Pictured is U.S. Grant and family at Grant Cottage. Photo courtesy Amber Becraft-Johnan, U.S. Grant Homestead Association.
Pictured is the program presenter, Ben Kemp. Photo courtesy Amber Becraft-Johnan, U.S. Grant Homestead Association.
President U.S. Grant’s personal memoirs are one of the most sought-after autobiographies of historical value to date. With the help of his friend Mark Twain, who published the memoirs after Grant’s death, this two-volume detail of his life was well received in the spotlight of America. His memoirs share largely of his time as a General during the Civil War, but tucked into the beginning of his works, are the details of his time in Georgetown, Ohio, the place that our Native Son called home. These memoirs were written while Grant spent his time in the mountains, at his home, Grant Cottage.
On Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 1pm, at The Georgetown United Methodist Church, 217 S. Main St, Georgetown, Ohio, with an opening music act by the Pedigo Band, help the U.S. Grant Homestead Association welcome U.S. Grant Cottage Historic Site Operations Manager, Ben Kemp. It is sure to be an enthralling afternoon as Kemp shares the compelling story of how famed Civil War General and two-term U.S. President, Ulysses S. Grant, ended up spending his final days in the foothills of New York’s Adirondack Mountains. The story is a touching inspirational tale of family devotion and a true character study of a man known for his triumph over adversity. Learn how the amazingly preserved Cottage atop Mt. McGregor, with breathtaking views of New York’s Hudson Valley and Vermont’s Green Mountains, became a historic site that has welcomed visitors for the last 137 years.
Ben Kemp was born and raised in the Saratoga region of New York State. He is a living historian, speaker, and researcher who has been featured on C-Span, PBS, the National Park Service, and the 2020 History channel documentary Grant. Ben has been a staff member with The Friends of U.S. Grant Cottage since 2014. His research into Grant has been primarily focused on the lesser-known private life of U.S. Grant, especially his family life. This research has revealed a very relatable person and fostered a fresh appreciation for the man who saved the Union. Ben has portrayed all three of Grant’s sons as well as the general himself. In addition to history, Ben enjoys outdoor pursuits such as hiking, having climbed all the 46 highest peaks in the Adirondack mountains of New York. He also has a passion for antique shows/flea markets, demolition derby, bluegrass music, and rollercoasters. Ben is proud to be a part of celebrating the Bicentennial of U.S. Grant and to be able to contribute to the upcoming book Grant at 200: Reconsidering the Life and Legacy of Ulysses S. Grant.
Prior to the Grant Cottage program with Ben Kemp, the U.S. Grant Homestead Association will be featuring a History Walk starting at the Boyhood Home, 219 E. Grant Ave. Georgetown, Ohio, at 10am, with Dr. Ned Lodwick, Historian.
We hope to see a large attendance for this program! Souvenirs will be available for purchase by cash or with our new credit card machine! For more information, please visit our website: usgrantboyhoodhome.org or our Facebook Page: U.S. Grant Boyhood Home and Schoolhouse Historic Sites.