Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-04

Peasant, Ohio, which could hardly claim any
higher dignity than that of log cabin. His
father was one of the pioneers of the now
wealthy and populous state. He was hard
working man, and Ulysses, from early boyhood,
was Injured to toll There are several houses IN
st. Louis which are pointed out as houses which
have been identified with the life history of
Gen. Grant. Gen. Grant, then a lieutenant,
was married August %, 1913, to Miss Julia
Dent, daughter of Col. Dent, of st. Louis, at
Col. Dents house. This house, which is still
standing, Is located on the southwest corner of
Cerre street and 4th avenue, st. Louis. 1t is a
two-story and gable-roofed house of the old
fashioned type. Horse cars, unknown in the
days when the brave soldier went there a-court-
ing, nowjingle past its door, and there is tackled
up on the spot which the old-fashioned brass
knocker used to occupy printed sign notifying
passers by that "rooms" may be obtained
within for 81 week, and that table board ~
at So, or single meals" at 25 cents, are to be
had upon application. A Mrs. Putcher reigns
supreme within. The same chandelier which
lighted the bridal festival hangs from the CELL
ing. 1t is one of several evidences left that the
house was ever the home of an affiuent and cul.
tivated family. 1t is a bronze affair, trident
shaped, the figure of a knight rising between its
three supporting rods.
The house now rents for fOrty-five dollars a
month and is the property of Mrs. Walsh, OF
ST. Louis. After Gen. Grant resigned from the
army In !, 1884 ne tried farming; and lived for
Dent, on the Gravois road, near St. Louis. 1t
was there Miss Nellie, now Mrs. Sartoris, and
one or two of the boys were born. The place
was known as the Wish-ton-Wish, and its
memory is doubtless very tender to the general.
Becoming dissatisfied with farming, and hav-
ing been wofully disappointed by failure to
obtain the position of county surveyor, he
moved his rapidly increasing family back to st.
Louis and rented house at the corner of 9TH
and Lynch streets, which is standing to-day.
The life of the Grants during their occupation
of this residence was none too bright 1t was
clouded by the fact that their funds were run
ming low and that the young eX-soldier and ex
farmer was unable to find any employment
His army life had entirely untitled him fol
mercantile pursuits and his prospects of find.
ing something suitable to his hand were small
Realizing the necessity of economy, the Grants
gave up their house on 9TH street and removed
zoos Barton street.
The house is not what could be called
large mansion: 1t has been enlarged since the
Grants occupied it. In those days it consisted
Of a single room on each floor, and Mrs. Adolfph
Weckler, the present occupant, who with her
husband has lived there for more than twelve
years. declares that the interior of the front or
main room is precisely the same as it was when
Mrs. q. S. Grant superintendent its busting and
the stunted little apartment.
Rising from a corner of the lower room is a
little flight of stairs which leads up to the garnet
chamber, which suggests a child's playhouse
more than the sleeping apartments of a military
hero. The four walls are met by ceiling which
slants down on all sides to meet them at q poi mt
wooden railing still extends in front of two
dangerous windows in the front wall Of this
upper room, which was placed there by Gen.
younger children from falling out On the east
side of the cottage is queer Old-fashioned well.
After further failures to obtain lucrative en-
ployment Gen. Grant accepted an offer from
his father to enter into partnership with him in
Mr.. John F. Long, and removed his other chat
tells to Illinois. In Galena he was engaged in
the leather business with his father in a modest
little store bearing the sign Of "Grant & Son,
modest appearing house He was living mere
when the war broke out and he took up his
sword. Upon coming to Washington after the
war General Graut occupied q commodious but
Sd. After his election to the Presidency he
summered in q cottage adjoining Mr.. George
w. Childs' cottage at Long Branch. This is one
of the most modest cottages on the water side
Of Ocean avenue, near the West End. The
house on 66th street, near the corner of 9Th
avenue, New York, where Gen. Grant has spent
his last days, is q superb brown stone mansion,
valued at 500, 900. It is owned now by GER
tain parties who held an original mortgage on
the building. The house was purchased by the
was valued at 500, 900, but there was q mort
gage on It Of 100000. The full amount was
raised and $40, 900 paid down on the delivery
of the deed, the remainder being placed to Mrs.
Grants credit in the bank. She made repeated
efforts to raise the incumbrance, but as it had q
long term to run, the holder Of the mortgage
would not discharge 1t. When the firm OF
Grant Ward was started Mrs. Grant trans
$50, 900 to pay off the mortgage on their home.
That sum went in the crash, and it is I'M
derstoOd q settlement has since been made
by which the holder OF the mortgage has &C
qu1red possession OF the property, as the family
could not afford TO continue their ownership
of it