
They were as glad TO get awav from
it as he was. The sense of comfort
ana security departed with the re-
noval OF their treasures IN May to the
custody of the government. 1t was
not The loss of their things that paineJ
them, but the means by which they
went. The General always iRtended
to give to the government these things
the pictures, bronzes, and other rare
and beautiful. that had been prs,
scented to kim-but he was denied
that satisfaction, and when he wrote
to Washington, signifylng his pur-
pose, a reply came back that the gift
mad already been promised by Mr..
Vanderbilt, who claimed 10 own them.
The General was too much dispirited
to contest the CLAIM. He thought he
had already assigned to Mr.. Vander>
bilt enough property to make good
that unfortunate loan of $3.50. 900. but
he was In no position 10 resist Mr..
Vanderbilt's opinion to the contrary.
and Sc the cherished plan Of giving
to the government his treasures was
dispelled, and Mr.. Vanderbilt became
the actual donor. 1t was hard strug-
gle for the General and the family to
part with them nnder such circum-
stances, and when they were gone the
bare walls and vacant places st his
house IN Sixty-sixtb street were con
slant reminders 20 the family of their
misfortunes.
The house was q gift to the General
At the time of it's purchase there was,
a mortgage upon it of $40, 900. AS the
mortgage could not then be released,
the amount of it was handed to Mrs.
Grant, who deposited it with Grant s.
Ward, intending to withdraw it when
the mortgage became due. 1t was
swallowed up in the crash. The needs
of the family increased the debt,
which amounts now, with interest, TO
about $50, 900. The price paid for the
house was 100000. General Grants
example led his relatives to invest
their possessions with Grant & Ward,
and when disaster came it swept away
not only all he had and Mrs. Grants
investment, but the possessions of his
three sons and the savings of four
other families connected by blood
with himself or Mrs Grant. He felt
responsible for the support and wei
fare Of all these dependencies resting
upon him after the failure, and for
all of them he sought to make pro
vision from what the book might
yield. His income for more than a
year, as had been the case, indeed, in
years gone by, was consumed as fast
as it came IN providing for others.
The publishers estimate the Gen
erals share of the proceeds of the
book at SIS, 900. The General assign
ed all his right, title end interest IN
this money to Mrs. Grant, IN whose
name the contract stands. No quail
fcati0ns is attached to this gift, and
she may use the money as may suit
herself. AS she knows what the Gen
eral has done, and what be would
have continued to do, she will doubt
less follow out his plan Of benetac-
ton, so that more of the family or
relatives will want because Of losses
sustained in following his example.
It is her present intention to ratire
somewhere to q quiet, modest house.
She will try to sell, with the least de-
lay, the house in Sixth street and the
Long Branch cottage. Just wherc she
will permanently live, Or how, must
be left to future discussion.
Col Grant will own the generals
library, private records and other
papers, many Of which are Of great
values As he mas developed literary
talent while assisting the General on
the book, he has been advised to avail
himself of the opportunities afforded
by these papers, from which much of
10 terest might be written bearing on
1868, as well as during his presidency
and since. When General Badeau's
Military Life of General Grant" was
published, the General sent hand
soa1ely bound copies to the rulers of
foreign countries from whom he had
received courtesies when abroad.
Among the papers left by the General
are autograph Acknowledgements of
the receip pit of the book. There are
enough other interesting and compli-
metary letters to make a volume In
themselves.
U. S. Grant, Jr., will remain on his
New Jersey farm, having reconciIed
himself to That prospect. Jesse Grant
has an opening in his business as en-
gineer in project for a railway in the
valley of the Euphrates. Mrs. Sar
toris will naturally return to EnglanG
where her children are, ana where
her husbands family want them to be
educated. Her desire, however, is to
bring her children here and live with
hersmother, and she will try and bring
that about In that case the houses
hold weula consist probably Of Mrs.
Grant, Mrs. Sartoris, and Col. Grant
and his family.