Hi Nancy - As I recall, General GRANT wrote his extensive memoirs on his front porch wrapped in scarves while suffering greatly from throat cancer, in an effort to ensure his family would have monies on which to live after he was deceased. Perhaps your library has these volumes. Apparently, his mother (Hannah SIMPSON) was an Irish immigrant from Dergenagh, Co. Tyrone. True, his given name was Hiram Ulysses Grant -- and his favorite breakfast was said to be vinegar-soaked cucumbers. I'll see if I can find out more, but in the meantime, check out the interesting tidbits on GRANT (pgs. 6 & 7), and other American presidents at http://www.whitehouseinnbangor.com/PresidentialTrivia.pdf. Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy I. Baker" <nancy@nancybaker.org> To: <irelandgenweb@rootsweb.com>; <IrelandGenWeb-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 6:37 PM Subject: Re: [Irish Genealogy] ACW Letter/1865 -- Walt WHITMAN (1819-1892)tohis mother in Brooklyn, NY - Gen. GRANT/w Co. Tyrone SIMPSON roots > What is the best way to verify this birthplace of John Simpson? He is my > gggg or ggggrandfather. My great grandfather, Gen John Simpson, of Ohio > was > a first cousin of Gen.(Hiram) Ulysses Grant. I would appreciate your > assistance for though we have heard that (the first) John Simpson came to > Bucks County in 1738 and that he was born in Tyrone county, we have not > had > any more specific information. Thank you for you help. Nancy I. Baker > ----- Original Message -----

Nancy - Perhaps another lister can help you locate more on your family's SIMPSON line. Apparently, GRANT's great-grandfather, John SIMPSON, was born in 1738 near Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. ***You wrote >> What is the best way to verify this birthplace of John Simpson? He is my gggg or ggggrandfather. My great grandfather, Gen John Simpson, of Ohio was a first cousin of Gen.(Hiram) Ulysses Grant. I would appreciate your assistance for though we have heard that (the first) John Simpson came to Bucks County in 1738 and that he was born in Tyrone county, we have not had any more specific information. Thank you for you help. Nancy I. Baker *** Ulysses GRANT was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, OH, a village on the Ohio River about 20 miles southeast of Cincinnati. He was the first child of Jesse and Hannah Simpson Grant. They named their son Hiram Ulysses Grant, but always called his Ulysses or 'Lyss. The year after he was born, the family moved to nearby Georgetown, OH, where his father owned a tannery and a farm. Grant's two brothers and three sisters were born in Georgetown. His father prospered in his tannery. The shy and retiring Ulysses disliked working in the tannery, but enjoyed farm work and managing horses and became an excellent horseman. Ulysses was honest and trustworthy, and his father often sent him on business trips. Ulysses attended school in Georgetown until he was 14. He then spent on e year at an academy in nearby Ripley, OH. Early in 1839, his father learned that a neighbor's son had been dismissed from the U. S. Military Academy. Jesse asked his Congressman to appoint Ulysses as a replacement. The Congressman made a mistake in Grant's name and made out the appointment to Ulysses Simpson Grant and Grant never corrected the mistake. Apparently, he thought his classmates might tease him about his real initials - "H.U.G." Briefly - GRANT graduated from West Point in 1843; married Julia DENT, Aug. 22, 1848; resigned from the army in 1854; was appointed a colonel of IL volunteers in 1861; led Union troops to victory at Vicksburg, MS; was named supreme commander of Union forces in 1864; accepted the surrender of Confederate forces under General Robert E. LEE, April 9, 1865; was elected President of the United States in 1868; was re-elected President in 1872; was defeated in bid for presidential nomination in 1880; died July 23, 1885, in Mount McGregor, NY. As stated, Grant commanded the victorious Union armies at the close of the Civil War in 1865. His success and fame as a general led to his election as president in 1868. During his military career, he had led his troops with energy and determination. He developed great confidence in his own judgment, and an ability to learn from experience. These traits also characterized Grant's political career. But the qualities which had brought him military glory were not enough to solve the nation's problems in the 1870's. Grant's enemies called him a poor President, and historians have generally agreed. His presidency was clouded by disgrace and dishonesty, partly because of his habit of trusting persons who pretended to be his friends. A severe financial panic in 1873 caused the people to react against Grant. It should be noted that Grant's presidency has recently been re-evaluated by historians with a much more favorable rating. Some background: Two months after Grant became President in 1869, the nation's first transcontinental railroad was completed. In October, 1871, the great Chicago fire killed about 300 persons and left more than 90,000 homeless. In 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the United States. Alexander Graham BELL invented the telephone in 1876. That same year, in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Sioux and Cheyenne warriors massacred about 225 men under General George A. CUSTER. .

Jean: Thank you very much for your suggestions and attention to my question. According to our records, my ggrandfather, John Simpson (son of Samuel Simpson) was a first cousin of U.S. Grant (son of Hannah Simpson). Samuel and Hannah were children of John Simpson, Jr. and Rebecca Weir. John Simpson, Jr. was a son of John Simpson and Hannah Roberts. This John Simpson is said to have been born about 1738 in "Derbina Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, No. Ireland". The last mention John Simpson would be my 4ggrandfather. Which is the correct name of the town in County Tyrone, do you think? Any suggestions for finding the correct people and place? Thank you for your helpfulness. Nancy I. Baker ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean R." <jeanrice@cet.com> To: <irelandgenweb@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 11:42 AM Subject: Re: [Irish Genealogy] Gen. Ulysses S. GRANT w. Dergenagh,Co. Tyrone roots > Hi Nancy - As I recall, General GRANT wrote his extensive memoirs on his > front porch wrapped in scarves while suffering greatly from throat cancer, > in an effort to ensure his family would have monies on which to live after > he was deceased. Perhaps your library has these volumes. Apparently, his > mother (Hannah SIMPSON) was an Irish immigrant from Dergenagh, Co. Tyrone. > True, his given name was Hiram Ulysses Grant -- and his favorite breakfast > was said to be vinegar-soaked cucumbers. > I'll see if I can find out more, but in the meantime, check out > the interesting tidbits on GRANT (pgs. 6 & 7), and other American > presidents > at http://www.whitehouseinnbangor.com/PresidentialTrivia.pdf. > Jean > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Nancy I. Baker" <nancy@nancybaker.org> > To: <irelandgenweb@rootsweb.com>; <IrelandGenWeb-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 6:37 PM > Subject: Re: [Irish Genealogy] ACW Letter/1865 -- Walt WHITMAN > (1819-1892)tohis mother in Brooklyn, NY - Gen. GRANT/w Co. Tyrone SIMPSON > roots > > >> What is the best way to verify this birthplace of John Simpson? He is >> my >> gggg or ggggrandfather. My great grandfather, Gen John Simpson, of Ohio >> was >> a first cousin of Gen.(Hiram) Ulysses Grant. I would appreciate your >> assistance for though we have heard that (the first) John Simpson came to >> Bucks County in 1738 and that he was born in Tyrone county, we have not >> had >> any more specific information. Thank you for you help. Nancy I. >> Baker >> ----- Original Message ----- > > Check out the Ireland GenWeb website at: http://www.irelandgenweb.com/ > It is a good place to get help with your family research. > Help wanted: County Coordinators > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRELANDGENWEB-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >