Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-24

ticular regarding the little amenities of life,
not only for himself but for his children,
! with whom he was very exacting regarding
their manners in his presence.
Grant was very fond of horse, and
greatly enjoyed driving Soon after he
came to Galena. the store purchased, at
riage, in addition to q general purpose
horse already on hand. The team was to
| be used in common. but on account Of his
knowledge Of horses. he was commissioned
| them. He purchased, through his friend.
| Col Brady. q handsome pair Of black
| Canadian horses that proved highly salts
factory. One Of the horses was named
Brady out Of compliment to the colonel.
| Grant, of course. used this team at will,
| and derived much pleasure from them
animals eventually died on our hands, and
the other was sold by me to Mr.. Frank
Hatch Of La Crosse. Wis.
| The only other pastime I knew Grant
| to indulge in at Galena was an occasional
| swim in the Fever river. usually accom-
panied him, and on one occasion we took
| our older boys with us. Col. Fred Grant
was then a lad Of eleven or twelve years.
| AS soon as we boarded small raft made
| fast to the shore, Fred remarked that he
could swim, and eagerly began to disrobe.
Grant eyed him closely. and when he was
| free of his garments picked him up quickly
! and with all his strength threw him out
| into deep water. Fred disappeared from
| view, but came up like duck, and struck
| out for the raft. where Grant, laughing
| heartily, stood ready to assist him If neces-
sary. This incident illustrates Grants
| characteristic method of teaching his boys
| self-reliance. Three years later Fred ac-
companied his father through the Vicks-
| burg campaign with the courage Of vet
eran.
His Friends.
Grant attended the Beach Street NJ. f.
| Church at Galena, and contributed to It's
| support, although not a member of the
| church. He naturally became quite well
known to the members of the congregation,
| but aside from these, his immediate neigh
| bors. and a few prominent business men
| with whom he came in contact on account
of his intimate connection with we'll
| known mercantile establishment, he made
| few acquaintance during his short stay in
Galena. His acquaintanceS however, ware
| desirable, and were doubtless as numerous
| as any other man of culture and natural
| reserve would have acquired in the same
| length of time. STILL in the sense of being
| well known to Galenians at large Grant
was obscure. At this period Grant was a
| square-shouldered, spare-built man. with
| a very perceptible stoop, caused, as he said,
| by the Mexican campaign, followed by
! hard work on the st. Louis farm. He was
| 8 feet inches in height when he straight
| ened up, and weighed about 40 pounds.
| There was nothing in his personal appear
| ance as he quietly walked to and from the
| store that would have particularly attract
| ed the notice of casual observer. His
| appearance became somewhat more con-
spicuous. however, during the last few
| winter months Of his residence, as he af-
| fectionately chung to his old military over
| coat, which unquestionably marked him an
| army officer.
| Among Grants acquaintances was John
A. RawliDs, a rising young lawyer after
ward chief of Grants staff and Secretary
| of War w. r. Rowley. then a prominent
| county official, afterward a general and
member of Grants staff; John E. Smith. a
| jeweler afterward colonel of the 45th Illi-
| nois and a major general of volunteers,
| and A. L. Chetlain, then a crockery mer-
| chant. afterward a brevet major general
| of volunteers.
To Defend His Country.
| After Sumter was fired upon and the Ga
| lena war meeting was held, Grant practi-
| cally severed his connection with the store
having fully decided to assist in the de-
| tense of the Union in some military capac-
| ity. Up to the time of his departure for
| Springfield as the chaperone of the 10 Da-
viess Guards his assistance was in constant
| demand. and the leather store became
headquarters for discussion and prepara-
ton preliminary to the departure of our
| noble guards for the front
When Grant received his appointment as
colonel of the 21st Illinois Regiment a COM
plete military outfit was a necessity. A
list of the individuals who have claimed to
assist him in his first horse, saddle and
1
be interesting. His first horse Row
dy,' a trim bay animal, used at the leather
store for general purposes. In addition to
| his other qualifications, "Rowdy" was well
gated to saddle. "Rowdy's' first war sad
| die and bride were made by c. r. Perkins
Galena saddler. Perkins was q regular
| customer of the leather store. and his work
| was credited to his account The 800 or
500 necessary to complete his outfit Grant
borrowed from one of the Galena banks
On the Endorsement of E. A. Collins, his
| fathers former business partner, who was
still resident Of GaIena, and a great
| friend of Ulysses The money would have
been cheerfully furnished by the leather
store, but Grant was independent, and pre-
| ferred to relieve the store by getting the
accommodation in the manner mentioned
| The writer took up the note with money
| sent him by Grant for that purpose Even
| Grants indorser, an immense admirer of
! Grant, who rejoiced in his success, was
| fond of relating in public manner how
| he had assisted Grant to make start by
| furnishing him his first outfit 1t should
| be said in justice to the old gentleman that
| he simply desired to impress the public
! with his close relation to Grant and had
| no thought whatever of injuring him by
making such an unqualified statement
| From the time he received his appoint
ment as colonel to the time of his death
Grants life is an open book, read of ali