Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 11, 1903, Page 24

Four Generations of the Grant Family HE DEMISE of Mrs. Julla Dent I Grant, widow of the great com- mander, impels me to venture X upon a recital of some incidents by which 1 have come into con tact with four generations of Grants. The greater part of this sketch is compiled from written memoranda and the rest extracted from memory During the memorable national campaign of 1872 1 had occasion to visit Cincinnati, after the nomination of Horace Greeley, partly on business and partly for recreation FREDERICK DENT GRANT ULYSSES 8. GRANT SECOND. After an inspection of the magnificent bronze fountain erected by Henry Probasco, I crossed the Ohio river over the then new suspension bridge and took a stroll through Covington, Ky., for a diversion. After sauntering at random through di- lapidated streets with their dingy-looking houses, 1 turned a corner occupied by an ancient two-story brick building. Over the door of this ungainly structure was hung a sign on which was inscribed in large let- ters the word "‘Postoffice At once the thought flashed across my mind that this was the much-talked-about postoffice pre sided over since the days of Andrew John- son by the venerable father of the presi. dent Upon entering the building 1 asked tha gentlemanly clerk whether 1 could see the postmaster. “No,”" he said. “The old gen tleman was here this morning, but he has gone home He has been quite sickly of late and doesn't come here very often.’ Determined to interview Father Jesse be fore returning, 1 made further inquiries concerning the location of his res'dence and presently found myself in front of the house—not the palatial mansion that was painted in such gorgeous colors by the distorted visions of Charles A Dana, Charles Sumner and Carl Schurz, but a plain two-story brick, painted pink with green blinds The building was located on a lot of rather moderate dimensions, with the only luxury of a modest little garden in the rear. The resideuce, a double house, was occupled by two families. The plate on the first front door read plainly “J. A. Grant.' In response to a pull of the bell handle, the front door was promptly opened by an elderly lady dressed in plain, dark merino, or alpaca, who, as I afterward learned, was no other than the mother of the president of the United States To my inquiries after Mr. Jesse Grant the lady replied by directing me through the hall to the dining room, where she said the old gentleman had gone a few minutes before Upon entering the dining room 1 was met by a boy about 12 years old, who informed me that his grandpa was upstairs and promptly volunteered to call him down This boy was young Cramer, the son of the United States minister to Denmark, who with his mother, had returned from Evrope for a brief visit. i Being left alone in the dining hall, 1 looked around in vaia for any signs of regal splendor. The floor was covered with an Edward Rosewater’s Personal Recolle The chairs were The table was set It was covered with a scrupulously ingrain carpet, old-fashioned cane seats. knives and forks were all of a pattern that denoted economy. A few unpretentious pic- stovepipe hat was swinging on a hook near While quietly circulation concerning the alleged wealth of the Cov- postmaster, rather tall supporting himself thin-faced, plain-looking the president, came in from the kitchen and requested me to talk loud as the old gentle man was very hard of hearing since he had stricken with resemblance patriarch were his head was but his hair still retained some mistakably The eyes of the spectacles cut rather loose, and particularly consonance s of that day tremulous explaining disjointed incoherent siricken by paralysis six months before and recovering, being 78 years old he had not much hope of a speedy recovery. subject, adding Referring to the presidential contest elected again?’ When told that the indications looked favorable know much about are so weak 1 can’'t read any more, interests herself a with a politician named Turner, who lived ctions of His Meetings With Members of the Distinguished Family MRS good deal about politics. She is awful re. ticent, though,” said he, “just like the general, You never can tell what the gen- eral is going to do about anything. Let us go into the parlor and talk it over with Mrs. Grant.’ On entering the parlor I found Mrs. Grant a rather small, thin but clear visaged, dark haired, well preserved old lady, knitting stockings while she was entertaining a neighboring lady who, judging from her calico dress, did not belong to the aristoc racy of Covington Noticing my apparent surprise to see her knitting, Mrs. Grant remarked that she could not live without work She at once entered into lively conversa tion and invited me to look at the various family pictures on the wall One was a photograph of her deceased son and another of her daughter, Mrs. Cramer. There was a handsome painting of Mr. Cramer, the Danish minister, who appeared to he a fine. looking man of middle age. Then came a plain photograph of the president and a large oil painting of Father Jesse in hi younger days. There were also portraits of George and Martha Washington and a beautiful water color executed by Mrs Cramer. The parlor was commodious, but by no means exiravagantly furnished The parlor chairs and sofa were upholstered i black haircloth, a material then in generai use In fact, there is hardly a house o« cupied by a respectable mechanic in Omaha that indulges in plainer and more unpre. tentious furniture Father Jesse opened the political talk by remarking that a few days ago a cousin of the president had visited them and had ac. tually declared that if the democrats dia not make a straight nomination he would vote for Greeley “Well,"”" said Mrs. Grant, “but he is a democrat and you can't expect anything else I don't think all the democrats will support Greeley.” Continuing in that strain she said a few days ago she had talked MRS. JULIA DENT GRANT. HANNAH SIMPSON GRANT at Cincinnati, and was well posted, and he said that the general is sure of re-election Turning to me she then asked, *What do you think of the general and his chances of re-election ““The general has my hearty support and his prospects west of the Missis- sippi seem very bright,” said I, “although from time to time I have been compelled to criticise seme of his appointments ir our state “Yes,"” retorted Mrs. Grant, “and 1 don't doubt that every one of them was highly recommended to him by people that ought to know better After all is said, they tell me generally that he has given the country a good administration. To be sure, the pa pers say he has appointed so many of his relations to office Yet I never knew we had so many relation until just lately They have sent me papers with names of pretended relation of whom neither I nor the general have ever heard before They are not his relation at all “There is my son Orville, the general only brother He has lost nearly all he had in the Chicago fire last year He ha been trying to organize a railroad com pany lately, but I am afraid he won't suc ceed They can’'t raise the money and what do you suppose is the best thing the general has offered him? The Indian trader- ship at Fort Laramie, but does that pay? “Well, madam, I regard it as a very d¢ sirable position It pays over $20,000 year But what about the Injuns; it's dan gerous in that country, isn't it “There is not so much danger people think,"” I replied. ‘“‘He ¢ easily find somebody who will run the tradership for him We have several men in our city who managed to accumulate small fortunes in Indian agencies."” “Well,” said Mrs Grant I hope Or ville will get it then, for he needs it, but 1 am afraid the president won't give it to him after all.’ The conversation then drifted to the some¢ Colling family of our city, who formerly resided at Galena, where the elder Collins wasg in partnership in the tannery business with Father Jesse Meetings With President Grant Although almost within hailing distance of General Grant after the union army oc- cupied Nashville, following on the heels of the battle of Donelson, and within easy range of him at intervals during the war, JESSE R. GRANT. NELLIE GRANT SARTORIS. my acquaintance with General Grant did not begin until after he had become presi- dent, during his first visit to Omaha in when I also had my introduction to the first lady of the land and an oppor- tunity for renewing the acquaintance of Colonel Fred Grant. The ovation tendered by the citizens of Omaha and Nebraska to the first chief magistrate of the nation who visited this state precluded any individual not prom- inently identified with federal, state or city government from more than paying his respects. General Grant's second visit on his return from the tour of the world that vittually terminated at Omaha afforded more extensive scope for more intimate intercourse. As a member of the reception committee 1 accompanied General. Grant on the drives about the city to the principal places of interest, including Fort Omaha, finally crossing the river with him in the special train that conveyed him to his home in the east. While retaining his proverbial reticence, General Grant appeared deeply touched by the warm popular demonstrations and ex- pressed himself much pleased with the ar- tistic taste displayed in the decorations of public buildings and especially the large concourse of union veterans who greeted him everywhere with almost boundless en- thusiasm. A rather suggestive incident oc- curred on the special car while crossing the Missouri bridge. In the midst of an ani- mated discussion participated in by half a dozen eminent Nebraskans, who were es- corting the general into Iowa, Mrs. Grant entered, with the exclamation, “What an awful smoke you have in here. You could cut the smoke with a cheese knife. Throw open that window, general, or you will all suffocate.”” The admonition of Mrs. Grant was promptly executed amidst laughter, but the general did not seem perturbed in the least, and kept on smoking The last time I saw General Grant was at Washington and the incident happened the day after Garfield's inauguration. A very large concourse of people was blocking the sidewalk and part of Pe nnsylvania avenue in front of the White House. An old, farmer- looking man, whom 1 recognized as lowa's war governor, Sam Kirkwood, was trying to wedge his way through the gates, but the crowd would not budge. Presently a car- riage drove up and out stepped General Grant, in plain civilian dress Instantly the crowd opened ranks respectfully and as the general passed through and entered