To MARY F. GRANT,
Covington, Ky.
[Soon after the date of this letter Grant sold at auction his stock,
crops, and farming implements, and gave up farming. His father, Jesse
Root Grant, had founded a leather store in Galena with the expectation
of establishing his three sons in the business, and withdrawing from
all connection with it himself. It is this business opportunity that
is referred to here with characteristic independence, "I should prefer
your offer to any one of mere salary that could be offered." But it
was not until May, 1860, that he went to Galena, nominally as a clerk,
in reality as a future partner in the business.]
St. Louis,
Oct. 1st, 1858.