Stine - Who Was Ulysses S. Grant?

A baby was born on April 27, 1822, in a tiny one-room house in Point Pleasant, Ohio. For almost a month, his parents werent sure what to call him. Finally, they put a bunch of names in a hat. Then the babys father drew out a nameUlysses! It was the name of a famous hero and warrior from the past.

The babys father decided to name him Hiram Ulysses Grant. But everyone called him Ulysses.

Ulyssess father was Jesse R. Grant. Jesse was a big talker and a show-off. He liked to brag. From the moment Ulysses was born, Jesse bragged about what a great baby his son was.

Jesse owned a tannerya business that turned animal skins into leather. It was smelly, messy, and disgusting. Ulysses hated it. He was willing to do any job, as long as he didnt have to work in his fathers tannery.

Ulyssess mother was Hannah Simpson Grant. Like most women in those days, she stayed home and kept house. Hannah was very quietalmost silent. She hardly ever spoke.

When Ulysses was a year old, his family moved to Georgetown, Ohio. They needed a bigger house. More children were coming along. Ulysses had a brother, Samuel. Then three sisters and another brother were born.

From an early age, Ulysses loved horses. When he was two years old, his father took him to the circus. The ringmaster asked if anyone in the audience wanted to ride the circus horse. The first boy who tried was thrown off. Ulysses begged and begged to ride. Finally his father said yes. So off Ulysses went, riding around the circus ring. A huge smile spread across his babyish face.

When he was five years old, he learned how to ride on a horses backstanding up!

Both of Ulyssess parents loved him and treated him with kindness. They never scolded him or punished him. They gave him a lot of freedom to go fishing and swimming. But they also expected him to do many chores. Ulysses used horses to haul firewood and plow the fields.

Ulysses also tamed horses. Neighbors paid him to break in horses that were too hard to handle. He could ride faster than any of the other boys in town.

One day, when he was eight years old, he saw a horse he wanted to buy. Ulyssess father decided to let Ulysses make the deal all by himself. His father told Ulysses to offer the horses owner twenty dollars, and if he wouldnt take that, to offer him twenty-two fifty. And if he wouldnt take that, then Ulysses could offer him twenty-five dollars.

Ulysses spoke to the horses owner. But instead of bargaining, he blurted out the truth. Papa says I may offer you twenty dollars for the colt, but if you wont take that, I am to offer twenty-two and a half, and if you wont take that, to give you twenty-five.

Of course the man got the highest price for the horse! When the story got around town, everyone laughed except Ulysses. He was embarrassed about it for years.