relates that the vacancy which he was appointed to fill was not generally known to exist at the time. Bartlett Bailey, a son of Dr. Bailey, next door neighbor to the Grant family, had been given the appointment, but his failure to meet the entrance requirements at West Point left a vacancy. General Grant thus describes the situa

tion at that time:

"There were no telegraphs in those days to disseminate news rapidly, no railroads west of the Alleghenies, and but few east; and above all, there were no reporters prying into the people's private affairs. Consequently it did not become generally known that there was a vacancy at West Point from our district until I was appointed. I presume Mrs. Bailey confided to my mother the fact that Bartlett had been dismissed, and that the doctor had forbidden his son's return home."

Jesse R. Grant, learning of this vacancy, promptly requested the assistance of his friend, Senator Morris, to secure, if possible, the appointment for his son as already related. The appointment was made while the Grant family was still living in Georgetown, the county seat of Brown County. The father of General Grant always manifested a deep interest in the welfare of his children and gave them the best possible education within his limited means. He was especially eager that his eldest son should start in life with the advantages of the course at West Point and to this interest in no small degree was due young Grant's opportunity to enter upon the path to success and distinction.

While Grant was at West Point his father moved from Georgetown to Bethel. That he was a man of influence in the community is attested by the fact that he was elected the first mayor of the village when it was incorporated. The docket which he kept in his own

* Jesse R. Grant had previously been mayor of Georgetown.

handwriting was on exhibition on the occasion of the Centenary. It is an interesting document and it is to the credit of those who own it that it has been thus carefully preserved to the present time. We learn from its pages that the first case tried before Mayor Grant was an "action for shooting a pet deer, damage $10." This case was tried July 18, 1851. The plaintiff, C. R. Crumm, by decision of the mayor received $4.00. The costs in the case amounted to $5.93. The next case was tried February 4 to February 6, 1852.

the case is as follows:

STATE OF OHIO

V. S.

WM. & JAMES HARP

The record of

PEACE WARRANT

BETHEL, Feb 4th, 1852.

On complaints of J. A. I. Ross warrant issued directed to A. Senteny Marshall of Bethel. Warrant returned served and "I have the Defts. present Feb. 4th, 1852."

A. Senteny Marshall.
Subpeona issued for five witnesses.

"Returned served. A. Senteny Marshall."

Feb. 5th Subpeona isued for 10 witness for the Deft. Returned "Served. A. Senteny Marshall."

Feb. 5th John Patten sworn and examined, when on motion of the Deft. the further consideration of the subject is postponed until tomorrow evening.

Feb. 6th on application of Deft. subpeona issued for two witnesses.

Returned "Served.

A Senteny Marshall."

The parties met at the school house at early candlelight, with Counsel. Defts. Counsel moved to quash the proceedings for informality. Motion overruled. Whereupon he filed the following exception:

"STATE OF OHIO
V. S.

WILLIAM & JOHN HARP

The Defts. excepts the opinion of the Mayor, in this that the Deft. moved to quash the proceedings, in this that there is Vol. XXXI-17.

a variance between affidavit and the warrant in this that the matter set forth in the affidavit varies from the warrant."

On motion of Defts. Counsel the Defts. were ordered tried separately. Whereupon James Harp was put upon his trial. Subpeona issued for Hester Ann Noble.

Returned "Served. A. Senteny Marshall."

Harrison Coulter, William Beck, John Holmes, J. A. I. Ross, Jr., John Irwin and Hester Ann Noble, were sworn and examined when Defts. Counsil moved to discharge the Prisoner on the grounds that the state has failed to prove the time and place when the alleged offense had been committed, also that the testimony was insufficient to make out the case. The first objection being overruled, the parties proceeded to argue the merits of the case. Whereupon it is considered by me that the testimony is insufficient to bind Deft. to keep the peace and that therefore the Deft. James Harp be discharged, and that judgment be rendered against J. A. I. Ross the complaining witness for his costs therein expended; and that James Harp pay the costs he made; which is one dollar seventy cents besides his witnesses who were not called on to testify.

J. R. GRANT, Mayor.

Litigation in the court of Mayor Grant seems to have been rather infrequent as only two other cases are recorded, one an "action of trespass" and the other "assault and battery."

Jesse R. Grant and Senator Thomas Morris were very close friends, as may be inferred from what has already been related. Just what was the basis of this intimate friendship has not been fully stated. Possibly agreement on the slavery question had something to do with it. General Grant prior to the Civil War was not in sympathy with the abolition movement. In the presidential election of 1856 he voted for James Buchanan for president of the United States. His father, however, was strangely opposed to slavery. Possibly his contact with the anti-slavery sentiment of the Western Reserve before he came to Clermont had something to do with his opinion on this subject and it is reasonable

Feb 6 she on application of deeft
Subperson issued for two witniper
Noturned served