New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-29
GRANTS LIFE IN GALENA.
An Old Associate in the Leather Store Re-
calls Some of His Business characteristics.
From Ths Milwaukea Sentinel.

From The Milwaukee Sentinel
Martin T. Burke for many years a business man
OF La Crosse. Wis, was by marriage q cousin OF
General Grant and is the only survivor Of the few
statesman in the famous old leather store at Ga
lena with his family in May 1880" said Mr.. Burke
leather store When Captan r rs wan
10 Galena to take position in the leather store
self were running It. but owing to Simpsons III
health the conduct OF the business had for SONS
Captain Grant was Welcome addition 10 the store
IGGGe X mas been said that CAPTAIN Grant ooou
did not draw enough salary to enable him live
fact OF the matter His position in the store
precisely that of his brothers. Like them. he lived
was of general nature He waited on customers
filed orders. packed goods. weighed in hides and
also occasionally drove out into the country TO
Tn nearly every town in Southern Wisconsin,
Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota we had a
ers during the eleven months he was connected
with the store. In the winter Of 1S6O-'61 the rate
distrust Of western and Southern banks V TO AVOID
such charge against our Eastern remittances We
bought pork on the market and shipped IT TO Gin
cent account OF the high standing OF the Ohio
banks To Captain Grant was assigned the duty
much preferred 10 the ordinary work in the store
During the time he was in the store Captain Grant
exhibited many excellent business qualifications
lie was prompt and systematic. close observer OF
business CONDITIONS and good Judge of their prob
able results Had he continued to direct his great
natural abilities along business lines he doubtless
sense OF honor himself he was inclined 10 trust
others. and often found II difficult refuse credit
told him the case dubious a experiences
$500, e'eI 80. 10 Iee9y ms ElEtuous iau!t
when Fort Sumter fred upon. But must say
for the sake Of truth that he never was a tanner
yond driving n horse around his fathers horse
Worked daY IN tannery Gn in s 0G e e hs
high sense OF the honor and dignity Of the trades
trade ana never had any desire to learn it. With
close OF the war OF a house which the citizens Of
Galena presented to him, Grants Galena home
excellent neghborhood on the brow Of hin over
looking the Princlpa! streets Of the town.
most excellent en-, and devoted husband and father
courtesy. and few men loved their hresides more
than Grant loved his humble one. He rarely went
HIS home in the companionship OF his wife and his
children. The only pastime I knew Grant to in
swim in the Galena River l usually accompanie
MIN. ana on one occasion we took our older boys
the shore. Fred Grant, who then but small
began to dsrobe. Grant eyed him SHARPLY and
when he got his clothes off picked him up Quickly
came up like duck and struck our for nv r n9'
where Grant laughing heartily. stood ready 10 as
sist him. if necessary. This incident illustrates
Grants method Of teaching his boys self-reliance
Church, though not member Of H. But he never
became intimately acquainted with the other mem
bers of the congregation. Nor. indeed did he
ever become well acquainted with the business men
OF the town. Those who knew him respected him
for he was man Of the highest character and in
teligence and Of exemplary habits. At that period
he was square shouldeTed spare built man with
a perceptible stoop caused he said, by HIS Mex-
len campaign and hard work on the Missouri
farm he was five feet eight inches in height when
ne Strengthened up, and weighed 40 pounds The
second meeting held in Calena after Sumtar
vas hred upon was presided over by Grant With
that meeting Grant practically severed his con-
hectloa with the store He declined he captatnrv
OF the company he helped 20 raise but went with
II 10 Springfield When he appointed coIonei
OF me list Regiment a complete military outfit
was necessary, and he went back TO Galene IN pat
II his frst horse Rowdy. a trim bsv animal
ussd by the leather store for general PURPOSES Rs
sSonle vas made by c. r. Perkins. a Galena sad
n.a. me 500 or 500 necessary complete his
ISutlit ne borrowed OF Gaena bank on The a.
uoISsteht or h A Collins his fathers former MARI
,s ;S y. business From that time henceforth tba
men" " f'' wv" feau or All