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This is my 47th article on Third Ward on how the streets got their names. Researching an article by Evan Andrews, “10 Things You May Not Know About Ulysses S. Grant” (dated 2015 and 2023) caused my “info gauge” to rise to a new height. The “S”. didn’t stand for anything.
Hiram Ulysses Grant was nominated to West Point in 1844 by Ohio Congressman Thomas Hamer. Hamer accidentally wrote “Ulysses S. Grant”. Serving 10 years in the army with distinction in the Mexican-American War, then 7 years as a private citizen in Illinois, Grant, at the beginning of the Civil War, became a field commander placed in charge of the regiment of Illinois volunteers. He quickly rose to the rank of brigadier general. His aggressive style in 1862 forced the surrender of 15,000 Confederates at Fort Donelson, Tenn. “No terms except complete and unconditional surrender can be accepted”. Grant also accepted the surrender of rebel armies at Vicksburg, Miss. and Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House, VA.
Grant struggled with alcohol. His adjutant Colonel John Rawlins kept him in check. President Lincoln’s response to Grant’s drinking was “What whiskey does the General prefer. For if it made fighting generals like Grant, I should like to get some of it for distribution.” Grant hated dress uniforms so he wore muddy boots and his rank stitched on an ordinary private’s coat.
“The darkest day of my life”, Grant described Lincoln’s death. He was convinced that he would have somehow stopped John Wilkes Booth from pulling the trigger. A trip to visit his children in New Jersey, caused the Grants to decline attending the Ford Theater play with the Lincolns. History shows that Grant was a potential target too. (To be continued…)
North Grant Avenue 1922 from North St. (W. Michigan). #110 no info, #112 Julius and Mary Van Dyke (ch: Marie, Lewis, Margretta). French St. #215 Lott S. Dimmick , owner Dimmick Bros. Hardware, wife Grace, (ch: Robert, Helen), #216 Floyd Jackson, contractor, wife Jennie (ch: Lawrence, Warren), # 218 Loren C. Wortinger oil co, wife Hazel, corsetiere. Pealer St. #312 W.A. Barrows (Eddy Paper) Mrs. Daisy, #313 Hattie Sheldon (clerk), #314 Harvey Knachel, (Eddy Paper) wife Lelah, (ch: Marie), #317 Jessie Hoisington, teacher. #319 Mrs. B.E. Arnold, widow, Yaunney St. #400 W.E. Gorbutt, fence builder, Mrs. Carrie (Cleo clerk, Eunice teacher, Ethel, bookkeeper, Mary student), # 415 Jay Howard, TR Robe Tannery, #429 Fred & Louisa Loes retired (ch Birdie & Harry evangelists). Next Time: More U.S. Grant information and more Residents of Grant Avenue.
Submitted by Anna Smith, a Three Rivers history and mystery lover.
