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Archiver > KYGREENU > 2001-02 > 0981396882
From: Randal W Cooper <>
Subject: [KyGreenu] GRANT Surname in Greenup County, Kentucky and Connections to Ulysses S. GRANT and his Father Jesse Root GRANT
Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 13:14:42 -0500
Dear Subscribers to the Greenup County, Kentucky Mailing List,
There was a tannery at Springville, Greenup County, Kentucky, which was
said to have been operated by the father of Ulysses S. GRANT, according
to Biggs and McCoy's ~History of Greenup County, Kentucky, pages 54 and
55.
The father of General/President Ulysses S. GRANT was Jesse Root GRANT. I
have been researching the life of Jesse Root GRANT, to see when (or if)
he lived in Greenup County, Kentucky.
Jesse Root GRANT was born 23 Jan 1794, at Greensburg, Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania. Jesse Root GRANT's parents were Noah GRANT and
Rachel KELLY, who was the second wife of Noah GRANT. Noah GRANT, a
native of Connecticut, died at Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, 14 Feb
1819. I have read that Noah GRANT moved to Ohio after the Revolutionary
War, but have not yet tried to find the year or the place. Noah GRANT
also lived in Pennsylvania.
>From GenForum Message #230 of the GRANT Forum, I have learned that
Samuel GRANT was a tanner who lived at Maysville, Mason County,
Kentucky. The father of Samuel GRANT was Peter GRANT, who drowned in
1825, apparently while a resident of Mason County, Kentucky, but I am
not sure of the place of death. Peter GRANT was a brother of Jesse Root
GRANT, according to the information contained in said GenForum posting.
Thus, Samuel GRANT the Maysville Tanner was a nephew of Jesse Root
GRANT, and a cousin of Ulysses S. GRANT.
Perhaps Samuel GRANT was the tanner referred to by Ms. Biggs in her
history. I do not have a conclusion yet, since I am still investigating
this matter.
Please note that a Royal C. GRANT was enumerated in the 1830 Census of
Greenup County, Kentucky, page 91, Greenupsburgh post office. I have
been attempting to find the relationship (if any) between Royal C. GRANT
and Ulysses S. GRANT. I do have more information, which I will post in a
future message. It appears that Royal C. GRANT and Ulysses S. GRANT
might have been related, but I have not found the relationship yet. I
have found Royal GRANTs in Census Indexes of 1840 and 1850 of Meigs
County, Ohio, but have not looked them up. Royal C. GRANT was born 3 Oct
1805, at Garland, Penobscot County, Maine, a son of Samuel GRANT and
Hannah DAVIS. I have found Samuel GRANT in the 1820 Census of Sutton
Township, Meigs County, Ohio, page 117. I will post more details in my
next message.
Speaking of Meigs County, Ohio, Samuel SEATON married Hannah EDDY in
Meigs County, Ohio. Samuel SEATON was a native of New Hampshire who
became a prominent resident of Greenup County, Kentucky. Royal C. GRANT
may have come to Greenup County, Kentucky from Meigs County, Ohio. How
many more people migrated to Greenup County from Meigs County, Ohio? Any
COOPERs?
So far, I have not found any evidence of Jesse Root GRANT being the
owner of the tannery which was located at Springville, Greenup County,
Kentucky. If anyone has such evidence, please let the Greenup County
List know!
Jesse Root GRANT's mother died when Jesse was a young boy, living in
Ohio. Jesse was one of eight children. After the death of his mother,
Jesse Root GRANT was sent to live with a nearby family and learn the
trade of a tanner. Jesse acquired the basics, then moved in with Owen
BROWN at his tannery. Owen BROWN was the father of abolitionist John
BROWN.
Jesse Root GRANT went into business as a tanner at the village of Point
Pleasant, on the Ohio River in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1821. In that
same year, he married Hannah SIMPSON, at Point Pleasant. Their firstborn
child, Hiram Ulysses GRANT (Ulysses S. GRANT) was born 27 Apr 1822, at
Point Pleasant. In 1823, Jesse Root GRANT moved to Georgetown, Brown
County, Ohio, 25 miles east of Point Pleasant. Ulysses S. GRANT lived at
Georgetown until 1839, wnen he entered West Point Military Academy.
I have found Jesse Root GRANT enumerated in the 1830 Census of
Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio, page 443. In 1840, Jesse Root GRANT was
listed in the Census of Tate Township, Clermont County, Ohio, page 155,
where he was a resident of Bethel. In 1850, Jesse Root GRANT was
enumerated in the same township, on page 340. In 1870, Jesse Root GRANT
was included in the Census of the First Ward of Covington, Kenton
County, Kentucky, page 321. Jesse Root GRANT died 29 Jun 1873 at
Covington, Kentucky.
My source for many of the details of Jesse Root GRANT's life is a
biography of Ulysses S. GRANT entitled ~Unconditional Surrender: U.S.
Grant and the Civil War~, by Albert Marrin, 1994, Simon and Shuster, New
York.
As previously stated, I have found no evidence that Jesse Root GRANT was
the owner of the Springville, Kentucky tannery, but would like to hear
of it, if any Greenup County List members have the answer!
Randal W. Cooper, Ohio
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