William A. Crafts, Life of Ulysses S. Grant: His Boyhood, Campaigns, and Services, Military and Civil.

[17] though a captain by brevet, married an accomplished and excellent lady, Miss Julia T. Dent, daughter of Frederick Dent, Esq., a merchant of St. Louis. Mrs. Grant has happily shared her husband's fortunes from the time when she married him, simply a lieutenant, till by his merits he has reached the highest military position ever given to an American officer; and it is to be hoped that she will share with him those higher honors which the American people desire to bestow.

In 1849 the Fourth Infantry was ordered to the Pacific, and a battalion to which Grant was attached was stationed in Oregon. While there he reached the rank of captain by regular promotion. In command of one of the posts of that region he faithfully discharged his duties, as in all his previous positions. But it was a time of profound peace, which promised to be of long duration, his duties were chiefly those of mere routine, promotion was slow, and active service of any kind was not likely to be required of him. He desired to provide more adequately for his wife and family, and under circumstances of less constraint to them. He therefore resigned his commission in 1854, the year following his promotion, and returned home to enter the pursuits of civil life.

He became the owner of a farm at Gravois, a few miles from St. Louis, and devoted himself to its cultivation. It was not altogether a new business for him, for in his boyhood he had learned much of the work of a western farm, and how to turn his hand to useful employment. He was not afraid to work himself, nor to lend a helping hand even to a black laborer. Quiet and unassuming still, he was not above his business,