Hudson Bay in Vancouver in Clark County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

U. S. Grant Memorial

1853

Photographed By Kevin W., June 9, 2008

1. U. S. Grant Memorial Marker

Inscription. General U.S. Grant when a young officer was stationed at Columbia Barracks, Vancouver, Washington.

One mile east from here he planted potatoes to reduce the expense of his officer’s mess.

Erected 1927 by Cadets, Hill Military Academy, Portland, Oregon.

Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 45° 37.475′ N, 122° 39.216′ W. Marker is in Vancouver, Washington, in Clark County. It is in Hudson Bay. Marker is on E. 5th Street near Davis Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vancouver WA 98661, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Whose Anchor? (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pearson Airfield (about 800 feet away); Officers Row (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carlton Foster Bond (approx. 0.2 miles away); Early Aviation History in Vancouver (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Chkalov Transpolar Flight (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Soviet Transpolar Flight of 1937 (approx.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

0.2 miles away); Howard C. French / Alexander Pearson (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vancouver.

Additional commentary.
1. U. S. Grant in Vancouver
In 1852, Brevet Captain Ulysses S. Grant arrived at Columbia Barracks with the Fourth Infantry. Then a young army captain, the soon-to-be famous military man and president was quartermaster in charge of building houses, repairing wagons and outfitting expeditions to survey military roads. Stationed at Vancouver from 1852-1853 as a First Lieutenant, brevet Captain, and as Regimental Quartermaster, his experiences are typical of young officers during that period. Grant’s wife, Julia, stayed in the east with their oldest son because she was seven months pregnant when the captain received transfer orders, and he felt that the journey would be too difficult for her.

There were no hostilities with native people during Grant’s year at Vancouver Barracks. The young officer stayed occupied with his military duties, hunting, fishing, and various entrepreneurial enterprises to make money. He lived with Rufus Ingalls, Brent, and three clerks in “Quartermaster Ranch,” a prefabricated house

U. S. Grant Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joan Marie Wildman, May 25, 2023

2. U. S. Grant Memorial

Ben with his Aunt Doris Wildman's plaster carved original of the brass plaque. She was the artist.

sent to Vancouver via Cape Horn a few years earlier. Captains Grant, Ingalls, and Henry D. Wallen also went into business together, attempting to capitalize on the shortage of goods along the Pacific Coast caused by the California Gold Rush. They tried raising potatoes, and selling chickens, cattle, pigs, and ice to California. But, as luck would have it, their potato field flooded, the chickens died enroute, and the ice melted before reaching San Francisco.
(Source: The Vancouver National Historic Reserve Social History Project, Part One: 1846-1898)

— Submitted June 20, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.

Photographed By Kevin W., June 9, 2008

3. U. S. Grant Memorial Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,538 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 20, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 2. submitted on September 11, 2023, by Joan Marie Wildman of Sequim, Washington. 3. submitted on June 20, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.