Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-05

Architect, Builder, SOldier-Prominent
Citizen of the District for Years.
PERIENCEs AS A PRISONER OF wAR-HIs QUIET
END.

PERIENCEs AS 4 PRISONER OF wAR-HIs QUIET
END.
This morning at o'clock Capt. Albert Grant,
the well-known architect and builder, died at
his residence, No. 22S A street southeast. Capt.
Grant had a somewhat remarkable career. He
was born at Frankfort, Me-, on November II.
1920, received a common school education, and
learned the business of carpenter, and after
ward became an architect. His father dying
when he was but fifteen years old the care of
the family devolved to a great extent upon
him, and before he was of age he was taking
contracts and erecting buildings in his native
town. Shortly after attaining his majority he
went to Lawrence. Mass, and was there the
superintendent of the erection and equipment
OF the Bay State cotton mills. He was one of
hour system and 10 encourage the mechanics
to organize-in fact, i. may be said that he was
pioneer of the trades-union movement, and
was also prominent in the anti-slavery cause.
He was extensively engaged in the erection of
churches and public and private buildings for
some years. In 1852, having married at Law
renee, he left for the west. and was soon en-
gagged in building operations at Rock Island,
ILL.,, and Davenport Iowa. In 1857 Milwaukee,
Wis.,, attracted him to that place, and he set
tied there and erected large rows of dwellings.
AS SOLDIER AND PRISONER OF WAR.
He was thus engaged when the war
came on, and early in the spring, anticipating
trouble at the Inauguration Of President Lin
coin, he organized company of the leading
merchants and brokers of Milwaukee. This
company was rendered to Mr.. Lincoln as a
body guard, but did not SO act. The organiza-
tion. however, was kept up for some months,
and IL had the ranufQfinn nf fnrnisbinO -
entire membership as officers of regiments and
companies which entered the service of the
government. Capt. Grant was instrumental in
recruiting an Indianapolis regiment, which
afterward became the nineteenth Wisconsin,
and he could have had the lieutenant-colonelcy
under Col Saunders, but declined, preferring
to remain captain of his company. This regi-
ment was attached to the army of the Potomac
and the army of the James.
Capt. Grant was captured before Petersburg,
June 49, 1864, with Capt. Schovley and Lieut..
d. A. Lewly. Of the second PENNSYLVANIA heavy
artillery. He and others were sent to Libby
prison, then to Danville, and then to. Salisbury.
He escaped with other prisoners while they
we're being taken further south, but was re-
captured near Graniteville, s. c. He was then
sent to Savannah, Ga. and kept in an under
ground dungeon for fifteen days. October G..
a train of cars containing prisoners, and. after
wading through swamps in South Carolina and
traversing the mountains of North Carolina and
Tennessee for ffty-four days; reached Knox
vile, having travelled over LOCO miles.
IN THIS CITY.
At the close of the war he settled in this city
and actively engaged in building operations
The rows of dwellings on East Capitol and A
streets south, between I'd and Sd streets. stand
as monuments to his skill. He was one of the
most active ex-soldiers in organizing the Grand
Army of the Republic, having been the first
commander of J. A. Rawlins post, No. 1. He
erected the building for the National or
phans asylum in 1866. and organized and COM
manded the Boys in Blue here. He was offered
shortly after the war the position of supervis-
ing architect Of the Treasury, but declined it,
prefering to do business on his own account,
He erected the buildings at Schuykill arsenal,
Philadelphia, and rebuilt some of the buildings
of the Norfolk navy-yard. The experience he
had during the war affected his health and left
a wreck of what he once WAS. He, however,
managed to keep about till about eighteen
months ago, when he was attacked with paraly-
sis and loss Of sight, and since then has kept to
his bed, but several hours day has kept q
stenographer busy writing up his remarkable
experiences as prisoner OF war. He died
peacefully and calmly, in fact was asleep when
dissolution came. He leaves four children
walter and F. A. Grant and two danghters). all
grown. His funeral win take place Monday
~