Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-10-25
GEN. GRANT AS DEPUTY SHERIFF

Chen at that time. He Is now resi-
dent OF Junction City, Kan.
a merchant named Ammen en-
oountered financial difficulties and his
store ,ras closed.
Among those Ammen owed was the
firm OF Grant & Co. of Galena, ILL.,, the
head OF the firm being General
Grants father. AS soon as the
Galena firm heard that the store was
closed, Captain Grant was sent TO
Prairie du Chen to look into the mat
rer. Reaching there he learned that
Mr. Ammen had armed himself with
a shotgun, taken stand in the store,
and let it be known that he would
shoot down any man who entered the
store
Every body in town was excited
over the situation, and when Captain
Grant arrived it was predicted that he
would not risk his life III an attempt
to enter the place of business.
"A lot of us young fellows decided
to see the whole show. We stood In
the street in front Of the law office OF
.. b. Thomas, afterwards a captain in
q Wisconsin regiment ana then in
congress four or five terms, while the
ex-regular captain reinforced himself
with the required legal papers That
done, we followed him to the sheriffs
Office, and when the sheriff, Lawyer
Thomas and Captain Grant started for
the store, where we were sure some.
body would be killed, we followed at
rcsr sctful distance and closed in
when the store was reached.
The sheriff commanded Ammen to
open the door.
I viii not open the door, and
will kill you or any OF your crowd ii
you force your way into the building,
was Ammens reply.
THE sheriff said the old man was
desperate and would be pretty sure
20 Kill some one.
There was hesitancy on the part
Ct the sheriff, whereupon Captain
Grant quietly said, If you don't want
to risk it. make me a deputy and
will try it,
That was done. Our gang crowded
up closer to the door
AS an officer Of the law, Mir
Ammen, comp.>:.sa YOU to open this
door, said the newly made deputy
sheriff.
i refuse, ana again warn sou and
your crowd that death awaits the
man who breaks into this s,Src.
Captain Grant stepped back a
couple OF yards ana springing forward
planted both feet against the door,
hurting it from its hinges.
There the cd merchant stood, shot
gum in hand. 1ut he seemed to be
dazed. Captain Grant quietly walked
past him and proceeded direct 10 lie
office, at the olner end OF the 9lore,
the old man following, carrying the
gln in his right hand Al the Office
Captain Grant removed his hat, hung
it up, aud turning to. the merchant,
said, Mir. Amman, put your gun away
and help me take an account OF cur
firm part OF this stock of goods. ana
air Amman 0beyed like soldiet
I'VE youngsters were looking Ton
tragedy OF comedy, and dispersed q
good deal disguised.
didn't see lal tuin Grant again
antil March, 1861, when be came 10
ue wss ta,,tn,a,t ce,er.,l CranI
then and he had a much harder Job
on nand than that enc al Prairie an
-, .r,,, all .,'Is-a,.,l.,
- 10 -, 4,1. 81 = s. IVY 49, s',,
80 ,, - '.'''' 10y. . - ,,'[
- .,>, -.
s'o'' 81 o'o - 80 .1',,''4'''' '
mat ''''' ''4''7 - $50
When Captain Grant was selling
goods in southwestern Wisconsin, the
year before The war, he disposed Of a
bin 20 q shoemaker ut Spring Green
Grant county. 1t developed taal the
shoemaker was a much letter Au5eE
thou payer Grant made humorous
attemps o collect the bill, bur wl,h-
GA, avail. IJ spite OF the TACT that he
was kuJ#n "a s. remarkably good cl
lectoe.
After tba sel,.,. oil leather had be.
came famous as head og the army end
vas winning Great battles. the
Sprine Greca sh,s maker had "a good
eeal 10 say about his personal ac.