Ulysses Grant Wharton

Ulysses Wharton
1868-1929

Ulysses was born August 16,1868 (1) to Mary Elizabeth Cook and his father Oliver P Wharton. Both parents were born in PA. Ulysses was the oldest of 5, he had 4 younger brothers: Oliver, Ivins, John & August “Leo.” (2)

Ulysses’ cause of death was recorded as “epilepsy” so we can assume he battled the disease the majority of his life. (1) Though he never married, records show him to be industrious, successful, and strongly connected with his family.

The 1880 census, when Ulysses was only 11, does not show any sign of his father. (2) Though his mother Mary is marked as “married” and not “widowed” she is the head of the house with the five boys. Due to his father’s absence and plethora of children, Ulysses likely grew up quite fast. Ulysses’ mother Mary is buried here right beside him. As is Rebecca, who we assume to be his little sister. There are many Cooks (Mary’s maiden name) buried near the Whartons.

At the age of 29, Ulysses was elected sexton of St. Andrew’s Episcopal church in Yardley. (3) Two years later, in 1900 we find him as the head of a household in a house which he owns and has no mortgage on. He is working as a teamster and shares his home with his brother Leo who works as a carpenter and their unmarried Aunt, Sarah Cook*, aged 46. (4)

Over the years he added value to his estate. In 1901 he added a barn to his house (5) and land from the late A.S. Cadwalader extending from the canal to Canal St. in 1906 (6). He also added tracts of land - including one sold to Ulysses by the “Religious Society for Friends in LMT” in Nov 1912. (7)

Around 1910 Ulysses helped his youngest brother, Leo, who was struggling as a carpenter in Yardley, to purchase a 30 acre farm near Williamstown, NJ. Leo had health issues which impeded his work as a carpenter. He wanted to start a new life with his wife and young daughter and was able to do so only with the help of his big brother Ulysses. (8)

Unfortunately, 3 years later tragedy struck. Word traveled to Ulysses that his brother Leo, Leo’s wife, Mary, their 5 year old daughter, Lillian, and a neighbor had been murdered and the house had been burned to the ground. Investigators theorized that the neighbor may have taken Mary to the movies which enraged Leo to the point of murder, arson and suicide. (9)

One can only imagine the heartbreak Ulysses felt for the fate of his brother. It was clear that Ulysses took pride in supporting his family. This was most likely a terrible blow.

In 1920 he was living with his brother Oliver and his family. He owned different properties in Yardley over the years and his estate when he passed was valued at over $46,000 which was a significant amount of money in 1929. (10)

Ulysses is the last known burial in the original section of Slate Hill. Ulysses died of epilepsy September 17 1929. (1,11)

*Sarah Cook’s grave is 2 down from here. Here at Slate Hill, she is most recognized for the grand tree growing above her grave. You will notice that the engraving on her marker faces the tree, making it practically impossible to read. This is because the tree was not here when Sarah was buried.