Wichita eagle., 1889-06-13
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS SISTER.

Mrs Sarah A. Granger was appointed
postmistress ct Clifton Springs by President
Cleveland. Those not already aware Of the
fact may be interested to learn that Mrs
Granger is the sister Of Stephen A. Douglas
She was first appointed to the Office which
she now holds by President Arthur, during
the latter part of bis term. She has a deputy
in the person of Eugene F. Hoyt, her grand
whom she resides. Mrs. Granger, now In her
seventy-eighth year, appears much younger.
She Is universally esteemed for many excel
lent qualities OF mind and heart, possessing
not few of the traits which distinguished her
brother, and resembling him closely in form
and feature.
Mrs Granger is justly proud Of her broth
er's memory, and from her intimate knowl-
edge of bis history from childhood and her
personal interest in his career she is enabled
to speak more accurately Of many events in
which he figured than any other person lv-
ing. She laughed heartily when The World
correspondent referred to Douglas famous
visit to his mother while he was candidate
for president.
THE caricatures in the Republican papers
at that time worried mother terribly" she
said, land made me very angry. One pict-
ure, in which mother was represented as
washerwoman at work over the tub, grieved
her very much, and everything saw in the
papers against my brother made me fairly
frantic with rage. Brother Steve used to
laugh and say, You won't mind such things
after you've seen as much of them as have. u"
Mrs. Granger then related incidents con-
nected with the visit mentioned-how her
brother went down to the little gate before
the house and waved his white felt hat to the
immense delegations from surrounding towns,
who halted in turn and cheered for the Little
Giant Of Illinois; how her mother could not
be induced to 60 to the village and hear
Stephens speech that day; how she asked her
brother what he was going to say, and he re-
piled: II never know what I am going to
say. God win put words into my mouth
when am ready to talk" The vast crowd
that heard Douglas speak that day laughed
aud cheered with tremendous enthusiasm
when he said: cat last I have found my
mother, and, thank God, the good old lady Is
alive and we'll" In September, 1885, Mrs
Granger visited her native place at Brandon,
Vt, scarcely expecting to find a person living
who would know her. But an old schoolmas-
ter at the age Of 90 years remembered her.
OF her old schoolmates she found Gx, and the
clergyman who married her came sixteen
miles to pay her visit. She was royalty en-
tertained The academy where she and her
brother attended school remained unchanged,
and many other old landmarks recalled vivid
" to her mind the scenes Of her childhood
1t was here that Stephen A Douglas, at the
age Of II years, proved himself born orator
In company with his mother and sister be at
tended the meetings Of debating society, in
which an overbearing and po1npous dispu-
tant named Conant usually had things his
own way. Finally one night the boy Douglas
asked permission Of the societyS president to
reply to Commits remarks at future meet
ing. The request was granted, and at the
next meeting, after bearing what Conant
had to say young Douglas arose. and to the
establishment and delight Of all IN the room
excepting Conant, who was not delighted,
replied in q manner that not only silenced
Conant, but 80 exaggerated him that he with
drew from the society.
In 1880 the family removed to Clifton
Springs The place which they made their
home is situated about mile west OF the VII
lase. 1t is known as the Granger homestead,
and is still the property Of Mrs Granger.
Young Douglas was sent to Canandaigua
academy, ten miles distant Ee studied there
three years
Mrs Changers husband, Julius Y. Granger,
died few years ago, having been for thirty
two years IN the service Of the government at
Washington Among his ne.ghbors at Gift
ton Springs be was held In high esteem Ee
was a justice Of the peace for eighteen years
Ills acquaintance auaOos the statesmen Of bis
time was very wide, and be numbered among
his friends many Of the most eminent zen
who have left their impress upon the lsg.sla-
ton OF the oounuy.-Chtson Springs q. "
Cor. New York World