The Ordway new era., 1914-05-29

IL
S1S ~ been 30 exhaustively written
about as the great emancipator.
but in the American Walhalla q niche near to
his proclaims the fame Of the warrior to whom
Lee surrendered
Rarely does 1t happen that man who earns
recognition as total failure In life afterward
achieves exalted success. This was exactly what
happened, however. to Ulysses 8. Grant. who not
only struggled through many years Of grinding
and almost hopeless poverty, but actually fell into
such disesteem account Of his inability to
make good" at anything. that people generally
disposed to look upon him an undesirable
person to employ. +
There are people still living in St. Louis who
remember Grant a shabby little man who
brought loads OF cordwood into town and sold 1t
from door to door He had been q captain in the
army but had resigned. and at the period In
question he lived on a farm some distance out OF
st. Louis. on the Gravois road.
But. IN order to make 1t clear how this state of
affairs came about, one must go back q few steps
lin fact. to the boyhood Of Grant, who was born
at Point Pleasant Ohio. April 81 1922. His name
was Ulysses Hiram. His mothed used 3okingly
to say to him: "Be sure you don't become use
tess!" Not much 10 known about his early youth.
except that at eight years Of age he could ride
horseback standing on foot. He had remark
able skill with horses. and story IL told Of his
volunteering to bestraddIe. at circus, an unman.
ageable pony which nobody else dared tackle AZ
the bidding Of the rinsmaster . large monkey
upon his shoulders. holding on to his hair. but
he hung on like grim death, unperturbed
Another anecdota has to do with q horse which
his father sent him to buy. How much did your
father tell you to pay for IT." asked the owner
Of the animal. HE told me-" replied the boy. ito
offer you $50. and If you would not take that to
make 1t S56 even $50. II necessary"
Naturally. the man said that the price Of the
horse was sec Whereupon the lad added: "But
have made rp my mind not to pay you more
han n Hho&n v.rthtr
He got the horse for 350
Z II SO happened that General Hamer the mem-
ber OF congress from that district. was friend
Of Grants father, and he took the trouble to
obtain for Ulysses an appointment at West Point.
In sending in the requisite papers. he mixed up
the name Of Ulysses with that OF his brother
Simpson SO that young Grant found himself put
down on the roster Of cadets as u. 8. Grant. This
accident earned for him at the Point the nick
name Of Uncle Sam"-afterward abbreviated to
Sam by which title OF intimacy he was known
for many years after he left the military academy.
He is described at this period Of his career as
an understood. awkward youth, much freckled,
with high spirits, and very careless about his
dress. Many of his fellowcsdets. who prided
themselves upon birth and breeding manifested
an inclination to look down upon him. because he
was only tanners son. While at the Point he
distinguished himself chiefly by his horseman-
ship and one leap that he made on horseback
is said to remain to this day an unequaled record
at the academy.
Scarce was young Grant graduated from West
Point when he fell In love with q girl named
)Dent, the daughter Of man who owned consid-
cradle farming property on the Gravois road. not
far from St Louis. Her father did not approve
of the match. but her mother favored 1t. and the
upshot of It was that they became engaged. Then
the Mexican war broke out, in which Grant fought
with credit. and at the termination OF tbs conflict
he went back to st. Louis and married the young
lady.
the
army. and with this separation from the military
He was unable to hold on to any sort of employ
law offered to give him 40 acres Of the Dent farm.
of of 1t. This task he undertook incidentally
lived with his wife and children.
1t was at this time that he made meager hv-
ing by hauling wood to town and selling II on
out private soldiers uniform. But It is matter
though everything he tried seemed foredoomed to
failure. He was defeated In his candidacy for
the place Of surveyor Of st. Louis county. and his
neer was turned down with the simple indorse-
ment. Rejected"
At length he decided to abandon his little farm.
HardscrabbIe. and moved with his family to St
hut. 10 usual, failed at itA AS commonly happens
when man is persistentay unsuccessful. friends