El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-10

TIySSES SIMPSON GRANTS first
] American ancestor was a Scltcn-
~ man. who settled in Connecticut.
His great grandfather settled IN
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania
where in 1894, Jesse. the 1ather
of the future president was oorn'
and five years later settled IN
Ohio. Grants father was left an
orphan at IL and apprenticed, at To-
TO his half brother in MarysvilIe, hy-'
tc learn the tanners trade When ne
had served his time, he returned 10
Ohio and established himself In bust
ness at Ravenna, Portage county ne
married Miss Hannah Simpson, whose
people. emigrated from Pennsylvania.
Compelled to give up tanning on ac
count of illness, he settled down al
POINT Pleasant. near Georgetown,
where Ulysses was born, April p. 1877.
The father of the boy resumed tanning
in Georgetown
The boy was early put to work, and
at eight was driving team; al III, ne
engaged in trucking between George
town and Cincinnati. The boy was iona
of horses and showed great skill in
managing them. He had the reputa-
ton of being the best bareback rider
in his part of the state, and made his
first reputation in Georgetown by &C
cepting challenge to ride a trlcK
mule in a circus; a feat which he easily
accomplished.
Self Reliant as a Lad.
As lad he was self reliant and in
vincibly determined Thomas L..
Hamer was the Democratic congress
man from the district and nearby
neighbor, but Grants father was
Wing and both a personal and political
enemy of the congressman. Conse-
quently there was little hope that
Ulysses could have his ambition graft
fled. to gosto West Point. young
man named Bailey was appointed but
Ulysses, having been sent by his moth
er to the Bailey house for pound or
butter, overheard the reading of let
ter from the young Bailey that he had
failed to pass at West Point. Grant
Immediately went to Mr. HameF's
house and said: IF there should ~be
vacancy at West Point, will you ap-
point me?" The congressman declared
that there was no vacancy that young
Bailey had the appointment. But,
young Grant persisted, If there should
be a vacancy will you appoint me-?
The congressman to get rid Of the boy
replied: Yes, if there is a vacancy L
will appoint you" In a few hours Mr.
Hamer heard the news of young Bal
ley's failure. "Ulys" as he was called
III TOWN.. at once the SOA-
gresham of his promise which Hamer
kept That errand for butter. Grant
said, made him president. His persist
ency as a boy, characterized the man.
Grant had in the time that he could
take from his studies, learned the
business of leather tanning, an occu-
patton which the boy did not like near
ly so well as driving a team. The
father believed in the boy and gave
him every opportunity for an educa-
ton.
In connection with Hamer's applica-
ton for Grants appointment, there is
a story of how Grant got his middle
name. Hamer knew that his mothers
name was Simpson, and so 1t occurred
to Hanler that the middle name Ulysses
must be Simpson, and SO inserted II.
s. Grant" in his application
Not a Brilliant Student
At West Point Grant did not distin-
guiSh himself as a brilliant student.
He excelled. however, in horsemanship.
He graduated number 81 in his class
He entered service in the Mexican
war as a second lieutenant; he did no.
particularly distinguished himself but
the long toilsome marches, the fierce
fightings and the splendid strategy of
Gen. Scott played important parts in
Grants training for future service.
After the proclamation of peace,
Grant returned home in August, 1S4S,