Jesse Root Grant (January 23, 1794 – June 29, 1873) was an American farmer, tanner, and successful leather merchant who owned tanneries and leather goods shops in several different states throughout his adult life. He was the father of Ulysses S. Grant and the one who introduced Ulysses to military life at West Point. Jesse was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and was one of seven children. He was a self-made man who rose from poverty to become a wealthy merchant.
At age five, Jesse moved to Ohio with his family, who settled in the Ohio River Valley. Unable to support all his children Jesse's father arranged for his apprenticeship at farms and tanneries during his youth. Jesse married Hannah Simpson Grant and they became the parents of three boys and three girls, with Ulysses being their oldest. Raised in a poor family that was forced to split up and having to work at an early age, Jesse persistently encouraged his sons in the ways of education, industry and hard work, his methods sometimes testing his father-son relationship with Ulysses. As a young man he worked for and came to know Owen Brown and soon acquired strong abolitionist sympathies. Jesse was known to be outspoken, had strong opinions about politics and often boasted about his son, often referring to him as "my Ulysses".
Originally a Jacksonian, Jesse eventually broke with Andrew Jackson and the Democrats when developing anti-slavery leanings, and for a time wrote a number of controversial editorials in support of abolition and other issues. He became involved in local politics and was elected mayor in Georgetown and later, Bethel, both in Ohio. During the American Civil War Jesse and two business partners became involved in cotton speculation and imposed on his son, Ulysses, to use his authority to secure early access to a portion of occupied territory. The effort proved unsuccessful, and soon both Jesse and his business partners were sent north. Jesse stood next to his son while Ulysses was sworn in as president, thereafter becoming a frequent visitor to the White House. He lived out his final years in Covington, Kentucky. Much has been learned about the earlier years of Ulysses Grant from letters between father and son, as well as other source material relating to Jesse's background and business.
Grant family
Jesse's paternal ancestor, Matthew Grant, and wife Priscilla and their infant daughter, embarked from Plymouth, England, aboard the Mary and John with a party of 140 emigrants who had been gathered chiefly from South West England. This Pilgrim party was one of many of the Puritan movement that fled England to escape religious persecution. After a 70-day journey the party arrived at Massachusetts Bay Colony in Nantasket, on May 30, 1630, and soon moved to and settled in Windsor, Connecticut. Matthew, referred to by the town folk as Honest Matthew Grant, was a highly trusted member of the community and became a surveyor and the town clerk.White, 2016, p. 4 McFeely, 1981, p. 3 Marshall, 1869, pp. 6-7 Thayer, 1885, p. 35 Later generations of the extended Grant family migrated westward into Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky.Headley, 1872, p. 20 Jesse's grandfather Noah Grant, and his brother Solomon, fought and died in the French and Indian War, and his son, (Jesse's father) also named Noah, served in the American Revolution, including the Battle of Bunker Hill, soon advancing to the rank of captain.Marshall, 1869, p. 52 Smith, 2001, p. 23 Thayer, 1885, pp. 36-37
Early life Jesse's father, Noah D. Grant III, was married to his first wife, Anna Richardson, who became the parents of two children, Solomon and Peter Grant. Upon Noah's return from service in 1787 Anna died. On March 4, 1792, at Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Noah married his second wife, Rachael Kelly, who became Jesse's mother with the birth of her second child and first born son on January 23, 1794.Marshall, 1869, pp. 52-53, 170–171 Noah named Jesse after the Honorable Jesse Root, Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Connecticut.Marshall, 1869, p. 172; Richardson, 1868, p. 35 In 1799, when Jesse was age five, Noah moved his family to East Liverpool, and again in 1804, to Deerfield, both in Ohio. Noah worked in a shoe shop, earning a modest wage in Greensburg. In 1805, at age 9, Jesse's mother died, in Deerfield.Broadwater, 2012, p. 3; White, 2016, p. 6.
With little income and unable to provide enough for all his children, Noah Grant had the eleven year old Jesse apprenticed out to various families. Beginning in 1805, from 11 to 14 years old, Jesse worked in Ohio at undesignated farms earning his keep and making little extra money. He didn't receive a formal education in his youth and later through years of apprenticeship became self-taught in the ways of general education and business. Placing great value on the merits of education he vowed that his sons would not have to endure the same disadvantage.Brands, 2012, p. 7; King, 1914. p. 25 With no public schools in most of Ohio in the early 1800s, Jesse would later send his son Ulysses to private schools.
In 1808 Jesse's father arranged for his apprenticeship with a judge, George Tod, of Youngstown, Ohio.White, 2016, p. 7 Jesse, age 14, lived there with his oldest sibling, Susan, while he worked under an apprenticeship that lasted four years. At the Tod residence the young Grants were treated like one of the family, where they grew to love and respect George, his wife and family. Jesse was sent to school three months a year, for two years.Marshall, 1869, p. 42 Among Jesse's playmates was the young David Tod, who would later become Governor of Ohio during the Civil War. Later in life Jesse often spoke of them in terms of affection and admiration.King, 1914, p. 17 Working for the judge the uneducated Jesse soon learned to read and write and acquired an interest in politics, and later after he married, would even study grammar. A year after his commencement into apprenticeship Jesse's father Noah died, leaving him an orphan and the family very poor.Headley, 1872, p. 20; Brands, 1981, p. 6
At age 16 Jesse moved to Maysville, Kentucky in 1812 to work for his half brother Peter in a tannery. Under his guidance, Jesse learned the tanning and leather goods trade. After completion of his training and honoring his commitment to Peter, he moved back to his boyhood town of Deerfield, Ohio,McFeely, 1982, pp. 5–6.Broadwater, 2012, p. 3 in 1815 and established his own tannery with little money, frugality and constant effort.Richardson, 1868, p. 45
By 1814 Jesse found employment at a tannery 15 miles away in Ravenna, Ohio, owned by the wealthy Owen Brown (father of the famous John Brown who led the raid at Harpers Ferry). Owen was a cattle breeder and land speculator who operated a successful tannery in Hudson, Ohio. Owen was a stout and outspoken abolitionist and Jesse often listened to his public orations against slavery, where he became familiar with and supportive of the cause.White, 2016, pp. 7–8 During this time Jesse lived under the same roof as John Brown, became friends and came to know his abolitionist philosophy. Later in life Jesse would describe John Brown as "a man of great purity of character, of high moral and physical courage, but a fanatic and extremist in whatever he advocated." In 1817 Jesse, and a John F. Wells, were offered work in a large tannery in Ravenna, now owned and managed by Mrs. Mary Mason, the widow of Jared Mason. She later married Wells and sold the tannery to Jesse who became the sole owner. Jesse sold and shipped much of his leather to a merchant in Point Pleasant, which would become his future home in 1820. During this time Jesse took up lodging at an inn across the street from the tannery. Within two years he managed to save some $1500. Jesse's father Noah Grant died in Maysville, Kentucky, on February 14, 1819.White, 2016, pp. 7–8.U.S.Grant.com, Essay & Timeline That year, at age 25, Jesse became ill and was sent to Kentucky to recover from malaria, while his affliction sickness lasted more than a year. Unable to work and with creditors pressing he lost most of his savings. In 1820, when he was partially recovered and able to travel short distances, he moved to Maysville and lived with relatives for several weeks.Richardson, 1868, p. 46 After recovering he returned to Ohio and the tannery business.
Family and community life
Jesse Grant's greater family was large, residing in both Ohio and in the slave state of Kentucky.Simpson, 2000, p. 7 In 1820, he found work for a brief period at a tannery in Bethel, Ohio. Later that year, as an experienced tanner, he moved to Point Pleasant on the Ohio River and gained the position of foreman in a new tannery owned by Thomas Page.White, 2016, p. 8; McFeely, 1982, p. 6. He soon met his future wife, Hannah Simpson, whose grandfather had arrived at Philadelphia in 1762.White, 2016, pp. 7–8, 21–22. On June 24, 1821, at age 27, Jesse Grant married Hannah Simpson and settled in Point Pleasant.Marshall, 1869, pp. 65–66. Their marriage brought six children. Their son Ulysses was the oldest, and born April 27, 1822 as Hiram Ulysses Grant.Headley, 1872, pp. 20–21 A second son, Samuel Simpson, was born September 23, 1825, and later became a successful merchant in Galena. Their first daughter, Clara Rachel, was born December 11, 1828, followed by a second daughter, Virginia Paine, born February 20, 1832. Their third son, Orvil Lynch, was born May 15, 1835. Their third daughter and youngest child was Mary Frances, born July 30, 1839.Marshall, 1869, p. 173 By October 1823, Jesse had managed to save about $1100 (~$ in ) to start his own tannery in Georgetown and moved the family there to start his new business. Upon arrival to Georgetown Jesse contacted the county Justice of the Peace, Thomas L. Hamer, on August 12, 1823, paid $50 and secured the deed to a lot not far from Georgetown Square. Here he built a two-story brick house where Ulysses, still an only child, and future brothers and sisters would be raised for the next sixteen years. On the same street he set up his tannery, a half block south from his house.White, 2013, p. 18 Jesse also cultivated 30 acres of land while managing 50 acres of forest.White, 2016, p. 18 With a successful business Jesse was able to pay off the deed within one year. When his second son, Samuel Simpson, was born Jesse built one of several additions to the home, eventually doubling the size of the house.McFeely, p. 14
Father