The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-02
By NJ. T. BURKE.

tCOpyfIgnt, 1886, -. - MCOtuIe ~
The principal consideration which
leads me to give my recollections OF
General Grant to the public is the belle,
that they may serve to correct any err
roneous impressions current in tbs
minds of the people regarding the char
acter and reputation Of General Grant
and his family previous to the civil war
The fact that [ am the only survivor
Of the few men who were associated
with Grant in the old Galena leather
store, made famous by his connection
with it, is perhaps another reason why
1 should record my knowledge
of Grants Galena life in particular be-
fore it is TOO late.
l first met Grant during the summer
of 1S41 at my native town of Bethel,
Clermont county, O., where he spent
his first furlough from West Point, his
father having removed to Bethel from
Georgetown, u miles distant, Soms
months previous.
1 again met him during the summer
of 1S43 at the same place. where he had
gone after his graduation as liuetenant
to enjoy his first leave of absence.
He made a strong impression on the
village boys, partially on account of his
military appearance, but principally
because he was polite and companion
able with no trace of vanity. When on
the street he was usually surrounded
by crowd of listeners to whom he
freely impaired information regarding
his West Point experiences. He had
the reputation even at that time of be-
ing a good talker.
There was an element in the village
however, that literally turned up their
noses at the young West Pointer, and
when one Harrison Scott, a village
stable boy, carTicatured Lieutenant
Grant by parading the streets in a
cheap homemade uniform, it tickled
them nightly. Such incivilities were
really aimed less at the genial, unof-
Tending lieutenant 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 political opponents, and small
minded neighbors who were filled with
jealousy and envy on account of his
material prosperity. He was an I'M
compromising anti-slaVery Wing. a
strong temperance advocate, the rich
est man in town, owned a piano. wore
gold bowed spectacles and sent his
children to college. I once heard a
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 a suggestive
motion that indicated that if he could
land Grant in the gutter with his spec
tacles il would suit him so much the
better. But even the enemies of Jesse
r. Grant We're compelled to admiration
of his strong character and fine natural
abilities. He was a good writer an ex-
cellent debater and one of the best in
formed men in Clermont county.
do not remember to have seen Lieu
tenant Grant in Bethel again during
the following II years. which comprised
mis- first service in the regular army,
except On the occasion of a home visit
with his young bride in 1S4S He very
cordially renewed old acquaintance,
and entertained them by the hour with
graphic accounts of his experiences
during the Mexican war, a war which
he at that time and ever after con-
sidered unjust and unholv.
Grant was very much interested in
the Mexicans and about this time sent
to Bethel a young Mexican who went
by the name of Gregory. for general
service IN his fathers family. He was
a bright little chap, and was much
liked bv the Bethel boys. He was an
expert with the lasso. and practiced
Blake's gray gander TO Morris old
mare.
heard of Grant very frequently dur
ing the period of his regular army life
through his Bethel relatives, with
whom I was on terms of intimacy. The
family. especially the father, took great
interest in his military career. and
were highly pleased with his meritori-
Gus services and promotion during the
Gcxican war. It should he said, how
ever, for the purpose of emphasizing
one &C Grants strong characteristics, !
that most of the family frequently ex-
pressed the opinion that he was care
less with his salary, and ought to be
saving money.
Grant sa--s in his memoirs that the
inadequacy Of his pay as an army Of
hcer led him to resign from the army in
1854. The six years following his resig- |
nation were spent in St. Louis and vi /
entity. first on a farm owned by Mrs. /
Grant and partially equipped by Grant, !