Ida Marie Honoré

Ida Marie Honoré Grant was born on June 4, 1854, in Louisville, Kentucky. Her father was Henry Hamilton Honoré, a prominent businessman and leading real estate developer in Chicago. She attended St. Xavier School and Dearborn Seminary in Chicago, and graduated from Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., in 1874. Despite her Catholic education, she was identified as an Episcopalian. She was recognized for her musical skills, particularly in playing the harp and piano.

In Washington, D.C., Ida Marie Honoré met Frederick Dent Grant, the eldest son of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. The couple married on October 20, 1874, at her parents' residence, with President Grant and First Lady Julia Grant in attendance. At the time of her marriage, she was twenty years old. Following their wedding, Ida Marie lived with her parents while her husband continued his military service.

Ida Marie and Frederick Grant had two children: Julia Dent Grant (1876–1975) and Ulysses S. Grant III (1881–1968). The birth of Ulysses S. Grant III resulted in Ida Marie experiencing prolonged health issues, which rendered her an invalid for an extended period.

After Frederick Grant resigned from the Army in 1881, he assisted his father in preparing memoirs and engaged in business activities in New York City. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison appointed Frederick Grant as the U.S. Minister to Austria-Hungary, leading to the family’s relocation to Vienna. When Grover Cleveland assumed the presidency, Grant was permitted to continue in his diplomatic role until his resignation in 1893.

Subsequently, the family moved to New York City. Frederick Grant became a Police Commissioner of New York City, serving until 1898. During the Spanish–American War that year, Grant enlisted and was appointed colonel of the 14th New York Volunteers. He was later promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and served in Puerto Rico. In 1899, Grant was deployed to the Philippines during the Philippine–American War, remaining there until 1902. He was promoted to brigadier general in the Regular Army in 1901 and later achieved the rank of major general in 1906.

Throughout these military assignments, Ida Marie accompanied her husband, especially after her children reached adulthood. Frederick Grant died of cancer on April 12, 1912, at Fort Jay on Governors Island in New York City. He was interred in West Point Cemetery. At the time of his death, he was serving as the commander of the Eastern Division of the U.S. Army.

Following her husband's death, Ida Marie Grant moved to The Acacias in Sarasota, Florida, where she joined her sister, Bertha Palmer. Her sister was involved in developing Sarasota into a destination community. Upon Bertha Palmer's death, Ida Marie inherited her estate, including land and money, which provided financial stability. She briefly relocated to upstate New York to reside with her son Ulysses S. Grant III, who was teaching at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.

Later, she returned to Washington, D.C., residing at 1711 New Hampshire Avenue. Ida Marie Honoré Grant died there on September 5, 1930, at the age of 76. She was buried alongside her husband in West Point Cemetery, New York. Her estate was valued at approximately $373,000 and was bequeathed to her family.