Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-31
GRANTS PARENTS AT HOME
Recolleotions of a Visit to the Aged Couple
Made Twenty-Four Years Ago.
SIMPLE HABlTATIoN IN CONVICTION, KY.
Interest Manifested by Jesse Grant
and His Wife In Campaign of ~
Burdened with Bogus Relatives
--UnDretentious Surroundings.

The following account of a visit to the
home of the parents of General Grant in
Covington, KY, is taken from the files of The
Bee of 1872:
Editorial Correspondence Of The Bee.)
CINCINNATI, O., June "a, 1S72.-It was
near 6 O'Clock in the evening when we landed
at the south end Of the suspension bridge.
After sauntering at random for about fifteen
minutes through dilapidated streets, with
their dingy looking houses, inhabited chiefly
by a shiftless cololed population. / sud-
denly turned a corner occupied by an old
fashioned two-story brick building. Over
the door OF this ungainly structure l read in
legible characters on a plan sign the magic
words, ''Pcstofice." Words which in Cow
peculiar Significance. Like a fash of light
ming the thought fitted across my mind that
this was the veritable postofice presided over
since the days of Andrew Johnson by the
venerable father of the president. l entered
the building and quietly inquired of the
! gentlemenly clerk whether / could see the
| postmaster. mo" said he, the old gentle
man was here once today. but has gone home.
He is quite slckly of late and don't come
around here very often"
Determined to interview Father Jesse be-
fore returning to Omaha. ! followed up my
inquiries until l found myself in front of the
mansion. No such a palatial mansion, how
| ever. as has been painted by the distorted
visions OF Dana and Sumner. but a plain.
tWo-stOry brick, painted In rose color, with
green blinds, The building is located on a
very limited lot. with the only luxury of a
modest little garden in the rear. The
residence is a double house, occupied by two
families. The plate on the frst front door
reads very plainly: y. A. Grant" The
name on the other door plate / happened to
overlook. l rang the bell with a firm hand
and the door was promptly opened by an
elderly lady, dressed In plain dark merino
or ALPACA, whom | afterward learned was the
mother of the president of the United States.
To my inquiry after Mr.. Jesse Grant. the
lady replied by directing me through
the hall to the dining room,
where she said the old gentleman
had gone a few minutes before. / entered
the dining room and there was met by a boy
about ~ years old who told me that his
grandpa was up stairs, and promptly volun-
teered TO call him down. Being left alone
in the dining room, / looked around in vain
for any sign of regal s~plendor. The floor was
covered with a common ingram carpet, well
worn. The table was set for tea. 1t was
covered with a scrupulously clean white
cloth, and the dishes, china, knives and forks
were all Of a pattern which betokened econ
omy. A few unpretending pictures adorned
the paper covered walls. A very ancient
looking umbrella hung ON a nail in one cor
ner, and a very seedy looking stovepipe hat
was hanging on another. While quietly mus
Ing over the eXtravagant stories about the
wealth of the Covington postmaster, a rather
tall. but STOPPING old man came lettering
down stairs, supporting himself on a crutch
A tall. thin-faced lady, a sister Of the presi-
dent, came in from the kitchen and re-
quested me TO talk loud. as the old gentleman
was very hard Of hearing since he had been
stricken with paralysis. | looked up into his
face, which bore unmistakable and strong
resemblance to the president. The eyes OF
the old patriarch were protected by specta-
cles and his head was partly bald, but his
hair still retained some OF its original chest
nut color, He wore a suit Of dark blue cloth
cut rather loose, and In no way particularly
In consonance with present fashions. Hav-
Ing explained my mission, he asked me to be