Grant City, the town named after General Ulysses S. Grant, later President of the United States, rose from the ashes of the Civil War and became a bustling town. Letters of congratulations were read from the Missouri House, the Missouri Senate, Governor Jay Nixon, Congressman Sam Graves, and Northwest Missouri State University President John Jasinski during ceremonies Saturday held to mark the Sesquicentennial. State Representative Mike Thomson, who read the resolutions at the state level, said that he was proud to represent a place whose citizens had a strong passion for the town and who wanted to make it a better place to live.
Among attractions and accomplishments cited by the Missouri Legislature included the outdoor learning center, the swimming pool, the bathhouse, the nature trail, and many new business establishments despite the declining population. Brianna Fletchall of the Worth County Senior Class talked about the work that they did for the Time Capsule that will be in front of City Hall. It will include a pair of football gloves, a bracelet in memory of Cody Schrock, a CD with music from 2013, senior class pictures, an MP3 player, the business directory, letters from class members, and copies of Josephine, the News-Press, and the National Geographic. A dedication will be held at a later date. The Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home helped with the vault and Malcom Eighmy did the monument.
A person representing Lydia Frakes, the first citizen of Grant City, whose family was instrumental in building the city and the Courthouse, gave a presentation accompanied by the Worth County Community Band and Choir. "Frakes" talked about how the Civil War took a toll on the fledgling town, pitting family members against each other. "However, we have overcome," she said. She encouraged the community to build a "town of togetherness."
"Ulysses S. Grant" said that it was an honor for him to speak in the town that was named after him. He was originally Hiram Ulysses Grant; however, the Congressman who recommended him to West Point kept insisting that he was Ulysses and that his name was Simpson, after his mother's maiden name. His dad was a tanner who wanted him to help with the family business. But Ulysses loved the outdoors and he was a horse whisperer from an early age; he said he had never been thrown, stepped on, or kicked. He recalled that President Lincoln thought more highly of his horses than he did his generals.
Grant was rejected by the army despite his Congressman's efforts; therefore, he gathered a group of rejects who had not made the army for whatever reason. They formed their own militia independent of the Army and they began winning battle after battle in Kentucky and Tennessee. "Grant" was humble about that period of his life; he said that he never considered himself to be a genius despite his successes. He had a simply philosophy -- find out where the enemy was, strike, and keep moving. He had a photographic memory and had the ability to assess any situation immediately. If he had been through terrain once, he would recall it perfectly.
Despite becoming the first four star general in US history, "Grant" said he never considered himself to be a hero, but just someone doing his job. After the war, he said that he had to wrestle with the demands of celebrity; however, he ran for President and served two terms. During his administration, the first Transcontinental Railroad was built, the first National Park was created, and the nation grappled with reconstruction following the deadly Civil War.
Following his Presidency, "Grant" wanted to provide for his family when he was gone and, with the help of an up and coming author named Mark Twain, wrote his memoirs. "Grant" said that Twain had been a tremendous help and that for that reason, Missouri always had a place in his heart. "You are good people and I am proud to help you celebrate," said "Grant."
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