The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-09
ICopyrIghlod. lss0, By 5, S. MccluEe.l

ny hlnH ODhFlch ~ Alh hHCtAtOFbS 1ne
new "White Haven" was in pleasant re-
gion, looking out upon the wooded hills
aud grassy valleys, and when Captain
Grant returned from Oregon, where he
had resigned his commission, bis father
in-law presented his vile with sixty acres
Of this land and three negroes-tWo men
and q woman.
Captain Grant went 10 work in good
earnest, and with his two negro men dug
q cellar, hauled the stones for the walle,
stoned Ii up, cut and hauled the logs
with which the house wsa built, and then
split the shingles with which 1t Wag roof.
cd. At the raising his neighboIs turned
out and helped him, and in due time he
was the occupant d his own house.
His frat occupation was TO clear field,
and no was certainly So adept at chop.
ping wood. As tue winter CAME on, lie
hauled this wood into st. Louis, and had
Of Gonras a good team, bay and gray,
which he boosted could draw q heavier
load than any other horsPs In the settle.
nlent. At first bis nelghbors thought It
was only boast, but after going along
tho road with him with lighter loads, they
found that he was authority on horses,
He never would ride, though, on his load,
saying that "the team has enough 10 draw
without carrying a lazy driver" On the
road, with invariable good nature, he
would help neighbors or strangers Whose
teama we're stuck in the mud, and often
left bis tireside In the cold EVENING" TO
help some wagner up GrAyois' hill.
Many leading st, Louis families bought
their wood Of Grant, and they afterwards
narrated how he threw of the loadB at
their doors, poGketed his money, mounted
his wagon, and started at a briek trot for
home. Sometimes he would dispose Of a
load at JelleTs9n Barracks, where no had
been on duty for year as Second Lieu.
tenant, and have chat, q cigar and q
glass OF wine with tho officers before lesy.
ing for homo. Bauling wood ten miles at
four dollars y cord was not very remuner.
alive, but it was Captain Grants only way
Of making money.
His fiat crops were corn, wheat, pota-
toes, and u few garden vegetables. Ho
raised 200 bushels Of potatoes to the acre,
and 1t was his boast that with bis
team be hauled seventy bushels Of
wheat, WHICH ho had lated, TO 81.
Louis, In one lpal. Wetrilg a pair Of
old blue ermy TROUSERS, tucked into high,
heavy boots, flannel Shirt an old tns
dress blue sack coat, with the military
buttons replaced by plain ones, and Z
slouChed hat, which turned up before and
down behind, be did not much Ieeemble
a gentleman farmer" The guests at the
Planters HouAe used to stare little when
lie was invited into dinner with old COM
radeS, toward whoa hlp hsaIt warmed al
ways. There are traditions that once Or
twice meeting officers with whom lie had
studied at West Point, or served In Mex.
iCo he sent his team home by the first
negro man whose services he could secure,
and then, with his old comrades made q
night Of II, ipdulgLns ia soavenirg Of
denny Hayen's OF
On ono occasion an officer who had
served with him visiting Ut. Louis, drove
out to See him, and found him In his
wheat field, in his shirt sleeves, leading
three other men who, like himself, were
swinging cradles. But the land was poor
and the crops did not prove remuneratiye.
10 aid him in supporting his family, he
undertook the collection OF accounts for
come Of hiG neiEhkors who had cold their
vegetables on credit to different parties in
the city, but ne was not suCCERsful In
dunning,
Among other anecdotes which ! heard
about General Grant while he was resid.
ing at "Hard.sCrabble," was ono about o
wood thief. He had ior soma time miEgel
wood from O pile which he had corded up
BY tho roRdsiue, and watching, be saw,
very early one morning, q nelghbor
drive up to y, load his wagon
and start for town. Mounting his
gray horse, Captain Grant soon overlook
him on tho road and cried nut, "Helo,
Bill Going to st. LeuiS with your wood ~
"Ye.eE." "What do you ask for w"
"About $4." "All right" said the captain,
an take 1t. Haul 1t back 10 my house."
Cant, This lOad's promised" "1here
is no uSs holding OF. 4oumust haul this
back to my house and pay mo 800 for
what you have taken before. This will be
only half price," III l DON'T" tsid Bill,
II suppose you will sue Inc before the
a aSaIS we'll Sts S Row FSsSIS ssi
Grant, and riding alongside hO grabbed
tho fellow by tie collar. This broughtGn
appeal for mercy. Bill hauled the wood
10 Grants house, but begged him 10 keeE
still. There was 10 more wood stolen
after That.
Suffering from o prolonged attack o.
fever and aRue, Captain Grant gave "
farming, and removed into st. Louis
where he entered into business IS q Iea
estate agent, and was candidate for thu
office Of county engineer. But" aB ht
Gays In hia memoirs, my opponent hat
tho advantage Of birth oyer me (he was {
citizen by adoption) and carried of The
priEe.N Captain Grant then went to Ga
lena, illinois, where he aided bic broth
ere, who were leather dealers, Until HI
entered the Union army In 1901, and bs
came colonel Of the Twenty.Hrst regimen
OF Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
After pegCO was declared, the viCtoriou
Generals affections returned TO his Mis-
souri, farm. He was It'll the polBessof o
"HAtd.SCfabble," and ho purchased BomI
A ak hundred aCres Of tho White Havef
farm on which hlB broIher.in.lRw, Ioul
Dent, had built a house and OhfiBteneC
the place "Wish.lon.wIsh,n the ludlst
name ul lub hulppVui'WuN AuVIuuI
this name for the estate, General Gran
erected d Commodious mansion In pleas
ant grove Of oaks, and made additions 4
tile barns, which we've sheltered by blRcl
iocusts Of large biEs. When the General
after he bad become PRECEDENT, visltet
Gilmofe'S musical jubilee Of Boston, Coy
efnor KlCe, who sat next him, deked hin
during the performance what he though
Oi The Immense building. II was evlden
lhSl The thoughts Of the soldier Pftsilen
wefs al Wlsh.ton.wlSh, for lie replied, ~
ihe posts could be cut down ten leOt ~
} The building put 0p OIL my farm In M!i
outl, sVhAt o splendid place 1t would b
train young horses 10 !" -
Gen. Grant placed Mh william Eliot
who married one Of HE Couhlne, In Chafg
Of the estate, aad he coon brought Ill
land up from the barren condition Int
which II had been oyeE.Ctopped, III