Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-14
STORY OF GENERAL GRANT.
How, When a Young Man, He Called
a Debtora 3luH

How, When a Young Man, He Called
a Debtors Bluff.
while was in Denver last month
Major John Davidson told me a story
about General Grants service as a
deputy sheriff at Prairie de Chen,
Wis. in 1860. Davidson lived in Prai-
rie de Chen at that time. He is now
resident of Junction City, Kan.
"a merchant named Ammen en-
countered financial difficulties and his
store was closed.
Among those Ammen owed was
the firm of Grant & Co., of Galena,
Ill.," said Major Davidson, "the head
Of the firm being U. s. Grants father.
AS soon as the Galena firm heard that
the store was closed. Grant. then cap
tain,' was sent to Prairie du Chen to
look into the matter. Reaching there
he learned that Mr.. Ammen had arm
ed himself with a shotgun, taken a
stand in the store, and let 1t be known
that he would shoot down any man
who entered the place.
Everybody in town was excited
over the situation. and when Captain
Grant arrived 1t was predicted that
tempt 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
o. B. Thomas (afterward a captain In
a Wisconsin regiment, and then in
congress, where he had been four or
five years) while the ex-regular cap
tain reinforced himself with the re-
quired legal papers. That done. we
followed him to the sheriff's office, and
when the sheriff, Lawyer Thomas and
Captain Grant started for the store.
where we were sure somebody would
be killed, we followed at respectful
distance and closed in when the store
was reached.
"The sheriff commanded Ammen to
open the door.
"I will not open the door, and
will kill you or any Of your crowd IL
you force your way into the building
was Ammen's reply.
"The sheriff said the old man was
desperate and would be pretty sure to
kill some one.
There was hesitancy on the part Of
the sheriff, whereupon Grant quietly
said: II 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.
LAS an officer Of the law, Mr.. AM
men, command you to open this
door, said the newly-made deputy
sheriff.
"T refuse again and warn you and
your crowd that death awaits the man
who breaks into this store
Captain Grant stepped back cou-
pie of yards. and, springing forward
planted both feet against the door,
hurting It from It's hinges.
There the old merchant stood.
shotgun in hand, but he seemed to be
dazed. Captain Grant walked past
him and proceeded direct to the Of
fee, at the other end Of the store. the
old man following, carrying his gun
in his right hand. At the Office Capt.
Grant removed his hat, hung II up.
and turning to the merchant said: Mr..
Ammen. put your gun away and help
me take an account of our firms part
Of this stock Of goods and Mr.. Am
men obeyed like soldier.
I'VE youngsters were looking for
tragedy, not comedy, and dispersed,
good deal disgusted.
II did not see Captain Grant again
until March, 1854, when he came to
the Army Of the Potomac, in Virginia
He was Lieut.. General Grant then, and
he had a much harder job on his
hands than that at Prairie du Chen.
but, backed by Uncle Sam and pow
erful army and a wideawake navy, 1t
took him only a year to kick the Con-
federacy into worse confusion than
old man Ammen's store was that
morning"
When Capt. U. s. Grant was selling
goods in southwestern Wisconsin the
year before the war he disposed of a
bill to a shoemaker at Spring Green.
Grant county. 1t developed that the
shoemaker was a much better buyer
than payer. Grant made numerous at
tempts to collect the bill. but without
avail, in spite of the fact that he was
known as a remarkably good collector
After the seller of leather had be-
come famous as the head Of the army
and was winning great battles, the
Spring Green shoemaker had a good
deal to say about his personal ac-
quaintance with General Grant.
The shoemaker had son who was
lacking in wit. One evening, when
half a dozen patrons were In the shop
the old man told interesting stories
about Grants visits and chats In his
place, much to the delight Of his hear
ers. The boy was also an attentive lis
tener.
Mrs. Shoemaker called her husband
to the house. During his absence the
soon took his fathers place as a talker
about the general.
"You bet pop'll never forget Capt.
Grant," remarked the lad, who said
no more until one Of the visitors asked
why.
"Pop wouldn't pay Capt. Grant for
some luther pop bought. I'll bet he
asked pop more than a hundred times
to pay for that luther, and pop just
told him that he didn't haf ter. One
day after the captain has ast pop real
hard for the money, pop said that he
would never pay 1t. Then Capt. Grant
went right out Of the shop and un-
hitched his team. Jest before he got
into his wagon he called pop out, and
he said: 80 you won't pay that bill|