The Chemawa American, April 24, 1929, Page 4, Image 4

The CHEMAWA AMERICAN
Page 4
G ENERAL U. S. GRANT
(Continued from page 1)
wanted to cook it himself, and donning a big apron and
rolling up his sleeves, he took possession of the kitchen
and baked it to perfection.”
He felt keenly the separation from his wife and
family. Oftentimes, when reading letters from his
wife, his eyes would fill with tears. He would look
up with a start and say, ‘Mrs. Sheffield, I have the
dearest little wife in the world, and I want to resign
from the army and live with my family. ’ He would
then walk back and forth on the porch, thinking and
smoking for hours at a time, or he would order his
horse and ride for half a day in the woods or along the
Columbia river. Often on winter nights he would tell
me of his wife and childern and how he missed them.
“ I never saw him angry, but when occasion demand­
ed it, he was very firm. His manner, dress and style of
living were simpler than those of any other officer in
the garrison. In manner he was unassuming and
approachable, and his language was always plain and
straight forward. He had a true soldier’s love of order.
“ After that potato failure, Captain Grant grew rest­
less and wanted to engage in some enterprise from
which he could make a little money, so he and Captain
Wallen had my husband act as agent for them, and
buy up all the chickens within twenty miles of Van­
couver. They chartered a small vessel and shipped
them to San Francisco. Nearly all the chickens died
on the voyage, and they lost the money they put into
the enterprise. In September (1853) Captain Grant
was ordered to report at Humboldt, California. It
was a more desirable station, but he wanted to resign
and go into the lumber business. We bade him good-
by, knowing we were losing an agreeable companion
and a true friend.
“ During his one year at Vancouver he had not
made an enemy and he was kind and considerate to
all. He gained the friendship and good will of his
men by a constant and watchful care of their interest.
During all the early years of my life there, not one
word did I ever hear against his character; he was
one of Nature’s Noblemen.”
In 1854 Grant resigned his commission in the army
‘ ‘to farm’ ’ near St. Louis. His family had been there
since he had left Detroit. He had one boy nearly
two years old that he had never seen. Here he built
a small house and cut and hauled cord wood to
St. Louis.
In 1858 he had a severe spell of fever which keep him
down for nearly one year. When he recovered he
sold his farm and moved to the city where he struggled
at first one thing and then another making a bare liv­
ing, and failing in every line of business.
When Fort Sumpter was fired upon Grant was work­
ing in a tannery at Galena, Illinois. He first offered
his services to the War Department and was refused.
He then reported to the Governor and said: “ I was
educated at the expence of my government and am
ready to except any position you may give me. ’ ’ The
Governor said to him, “ Come into my office and help
organize troops for the defense of our country.”
Grant organized a regiment and was made Colonel.
Up to this time Grant had been a failure, but as a
military man, he was a genius, and may justly be
classed with Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar and Napol­
eon. He rose from a colonel to a general; and then
President. After being President he toured the world.
He received many beautiful presents and jeweled dec­
orations from the countries he visited.
When tlie banking firm of Grant and Ward, in New
York failed, while Grant was not an officer of the bank,
he felt that he must uphold the honor of the family
and meet certain demands of the bank. All the beau­
tiful works of art he had received from abroad he took
to Vanderbuilt and borrowed money on them. He was
never able to buy them back and they may be seen
today in the National Museum in Washington.
Grant was now weakened by years and disease be­
cause he was dying from cancer, but he devoted hours
to the writing of his “ Memoirs” which he knew would
bring a large sum of money and in this way he would
provide for his wife and family.
He was never known to utter a complaint, but
fought the battles of life in the same brave, unflinch­
ing manner which he fought the battles of his country.
HONOR ROLL
Following is a list of our honor students for the
month of March:
Seniors
John Frenier, Russel Hayward, James Oliver and
Clifford Meachem.
Juniors
Cecile Pepion, Grace Pepion, Frances Tanner, Melda
White Eagle, Charles Morgan and Aaron Sookum.
Sophomores
Ella Contway, Clyde Cooley, Leo Cottonoir, Clar­
ence Orton, Fred Sandberg, Perry Smith, Warren
Wilder and Charles Wishart.
Freshmen
Theresa Newman, Rosalia Grounds, Josephine
Hughes, Christine Muller, Arlene Hoptowit, Emma
Red, Agnes Scott, Joy Yellowtail, Juanita Young,
Harold Brown, Wesley Larson and Benjamin Piku-
tarik.
Eighth Grade
Leota Plasteur and Edna Wesley.
Seventh Grade
Edward Anderson, Benjamin Bear, Eunice Buck,
Bessie Scott, Alice Bachman, Esiah Gallishoff, Francis
Thomas and George Lucei.