Ulysses S Grant had a slave
Likely purchased from his Father in law when Grant and his family lived on FIL plantation 1854-1859. The slave was given his freedom in 1859.
IIRC, the slave was a gift from Julia's parents. This was during Grant's "Hardscrabble" times when he cut firewood to make ends meet.
Grant could have sold him. Lord knows he needed the money, but the idea of slavery rankled his sensibilities, and he set the fellow free. It's unknown what became of the black.
7mm