The Visits of Ulysses and Julia Grant to St. Louis

Missouri Pacific Locomotive #152

Missouri State Archives

Although Ulysses and Julia Grant never lived at White Haven after 1859, both continued to maintain connections to the property for the rest of their lives. The Grants purchased the property after the Civil War and the idea of retiring to White Haven was considered. During the presidential years (1869-1877), the Grants hired a caretaker to manage the farm and invested in a new horse breeding operation at White Haven. The Grants visited St. Louis on a near-annual basis during this time and even looked into purchasing grave plots at Bellefontaine Cemetery in north St. Louis for their final resting place. Ulysses and Julia decided to retire to New York City following the end of their world tour in 1879, but they continued to own White Haven until shortly before Ulysses' death in July 1885.

The Civil War years were a time of constant movement for the entire Grant family. One historian estimates that Julia traveled more than ten thousand miles during the war as she shuttled between caring for the Grants' four children and visiting her husband on the frontlines. She traveled to White Haven on seven separate occassions during the war. Many of these visits were extended stays of at least one month long and served several purposes. The three oldest Grant children--Frederick, Ulysses, Jr., and Nellie--attended school in St. Louis through 1863 and 1864. Julia's father, "Colonel" Frederick Dent, had several bouts with illness during the war that also required Julia's attention. Finally, a legal disupte with a farmer who had purchased Hardscrabble--a log cabin on the White Haven property that Ulysses had built in 1856--prompted Julia to return to St. Louis in the summer of 1863. When the farmer stopped making payments to live at Hardscrabble, Julia followed her husband's directions and reclaimed ownership of the log cabin and surrounding 80 acres.

Julia held mixed emotions about her time at White Haven during the Civil War. She cherished the quality time she spent with her father and children, but resented the pro-Confederate opinions of her father and other nieghbors in the surrounding area. She recalled that "we enjoyed the country greatly" during the summer of 1863, but "my summer was not a happy one. Our neighbors were all Southern in sentiment and could not believe that I was not; no matter how earnestly I denied it . . . [and my father] argued and argued with constantly upon the constitutionality of secession."

Meanwhile, General Grant's duties often took him to St. Louis during the war. While mustering troops in Belleville, Illinois, on May 10, 1861, Grant took the opportunity to stay with his father-in-law at the White Haven property. He also quartered at Jefferson Barracks during his time as Colonel of the 21st Illinois infantry regiment on August 8, 1861. After being appointed to the rank of General, Grant traveled to St. Louis on numerous occasions to meet with other Army officers in the Department of the Missouri, which was headquartered in the city. At various points during the war he stayed in St. Louis to conduct interviews, meet with General Henery Halleck, attend a banquet in his honor, and visit his eldest son during a bad illness.

Ulysses Grant visited St. Louis on six separate occassions during his presidency. Most of these visits were connected to his ownership of White Haven and a desire to see how the farm was being managed. One noteworthy trip occured in April 1873. The Missouri Pacific Railroad had recently completed the Kirkwood and Carondelet rail line, which cut through the White Haven property (Grant allowed the line to cut through his land, and a small station called "Grant Station" was also constructed). Eager to see how his horses were doing, Ulysses, Julia, and several of their children rode a train into White Haven amid the cheers of several thousand residentswho came to see the family.

The Grants made a few rare visits to White Haven afer their retirement in New York City. General Grant's last visit to the property occured on June 14, 1883 as the Grants made their way through St. Louis. Julia's last visit to the home occured in 1894, nine years after her husband died. During this visit Julia met with Luther Conn, a former Captain in the Confederate Army who purchased White Haven in 1888, and gave a tour of the home and property.

The following is a brief itemization of the visits the Grants made to St. Louis, either individually or as a family, between 1861 and 1903. Some of the dates are approximations based on information in the available correspondence or newspapers. Sources are listed following each item.

1861

May 10 Grant visits Colonel Dent, Aunt Fanny, and Lewis Sheets at White Haven. They are staying at Wish-ton-wish because Colonel Dent has rented the main house to “Old Man Rush.” (Papers, II, 26-27)

August 8 The 21st Illinois Regiment, Col. Grant commanding, arrives in St. Louis and quarters at Jefferson Barracks. It does not appear that Grant made it out to White Haven on this trip. (Missouri Democrat, MHS)

August 29 Grant is in St. Louis, but again, it doesn’t seem he was able to visit White Haven. (Papers, II, 148-149)

October 22-23 Grant visits St. Louis on military business following a request from C. McKeever that he have a personal interview with Grant. No information available regarding trip out to White Haven, but unlikely given urgency and reason for his trip. (Papers, III, 67-68)

Nov. 23-Dec. 17 Julia (and possibly the children) return to St. Louis and visit with Col. Dent at the White Haven farm, staying at Wish-ton-wish. (Papers, III, 226-288)

1862

Jan. 24-25 Grant visits St. Louis to meet with General Halleck. No indication he saw Col. Dent at White Haven. (Papers, IV, 96-97)

Aug. 15-Oct.18 Julia staying at Wish-ton-wish with her father and the children. Grant visits them for about a week between the end of September and beginning of October. (William S. Hillyer Collection, UVA; Papers, V, 308-311)

1863
Apr. 23-June 13 Julia visits White Haven with Buck, Nellie and Jess, staying at Wish-ton-wish and possibly in St. Louis city, to transact business regarding the farm. (Papers, VIII, 100-101; VIII, 132-133 ff.)

Aug. 21-Sept. 5? Julia visits St. Louis with Jess, spending a few days in the country. She pays $500 to Colonel Dent for 40 acres and Wish-ton-wish. The three oldest children are in school in St. Louis City. (Papers, IX, 200-201)

1864

Jan. 27-Feb.28 Grant travels with Julia to St. Louis and out to White Haven at Wish-ton-wish where his son, Fred, is deathly ill. Upon his arrival he learns Fred is on the road to recovery, and is invited to a banquet hosted by citizens of St. Louis on the 29th. Grant returns to Nashville on the 31st, and Julia remains in St. Louis until the end of Februaryt. (Papers, X, xxi; X, 69-70; Grant Papers, MHS)

May 10-Aug. 20 Julia at St. Louis, staying at Wish-ton-wish with her father and the children, who are attending school with Louisa Boggs. (Papers, X, 443-444)

Oct. 17 Julia starts off on a trip from Burlington, NJ for St. Louis, where her father is ill. She got as far as Philadelphia and then turned back because she was not feeling well. (William S. Hillyer Collection, UVA)

Oct. 22-Nov.18 Julia made the trip to St. Louis, visiting Colonel Dent at Wish-ton-wish, where she found him much improved. (Papers, XII, 362-363 ff)

1865

Sept. 13-20 Ulysses, Julia and the children visit St. Louis, and stay at the White Haven farm. On September 14 he attends a dinner for railroad investors at the Southern Hotel. (Papers, XV, 317-318 ff; Missouri Democrat, September 15, 1865)

1866

June 13-25 Ulysses and Julia visit St. Louis to be present for the trial regarding White’s possession of Hardscrabble and non-payment of rent. White got a continuance until October 1866. (Papers, XVI, 220n)

Sept. 9 Grant visits St. Louis with President Andrew Johnson as part of his “Swing Around the Circle.” He writes Julia he will visit Mrs. Anna Dent (Lewis’ wife) if it stops raining. (Papers, XVI, 308)

Dec. 13-17 Grant visits St. Louis to purchase 287 acres of White Haven farm from John Dent. He pays $23,220, or $80/acre, to acquire this land. During this time he also meets with Judge David Irvin’s attorneys regarding the mortgage Col. Dent had on the property since 1843. He arranges to settle the debt for $8,000. (Warranty Deed, December 13, 1866; Papers, XVI, 409n; Napton Papers, MHS)

1868

July 6-14 The Grants visit St. Louis, keeping house at Wish-ton-wish. Sherman visits the Grants there, and then he, Grant, Sheridan and Fred and Buck leave for a trip out West. (Home Letters of General Sherman, 377)

October 2-5 Grant travels to St. Louis to visit the farm to take care of various matters, including seeing how certain improvements are progressing. (Papers, XIX, 60-61)

1870

August 9-12 Grant and Buck visit St. Louis to handle matters regarding his Carondelet property and purchasing a lot in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Buck visits the farm but Grant may have stayed in the city. (Papers, XX, 224; Grant Papers, LofC, Folder 10)

1871

April Grant visits farm. Evidence of this visit is per a June 23, 1871 letter to William Elrod indicating he has not heard from Elrod since his visit in April and wants information regarding the farm. (Papers, XXII, 39-40)

1873

April 20-21 Ulysses, Julia, and Nellie (maybe the other children, especially Jesse) visit St. Louis and travel out to farm with numerous individuals by way of the Pacific railroad’s Kirkwood and Carondelet line. From there they went to Henry Blow’s house where a band was playing and dinner was served. Returned to the city where another dinner was held at Robert Campbell’s house, followed by a serenade by the Arsenal Band and a party given in Nellie’s honor. (St. Louis Daily Democrat, John S. McDonald Scrapbook, MHS)

Dec. 20 Grant travels with body of Colonel Dent to St. Louis for burial in Bellefontaine Cemetery. (St. Louis Globe Democrat, MHS)

1874

March 18 General MacDonald brings reporters out to White Haven Farm, but Grant is not present. (Milwaukee Times, ULSG)

Oct. 5-10 Ulysses and Julia Grant arrive in St. Louis to attend the city's Agricultural and Mechanical Fair. President Grant enters several livestock animals from his White Haven farm into various competitions at the fair. In a letter to John F. Long, Ulysses states that "we wish to run about, visit the farm &c." They stay at the Lindell Hotel during their visit. (Grant Papers, XXV, xxv, 207-208).

1875

Sept. 24-28 Grant visits St. Louis and meets with John Long to discuss closing out his farming interests at White Haven and lease the farm out. (Grant in St. Louis, xii)

1877

April 1 Grant in St. Louis, staying at the Lindell Hotel. No mention of whether he visited White Haven or not. (Grant Papers, LofC, Series 10, Container 2, Folder 1)

1883

June 14 The last visit of Ulysses and Julia together to St. Louis. He met with Isaac Sturgeon, collector of the U.S. Internal Revenue, and then weighed himself on a butcher’s scale in Union Market on Fifth Street. He weighed 186 lbs. (St. Louis Republican, MHS)

1894

May 18 Julia, Jesse and his wife stay at the Lindell Hotel but also visit White Haven. Colonel Fred Grant arrived May 17. (Watchman Advocate; Jane Stanford Papers, SC33B)

1896

July 12 (?) Julia visited St. Louis. (JDG to Mrs. Isaac Sturgeon, ULSG)

1903

September 30 `Fred Grant and his wife, Ida, visit White Haven. (“Grant Visits Old Home.” Historic Houses, Bound Scrapbook, v. 1, MHS)


Citations for Abbreviated Sources:

The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, (Papers) volumes I-XXX, Edited by John Y. Simon, Southern Illinois University Press, 1967-2010.

Missouri Historical Society (MHS), St. Louis, Missouri

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site (ULSG), St. Louis, Missouri

Library of Congress (LofC), Washington, D.C.

University of Virginia (UVA), Charlottesville, Virginia