124 
TREES AS GOOD CITIZENS 
General Ulysses S. Grant had a keen appreciation of 
the worth of trees, and showed his interest by planting 
them on many occasions. During the famous journey 
around the world which followed his term in the White 
House, this celebrated American planted a tree in each 
large city in the Orient visited in his travels. Throughout 
his tour he was received with ceremony befitting his 
widespread renown, and in every city the crowning event 
of the day’s program was the planting of a tree. As a 
result there are many “General Grant” trees in various 
parts of the world. Chicago takes deep pride in one of 
these, an Elm planted by the soldier-statesman in 
Washington Park in 1879, during his first visit to the city 
after his tour of the world. 
Indiana treasures with reverence the Constitutional 
Elm, with its spread of 124 feet. Under this tree, in 1816, 
was held the Constitutional Convention of Corydon, and 
as a result of this association with the making of the 
state, the tree holds firm place in the affections of the 
people of Indiana. In North Carolina stands the Battle¬ 
ground Oak, also known as the Cornwallis Oak and the 
Liberty Oak, because of its association with momentous 
events in the war of the Revolution. This tree witnessed 
the celebrated battle of Guilford Court House, in 1781. 
In the opinion of its sponsors it is entitled to a place in the 
Hall of Fame for its shade tree beauty as well as for its 
historical interest. The spread of its branches is more 
than 100 feet and its base circumference 21 feet. 
The Wesley Oak has been nominated from St. Simon’s 
Island, off the coast of Georgia. This tree brings its 
message of the early days of Georgia’s settlement, when 
British troops were quartered on the Island. One notable 
chapter in its history is linked with the American visit of 
John and Charles Wesley, whose memory is sacred to the 
