The morning call., 1891-10-12

There We're Many Jolly Times There
When the General Was Young.
Grants old log cabin wouldn't add any
thing to the beauty of the Worlds Fair
Grounds if they did bring it here. IT might
interest people, though, as one OF the curl
osities-this rough cabin home of one Ot
country's greatest Presidents"
Thus speaks D. C. Honsby, an old-time
ST. Louisan, who lived in the early days a
close neghbor TO Grant. the soldier-Presi-
dent, before he ever thought of being a SOL
dier-President; in the days, in fact, when
Grant was a careless, reckless, happygO-
lucky COuutryman, with none OF the marks
Of greatness yet apparent.
Yes, sir the Grant cabin was the center
OF a vast amount of interest when Grant
was in it," continues Mr.. HOrnsby, but
whether il would be so here or not no one
can tell 1t " as lively place when Grant
first lived in it. way back in 81. This was
the year he built it, ltnever did amount to
much. 1t is nothing but little one-story
log house, with two rooms and the Tpguld-
tian fireplace and other attachments. Never
was much 10 lock at But there was plenty
Of good fun when Grant was there.
The old place IS only about nine miles
out from 81. Louis on the GraVois River, or
rather mere creek, which runs through the
Dent Farm. The Dent farmhouse Is 10
4
side Of jhe Grtyuls, and the cabin was over
on a lit e hill west Of the river. Grant
moved into It shortly after his marriage %
one of Colonel Dents daughters at their
city home in 81. Louis. He lived there
three or lour years, working around as he
pleased on the farm, and from there went
straight up to q upna, l think, and went
into business. But the old settlers around
that section who are yet alive well remem-
Der the times when Grant was among
them, and he remembered them, too,
TO his last days as among the
happiest OF his life. Grant always had
great love for that place. While he was
President he fixed up the Old Dent farm in
fine condition and used 10 take some pride
in having the stock exhibited at the st.
Louis Fair.
Just how Grant happened to go to that
part of the country, never knew for GER
tain" continued Mr.. HOrnshy. He had lust
been in the army out in California aud left for
some reason or other, One Of the Dent
brothers was Sutlrr in the army at that
time and that may have had something to do
with It, Any way, he sort OF wandered In
there and lived on the Dent farm almost as
one OF the family aud married one Of the
girls. Then they built this log cabin and
moved over to it. There wasn't much work
for each to do in those times. The Dents had
plenty of help and Grant aud the boys used
TO Work about when they wanted to.
l was fixed about the same way. l
had just finished going to school and lived
with two brothers about two miles from
Grants, along the Gravois road. None of
us had so much to do that we couldn't go
hunting and fishing just when we wanted
TO 60, and Grant was always ready. Many
a time we had ridden up to Grants house at
night on a coon hunt and whistled him out
of bed. We'd cry and halloo until Grant
would poke his head out of the window aud
shout, Hello, boys, that you% We'd
answer back, Hello, Grant; come on out
out in a jffy. Then, after we had Tagged
our game, he would invariably say; Come
up to the house, boys. I've got something
mighty good UP there. Come up and take a
nip. We used to 90 up there and get some
of his mighty good and then all go out on
the chase together, or separate and 90
home "-Chcago Post.