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From: Ena Buchite <>
Subject: Re: [ILJODAVI] Galena,General U.S. Grant & Martin Bottolfsen
Date: Sat, 16 Oct 1999 09:40:59 -0500


This is taken out of the book MEET GENERAL GRANT by W.E. Woodward,
first copyright 1928,
General Grants father, Jesse, set up Ulysses' two younger brothers in a
leather business at Galena, Ill. Their names were Orvil and Simpson.
Uslysses was in the store as an assistant.
The book goes on to say that Grant was courteous and popular with all
who met him on business but never sought acquaintances. A resident of
Galena who knew Grant said that "he had not more than three intimates in
the whole town."
There is a chapter called GRANT LEAVES GALENA FOR THE WAR, so that
does give the idea he had to be there in that time frame. I found where
they were in Detroit in 1850 when the first child was born.
Also, a week or two after the fall of Sumter we find Grant drilling the
Galena volunteers--- a crowd of husky youths who called themselves the
Jo Daviess Guards.
I will have to keep looking for information when he lived in Galena, as
the book is just from his memoirs and mostly about his life in the
military.
Ena
"Connie R. Loftus" wrote:

> My question: with the following information in mind:
> can anyone put General U.S. Grant in Galena,
> Illiniois between July or Aug 1850 and Dec 1855.???
>
> In 1850 my Great Grandfather Martin Bottolfsen
> immigrated and went to Galena, Illiniois.
> the Following is a passage from a letter Martin's
> son Magnus wrote in 1932, long after his father
> Martin had died in 1893.
>
> Quote" >father went to Galena, Ill. where he clerked
> for several years, working parttime at his
> trade which was Tailoring, while in Galena father
> became well acquainted with >General Grant who
> afterwards became President of U.S. Grants store was
> next door to fathers business and they spent many
> evenings smoking and visiting outside on upturned
> soap boxes, small town fashion."<
> Where in Galena would General Grants store have
> been? I have been thru Galena numerous times and
> have never really had the time to stop and do
> research on this. I would like to prove this story
> true, but I can't seem to find that General Grant
> was in Galena during this time frame.
>
> I would also like to find Mari Svendsdatter Loeng in
> Galena records during the time frame July 1852 and
> Dec 1855. She and the Martin Bottolfsen mentioned
> above had met and went to Allamakee County, Iowa by
> abt Dec 1855. they were married the following May
> 6 1856 at Paint Creek (now Waterville), Allamakee
> County Iowa. Mari Svendsdatter Loeng was a nurse,
> midwife.
>
> any help would be so much appreciated. I have
> worked on this one for years..
> thanks Connie Bottolfsen Loftus

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