Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-15
STEPHEN 4. DOUGLAS SISTER.
sbe IL Postmistress at Clifton Springs .
the Age Of S@yenty-eight.

She IL Postmistress at Clifton Springs At
the Age Of Seventy-eight.
Mrs Sarah A. Granger was appointed
postmistress at Clifton Springs by President
Cleveland Thuse not already aware of the
fact may be interested to learn that Mrs
Granger is the sister Of stephen A. Douglas
She first appointed to the office which
she now holds by President Arthur. during
the latter part Of his term She has deputy
In the person Of Eugene Hoyt, her grand
son. a capable and popular young man, with
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 a 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 knotsl
edge Of his 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 a candidate
for president.
The cariratures in the Republican papers
at that time worried mother terribly" she
said, and made me very angry One pict
ure, In which mother represented a
washerwuuinn ut work over the tub, grievei
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 >"
MIS- Granger then related incidents con-
nected with the visit Neutrality-suspicious. 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 go 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 | am going TO
say God will put words into my mouth
when am ready to talk" The vast crowd
that heard Douglas speak that day laughed
and cheered with tremendous enthusiasm
when he said. AT last | have found my
mother, and thank God. the good old lady is
alive and well" In September. 1885. Mrs
Granger visited her native place at Brandon.
Vt, scarcely expecting to find person living
who would know her But an old srhooimas
ter at the age Of % years remembered her,
OF her old schoolnates she found six, and tho
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 aichanged
and many other old landmarks recalled vivid
ly to her mind the scenes Of her childhood
1t was here that Stephen A. Douglas, at the
age of II years, proved himself a horn orator
-.4.I-
tended the meetings of a debating society. in
which an overbearing aud pampous dispu-
tant named conant usually bad things his
own way Finally one night the boy Douglas
asked permission Of the society, president to
reply to Conant's remarks at future meet
ing The request was granted, and at the
next meeting, after hearing what Conant
had to say. young Douglas arose, and To the
establishment and delight Of all in the room
excepting Conant, who was not deight.-h,
replied in manner that not only silenced
Conant, but 50 exasperatei him that he with.
drew from the ssciety
In $50 the family removed to Clifton
Springs +, The place which they made their
home is Z hated about mile west of the vii
lase Ii Is known as the Granger homestead
and is still the property OF Mrs Granger
Young Douglas WIS sent to Canaudaigua
academy, ten miles distant He studied there
three years
Ms Changers husband, Julius n Granger,
died few years ago, having been for thirty
tive years in the service Of the government a,
Washington. Among his neighbors at Cliff
ton Springs he was held in high esteem He
WIS justice of the peace for eighteen years.
His acquaintance among the statesmen of his
time WAS very wide, aud he numbered among
his friends many Of the most eminent men
who have left their impress upon the legisla-
ton of the country Springs On. "
Cor. New York World