Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-10-21
GEN. GRANT AS DEPUTY
SHERIFF. A COLLECTOR
AND A KICKER.

Davidson told me Il story about zen.
Grants service as deputy sheriff at
Prairie du CHEN, Wis, in 1860. David
son lived at Prairie du Chen at that time.
He is now a resident of Junction City,
Kan.
"A merchant named Ammcn encoun-
tered financial difficulties and his store
was closed.
Among those Ammen owed was the
firm of Grant & Co of Galena, ILL.,, the
head of the firm being Gen. Grants
father. As soon as the GaIena firm heard
that the store was closed Capt. Grant
was sent to Prairie du Chen to look into
the matter. Reaching there he learned
that Mr.. Ammen had armed himself With
a shotgun, taken a stand in the store,
and let it be known that he would shoot
down any man who entered the store.
Everybody in town was excited over
the situation, and when Capt Grant ar
rived it was predicted that he would not
iisk his life in an attempt to enter the
place Of business
A lot of us young fellows decided to
see the whole show. W { stood in the
street in front of the law Office OF Q. b.
"
consin regiment and then in Congress
four or five terms. while the eN-regutar
captain reinforced himself with the re-
Quired legal papers. That done we fol-
lowed him to the sherif's Office, and
When the sheriff, Lawyer Thomas and
Capt. Grant started for the store, Where
we were sure somebody would be killed,
we followed at a respectful distance and
closed in when the store was reached.
THE sheriff commanded Ammen to
open the door.
~ will not open the door, and / viii
kill you or any of your crowd if you
force your way into the building, was
Ammen's reply.
The sheriff said the old man was des-
perate and would be pretty sure to kill
some one.
There was hesitancy on the part of
the sheriff, whereupon Capt. Grant quiet
ly said If you don't want to risk it,
make me deputy and | will try it.
THAT was done. Our gang crowded up
closer to the door.
"'As an officer of the law, Mr.. Ammen,
command you to open this door, said
the newly made deputy sheriff.
~ refuse, and again warn you AMI
your crowd that death awaits the man
who breaks into this store
Capt. Grant stepped back Il couple of
yards and springing forward planted both
feet against the door hurting it from its
hinges.
There the old merchant stood, shot
gun in hand. but he seemed to be dazed
Capt. Grant quietly walked past him
and proceeded direct to the office. at the
other end of the store, the old man fol-
lowing carrying the gun in his right
hand. At the office Capt. Grant removed
his hat. hung it up, and turning to the
merchant. said. Mr. Amman. put your
of our firms part of this stock of goods, =
and Mr. Amman obeycd like a soldier.
I'VE Youngsters were looking for trag-
edy, not comedy, and dispersed a good
deal disguised.
II didn't see Capt Grant again until
March. 1864, when he came to the Army
of the Potomac in Virginia. He was
l.icut.-Geu. Grant then, and he had Il
much harder Job ON hand than that one
at Prairie du CHEN. but, backed by Uncle
Sam ana Il powerful army and Il wide
awake navy, it took him only a wear TO
sion thon oId man Annmo,,,s lt,,. ('' ',,' -
that morning in 1860"
soth iv tp,' ~ "ls was srlnS goods IN
tIo I ~ W isvo'7i' 'ne year before
- my m.' 'V un?Iose', VI " oilI 10 shoe-
~ So,aio,5 P .i Green Grant county.
ns, o5' NV 1ott, i,,"t lho shoemaker was a
nad, ,,',, o,e "''N 81 man payer; "rant
h;n hnt ''' 't',t attempts TO collect the
fa"t , I"' W. rI'nou' aValI' III spite ct the
,,ao1 LII III. le was N'o"h oS remarkably
Aftcr t6c ,' ..uor - Id,