The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-12
GENERAL GRANTS MOTHER.
She Was q Woman of Great Self-C0n.
troll and Character.
Philadelphia Record.

Pnlla0elpnld ReCoTu.
It is a commonplace of history that great
men have had mothers able 10 transmit
some measure of strength OF character. or
keen i%ntellect 10 the son, The case OF Gen.
Grant is no exception TO the rule. his
mother, Hannah Simpson, seems TO nave
been a woman of remarkable seh-control
and character. Friends OF the parents were
wont to observe that Ulysses got his ret
icence. his patience. his equab!e temper.
from his mother" others declared that from
her he derived his sense and me- ner ob "
steadiness and strength of character nave
been the stay OF the family through ire
It was noticeable that In the primlti'e Sona
Grant was born, his mother never com
planned OF any hardship or toll or depres-
sion. Her son once remarked that ne never
saw her shed a tear in his life. She never
boosted. but she was extremely proud OF ner
ancestry. and of her family history.
1t is interesting 10 recall that the mother
Of General Grant was a P~ennsylvanian. be-
ing born at Whitemarsh, in 1928. Her early
home. a stone house with wooden aonlti9ns.
is still standing in Montgomery county: Inc
property came into the Simpson family In
i7e3. when Grant's g~reat-grandfatner pur-
chased a farm of iSi acres Win 4 pam as
ing since added. So the generai came OF
good Pennsylvania ancestry on one sioe OF
the house. the other being Connecticut foik
who had fought through the revolutionary
The foremost general of his times grew up
a happy and peaceful boy. There Is little
record of his lighting, and he was a great
favorite with the girls because or MS genue-
ness. We are told that Grant as a boy never
leased children younger than himseif nor
tortured animals: 'he was the most unmii-
tary of boys in a military age" having small
love for guns, and could not bear 10 see
things killed.
These traits, due, no doubt. to maternal in-
fuelce, stayed with the great soldier 10 the
end. There is a reflection OF IL In that para
mattox. where. owing to the conquerors
kindly foresight. the victors reinquisned
claim on the horses of the Confederate cav
alrymeE as being private property. so tnat
the conquered could ride their horses pack
to their farms and use them for the spring
Jesse Grant. father of the future general.
had a confirmed belief that his boy Wasa
child of destiny. A phrenologist mao pre-
dicted a distinguished future for the oule'
bow. OF which the villagers MADE mock.
made great sacrifices TO give the poy'
Ulysses. an education. The story OF nls nne'
with its clouds Of disbursement ana az.
parent failure, and subsequent success ano
glory. Is one that We would not "hnI
miss from the pages of history.
Grants mother was not present AT ~
auguratIon at Washington. and never Went
10 the capital while her son was fresloeht
There IS a story told that a visitor caHea on
her at her home. at Covington. ny. aDyue
the time of Grants inauguration 10 tne
nresidency. The visitor asked II Mrs Grant
wasn't feeling proud OF her sons success
and then N she wouldn't like TO go TO Wash
,ngton The mother Of Grant looked al her
loouacious guest as IL she had nor nedro ne
personal question. and murmureo sofhe AS
audible omment not replying directly.