The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-19

MAYOR CARTER II. HARRISON, THE MAYOR OF
THE CITY.
Carter H. Harrison, the superb Mayor of
Chicago in these times of bloodshed aud agi-
tation, was born in Fayette County, Ken
lucky, February %, 1875. His earliest an
cestors are traceable to Richard A Harrison,
CromwelPs Lieutenant General, who led
Charles l. to the block. The name was
prominent in Virginia during the Colonial
period, and that of his great grandfather,
Carter II. Harrison and his brother Benja-
min Harrison, the signer of the Declaration
of the Independence, and father of President
VIM. Henry Harrison. The family early
inter-married with the Randolphs and
Carters-twO large Virginia families; through
the former Thomas Jefferson and John Rag
dolph were near kin. Robert Carter Harri-
son, the grandfather of the subject moved
to Kentucky in 1872 His father died eight
months after Carters birth. At fifteen he
was sent to school to DIR. Lewis Marshall.
brothero the Chief Justice, and father of
the celebrated Kentucky orator, Thomas T..
Marshall. He was with MIN two years, and
then went to Yale College and graduated In
1916. After graduating he returned home
and studied Law but did not practice it. gens
to his paternal farm. six miles from Licking
Europe in 1851, returning in 1853.
To complete his law studies, he entered
the Pennsylvania Law School, at Lexington.
and finished the course in 1855. In the same
year he went TO Chicago on his wedding
tour and, forseeing its future possibilities,
decided to settle there, and invested all he
was worth. He began the practice of law,
but becoming inbued with the spirit of real
estate Speculation then pervading the city,,
be gave good deal of attention to it, and
finally relinquished law, his real estate bust
ness having assumed such proportions as to
force him to this step.
In 1871 he was brought out by friends as a
candidate for County Commissioner and
elected. In 1872 he was nominated for Con-
eress on the Democratic ticket, but was de.
feated. In 1874 he was again placed in the
field and elected by majority of eight votes.
The spring and summer CT 1874 he spent travel
ing with his family in Germany, Austria, the
Tyrol and Switzerland. He left his family
and returned home, and in the summer of
1875 he reioined them, travelling in Northern
Europe, and ending at Paris. His family
returned to Germany and he to Chicago. In
1876 he was suddenly called back, and
reached Germany to find that his wife had
died. During his absence he was nominated
and reelected to Congress. In 1878 he de-
clined denomination, and on his return
home in March, 1879, his name was sug-
gested for the Mayoralty. The June month
he was elected to that position. In 1881 he
was again put up Tor MAYOR and was re-
elected. His election the third time to his
present ofliceship will be remembered as one
of the most exciting events in the history of
ChicagO'S municipal elections. During the
late Senatorial contest at Springfield, H.,
Mr.. Harrison aspired to succeed John A.
Logan in the Unted States Senate, but, as
one of he "da' k horses" in that memorable
and prolonged pattle. his popularity was not
sufficient to harmonic the bitter factions of
his party.