Omaha daily bee., 1907-10-03
MEMORIAL TABLETFOR GRANT
Distinguished Men Assemble at Late
Presidents Birthplace.
GENERAL FRED GRANT RESPONDS
Occasion is First of Three Days CeIc-
bration of Home Coming
Week of CIeremOnt
County, Ohio.

CINCINNATI, o. oct. 2.--In the presence
of distinguished gathering that included
many old army associates a memorial tab
let at the birthplace of President L. S.
Grant, at Point Pleasant. I'm Cleremont
county was unveiled today. 1t was the first
of three days celebration of the centennial
and homecoming week OF Cleremont county
and thousands of native sons Joined in pay
ing honor to the country's most illustrious
warrior son. bronze cannon and me-
mortal tablet had been placed on what is
believed to be the exact spot where was
located the house in which Grant was born,
and about this were gathered Governor
Andrew L. Harris, Lieutenant General
Henry c. Corbn. U. s. A., retired: Briga-
der General Fred D. Grant, a delegation OF
the Ohio commandery of the Loyal Legion
and relatives and other guests detach-
ment of regular soldiers from Fort Thomas
acted as guard of honor and assisted in the
services. large party of visitors went UP
from this city by steamer to participate.
General Henry c. Corbin, a native of
Cleremont county as well as a personal
acquaintance of the dead soldier-president,
presided, and Belville Simpson, a cousin of
President Grant was secretary.
Address by Governor Harris.
After the invocation and welcoming ad-
dress by Elijah Archer Conner Governor
Harris spoke as follows:
Like Washington and Lincoln, Grant
grew up close to the great heart of nature.
Manual labor was his lot from early child
hood. He experienced the enervating in
huence of neither luxury nor poverty. He
was a conspicuous sample of what could
he accomplished with the opportunities Of
his day and generation, a product Of the
social conditions prevailing in our state
In Its first half century.
On the southern Ohio hills he followed
the pillow; In the primeval forests he swung
the axe and drove the team; here he
tended the fiocks, cultivated the crops and
helped to gather the harvests. Here he
developed the traits of character that
crowned his illustrious career. Duty
called to other states and his ashes now
rest In the metropolis of the republic,
but by birth and nature he was ours.
It was but natural, when this farmer
triumph, that he should wear his honors
with becoming modesty-that he should
be magnanimous toward a Vanquished foe
Ohio has furnished it's quota OF writer's
and inventors, and orators and jurists,
ana statesmen and warriors. Today We
honor him who stood first among The
military chieftains OF his time To the
humblest youth of our land his life is an
inspiration.
Judge James B. Swing of Cincinnati, an
other son of Cleremont county, delivered an
address
speaks.
General Corbin, in presenting the me-
mortal. said in part:
We come today in glad reunion. and the
happy incident of this Homecoming is to
dedicate this modest but lasting tablet to
marke the birthplace of the greatest soldier
and one of the most illustrous citizens of
the frepubllc. 1t is proposed to return to
these grounds the house, in which General
Grant was born. The government at
Washington has been asked to include in
this years estimate to congress provision
for the erection OF a lighthouse on these
banks, to be known as the u. S. Grant
light. so that his birthplace, as we'll as
his last resting place, may be known for
ever to all men, who will marvel at the
significance Of this tablet no less than of
the great mausoleum on the banks of the
beautiful Hudson.
The response in acceptance of the simple
memorial was spoken by the soldier son of
the soldier president, General Fred Grant
On metal tablet which is affixed TO the
cannon, appears this inscription:
General Ulysses Simpson Grant
General United States Army,
ana twice Elected President OF the United
states, Was Born on
April a, of the Year 1892
In House Located on this Spot