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

1871 at my native town or Bethel, ClermOnt
county. Ohio. where he spent his first fur
Tough from West Point. his father having
removed to Bethel from: Georgetown, twelve
miles distant, some months previous.
1 again met him during the summer of
1913 at the same place, where he had gone
after his graduation as lieutenant to enjoy
his first leave of absence.
He made a strong impression on the VIII
lage boys, partially ON account of his mill
tary appearance, but principally because
he was polite and companionable with no
trace Of vanity. When on the street he
Was usually surrounded by a crowd of
listeners 10 whom he freely impaired in
formation regarding his West Point ex-
periences- He had the reputation even at
that time of being good talker-
There was an element in the village, how
ever, that literally turned up their noses
at the young West Pointer, and when one
Harrison Scott, village stable boy, carica-
trred Lieut. Grant by parading the streets
In cheap homemade Uniform. 1t tickled
them nightly. Such incivilties were really
aimed less at the genial. unoffendng lieu
tenant than at his offending father, who
was known to be very proud of him.
Jesse r. Grant, the father, was not a
popular man IN the village for reasons that
are entirely to his credit, as his enemies
were almost entirely composed of his po-
Iitical opponents, and small-minded neigh
bors who were filled with jealousy and en-
w on account of his material prosperity
ne "dS an uncomprOmiSlng antt-Slayery
wing, a strong temperance advocate, the
richest man in town, owned piano, wore
gold-bowed spectacles and sent his children
TO college These were offenses that could
rot be forgiven by many of the Bethel folk
once heard well-known citizen of Bethel
say that whenever he met j. r. Grant he
felt like knocking his gold spectacles into
the gutter, and he made suggestive mo-
tion that indicated that if he could land
Grant In the gutter with his spectacles II
would suit MIN so much the better. But
even the enemies of Jesse r. Grant were
competed TO admiration of his strong char
ecter and hne natural abilities. He was a
good writer, an excellent debater and one
OF the best informed men in Clermont
county.
In the Army.
do not remember to have seen Lieut.
Grant at Bethel again during the following
eleven years, which comprised his first
service in the regular army except on the
occasion of home visit with his young
bride in 1sis. He very cordially renewed
Old acqIaintances, and entertained them
by the hour with graphic accounts of his
experiences during the Mexican war. a war
when ne al that time and ever after con-
sidered unjust and unhoIy
Grant was very much Interested in tho
1ieAicaHs, and atout this time sent to
Bethe' young Mexican who went by the
Fathers family He was a bright little
ehap, and was much liked by The Bethel
boys He was an expert with the Iasso.
arc practiced on everything that hove in
old mare.
heard of Grant very frequently during
the period of his regular army life through
ms bethei relatives. with whom / was on
terms OF intimacy. The family. especially
the rather. took great interest in his mill
tary career. and were highly pleased viii n
MS meritorious services and promotion dur
Ing the Mexican war. 1t should be said
however, Tor the NJ
one OF GRANTS strong characteristics that
most or the family frequently expressed
.ns opiiloh mat ne was careless with his
saiaFy ana ought to be saving money
Grant says in his memoirs that the in
adequacy OF his pay as an army officer led
MN TO resign from the army in 1854 The
Elk years following his resignation were
spent in St Louis and vicinity. first on
farm owned by Mrs. Grant and partially
equipped by Grants father, and afterward
as a real estate agent
Captain Grant and family removed from
81 Louis and became residents of Galena
IN May, 1860 where he took a position in
MS fathers leather store On April q
1881 he accom- panied the 10 Daviess Guards
10 Springfield The intervening period OF
little less than year measures the
Iength OF MS actual residence in Galena.
afhough his family remained for some
months lorger. Jesse X. Grant had re-
moved from Bethel. Ohio, to Coytnpton
KY, In 1854. where he personally conducted
leather store. He was also largely in
terested In a leather and shoe and harness
findings business at Galena during the ten
years preceding the civil war, first under
the firm rame of Grant * Collins whom
ne succeeded in 1854 The Galena and Cow
Mgton stores were valuable auxiliaries to
MS OHIO tanning interests. When he pur-
CHASED the Collins interest he placed his
eldest son. Samuel Simpson Grant, IN
charge OF the business. Simpson as he
was Familiarity called. was a man of high
character and fine business ability and the
business prcspered under his MANAGEMENT
In the spring of 1856 I was sent to the
Calena store to take charge of the Office
had married cousin of the Grant bows
ana Simpson, who was bachelor, made
his home with me much of the time pre.
vious to the arrival OF his younger brother
orville, In the spring of 1859 / cannot
pass without saying that Simpson Gran,
possessed as many manly qualities az any
man i have ever known. He died a victim
OF consumption. in the fall of 1861, and was
buried from the residence of General Grant
Grant in Business.
Owing to Simpsons protracted iI-health
the conduct Of the business very largely
cewolved ups. o1ville and me- and Can.
tain Grant ~ . welcome addition to tbS