The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-15

ease of the heart, which was aggravated
by a severe attack of bronchitis. Her
age prevented her rallying from the at
tacks. Her daughter, Nellie Grant Sar-
toris, was the only one of her children
with her at the time of her death, her
three sons, who had been summoned
here, all being out of the city.
Mrs. Grant was rs years of age
For several years after General
Grants death Mrs. Grant continued to
live in New York, in the house that was
owned by the general, and that was
saved by devoted friends from the fnan-
cial wreck that overlook the family in
the Grant & Aard failure There Mrs
Grant had iived in the center of society,
and vet not in 1t. She never had much
inclination for the formaliIies of fash
ionable social life and she felt less than
ever inclined that way after the death
of her husband. But her house was al
ways open to the friends of her happier
days, and General Grants old military
associates, as well as the public men
who were leaders with him during his
civil career, were always welcome there,
and for the old soldiers Mrs. Grant al
ways had a deep and abiding regard.
Mrs. Grant has had a life full of ro-
nance paralleled by that of few Ameri-
can women. As Miss Julia Dent, daugh-
ter of Frederick Dent granddaughter of
Captain George Dent, who led the for
lorn hope at Fort Montgomery, when
that fortress was stormed by Mad An
thony' Wayne, and a descendant of
Joshua Wrenshall, one of the early Eng
liSh settlers in this country she had
reason to be proud of her family. AT
the age of IS she returned from board
ing school to her fathers home in St.
Louis, where she was soon after en-
gagged to Lieutenant Grant, then of the
Fourth infantry.
They were married in 1S4S. From this
humble beginning Mrs. Grant lived to
become the first lady of the land and
to have honors and riches Showered up
on her. She was in the best sense the
companion as well as the wife OF Cen
eral Grant. All during the war she was
near to him whenever the exigencies of
service would permit her to share his
privations. Her life in the White House
was altogether enjoyable and she ac-
companied General Grant on his famous
journey around the world. AS she said
herself: Having learned lesson from
my predecessor, Penelope, L accompani-
ed my Ulysses in his wanderings around
the world"
Mrs. Grant was a wealthy woman.
Patriotic friends of the general gave the
family presents of value besides the
New York home; she had a pension of
s., 600 a year from the government. and
the proceeds from the sale of her hus-
bands memoirs have been nearly half a
million dollars. Besides the New York
home, Mrs Grant owned residences in
summer cottages at Bar Harbor and in
Canada.
The sarcophagus which is to contain
the body of Mrs. Grant has been placed
beside the receptacle that holds the
corpse of General Grant in the tomb in
Riverside park. Both were cut from the
quarries at Montello. Wis. When the
big granite block to hold the body of
General Grant was finished a similar
sarcophagus was being hewn for the
widow A pedestal to support the twin
sarcophagi was erected in the tomb. Its
height is about seven feet and a half
above the floor of the crypt. 1t is ten
feet and ten inches in length and
breadth Each sarcophagus weighs
about eight TONS All of the exposed
faces are highly polished. The color is
dark red variegated in spots. On the
sarcophagus intended for Mrs. Grant
there is the name in bronze. Julia D.
Grant" The sarcophagus of the great
Union general merely has his name, "U.
S. Grant"