The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-15
story of Her Life with the Grent Conn
mander and President LIZ Came
from Her Own Lips.
OTHER DEATHS OF THE DAY
MAI. ALEXANDER SHAW, DISTIN.
GUISHED BALTIMORE RESIDENT.
He Was n Finnncier and PhiIanthro-
pist-The Rev. Edward Hannin,
Well-Known Toledo Priest.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1f-Mrs. Ulysses s.
Grant, widow. of the late President Grant,
died at her residence in this city az n:l7
o'clock tonight Death was due 10 heart
failure. Mrs. Grant having suffered for
some years from valvular disease of the
heart. which was aggravated by a severe
attack of bronchitis. Her age prevented
her rallying fromsthe attack. Her daugh-
ter. Nellie Grant Sartoris. was the only one
of her children with her at the time of her
death, her three sons. who had been sum-
moned here, all being out of the city.
There also were present at the bedside
when the end came Miss Rosemary Sar-
toris, granddaughter; DR.. Bishop, one of
the attending physicians. and the two
trained nurses. Death came peacefully. the
sufferer retaining almost complete con-
sciousness, practically to the end. Word
has come from Jesse and Ulysses S. Grant,
two of the sons now in California. that they
have started on their way to Washington.
The other son, Gen. Fred Grant. is in
Texas. and he will hasten here as soon as
he receives message telling him of his
mothers death.
The body of Mrs. Grant will be deposited
where those of her husband now repose.
Whether they will be taken there imme-
diately or this ceremony will be postponed
for time could not be ascertained at the
house tonight.
Julia Dent was born in st. LaSis on Feb.
16, 1896. the daughter Of Frederick and mon
Bray Wrenshall Dent. She married Lieut..
U. S. Grant Aug. p. 1s4a After his
death Congress passed a bill giving her a
pension of 5000
In the early history of Missouri Mrs.
Grants father, Judge Dent, occupied a
prominent place in political and social cir
cles. Her brother was classmate of
Grants at West Point, and II was through
this fact that Julia. Dent became acquaint-
ed with the young lieutenant who after
wards became, first the commander-in-
chief of all the Union armies during the
civil war. and afterwards occupied the
White House
Mrs. Grants own story of her acquaint-
ance with and marriage to the general and
their life before and after the civil war
has been written. In II she said:
General Grant was my brothers chum
at West Point 1t was an odd coincidence
that after they graduated my brother was
sent TO distant post, while Lieutenant
Grant was stationed at Fort Jefferson, a
Louis. Several months later came ths
Mexican war and Lieutenant Grant went
away: Before he left for the front 1 had
promised to be his wife.
When the Mexican war closed Lieut.
Grant came back with laurels and a cap
taincy, and we We're married. Soon after
Captain Grant was ordered to a Western
post. and for several years we did frontier
duty.
Captain Grant, however, was a better
soldier in time of war than of peace. He
w hp nm in ha lob and - 49,
tie, but restless in the barracks. He re-
signed from the army and took planta-
ton in Missouri. and went to farming
That was the first real domestic life we
had experienced since our marriage.
My tenderest memories cluster round the
old farm. 1t was there our children were
born, and 1t was the first place the captain
and 1 had that we could call nome
when the civil war broke out Captain
Grant drilled a company and volunteered
his services. He could no more resist the
sound of fife or a. drum or a chance to
fire gun than woman can resist bonnets
His achievements I'm that war are an
old story, and any soldiers wife and chill
dren must suffer and fear and hope as we
did then. We did not waste our time in
useless wailing, however. We could not
go to war, but ours was the soldier spirit
and our hands were busy working for the
men at the front.
1T was some time before my husband
would consent TO my joining him, and then
with great eagerness took up life at his
comforts, the anxiety was so greatly les
sened, and who could think of luxuries with
cannons booming and bullets flying and the
strains of martial music swelling every
fiber with patriotism?
II shall never forget Vicksburg. IL IL as
vivid as IL IL were yesterday. ] not only see
it. like brilliant panorama, but there are
times when the whole scene recurs TO me SO
terribly that I almost hear IL again.
THAT was the generals greatest battle, ]
believe. But we were all thankful when II
rf.,., and fha Ind
shed ceased. j grieved for them all, the
blue and the gray for both col0rs covered
hearts that were loyal and loving: hearts
which, when they ceased to beat. threw
homes. whether Southern or Northern. into
deepest mourning.
"Then my captain was a general, and
was a generals wife.
when my general became his country's
President 1 was as proud of him as his
country was. My life at the White House
was like a bright and beautiful dream.
and we were immeasurably happy.
II suppose / might say that the quiet
tranquility of the farm and It's home as
sociations were sweeter To me than the
gayety and excitement OF the executive
mansion but IL wouldn't be true I 40 not
know what the general would select as the
happiest year of his life IL he were here
probably IL would be the field OF battle.
for he was a soldier first and all things
else after.
But | am a woman. and the life at the
White House was such that wish IL might
would have prevented others from enjoying
the same privilege" ~
Mr.. and Mrs Grant were married in 1913
Their first home was at Detroit. II was
while their home was I'm Detroit that their
first son. Frederick ID. Grant, was born.
Mrs Grant being on a visit to her parents
in St Louis at the time. Two years later
Ulysses, the second son, was born al Beth
el o. The other children born OF this union
are Nellie. the only daughter, and jesse
the former in August. 1855. the latter ir
1855 Both of these were born at their
grandfather Dents country home. near St
Louis the birthplace OF their mother.
During recent years. since Genera