Omaha daily bee., 1888-06-26

fore he had been admitted TO the bar he mar
ried Miss Scott, who is still alive ana one
of the kndest ana most queenly gentle
women of the land, and who through all ms
early struggles and later triumphs has ever
been his true and faithful adviser and help
meet.
In 1854 he moved to Indianapolis and took
n modest cottage at the northeast corner OF
Alabama and North streets. He rented an
Office and hung out his law sign. Clients
who went TO him were sometimes rather dls-
posed to doubt his wisdom when they saw
his youthful face, upon which no signs OF
beard had yet appeared. But little CON
sultation soon convinced them that the blg
head that they saw on those young shoulders
was full of brains, and the result was that
he soon began to get business and those who
once employed him never forsook him
for other lawyers. The records of the courts
of last resort in Indiana will show that he
has been engaged in more important cases
than almost any other man in the state. In
1860 the republican party elected him re
porter of the supreme court This was an
Office within the line of his profession, and
one that he was glad to get for the money
there was in it, for as yet he was struggling
for a name and place in the legal ranks.
He had hardly been installed INTO Office
when the late war broke out. His loyalty TO
the government made him resolved to leave
his profession and his home and respond to
his countrys call. Meeting Governor Nor
ton on the street he signitied his intention
and was requested to organize company.
He recruited company A of the Seven
tieth Indiana. After the organiza-
tion of the regiment he was commissioned its
colonel. With his regiment he went to Bow
ling Green, KY, and was soon, as ranking
colonel, made commander of the brigade,
When Buell. and Bragg made their famous
march through Kentucky his command was
left, like an island, in the midst of the hsstile
forces. For many months his troops guarded
the Louisville Il Nashville railroad and af-
| terwards the Nashville & Chattanooga. He
linn lN
| days of the war there was muttcring on the
part of officers and men on account of what
| they called his everlasting drill. But it was
| remarked that he worked as hard as any
| soldier in the ranks. Before the close of
| the war, however, his men learned
TO love him and to sSe
that the early days of drill
| made later days of safety possible. Many a
| time, on the long and tircsomc march, have l
seen Colonel Harrison dismount his sorrel
| horse and invite some foot-sore private sol
| dicr to ride.
Statistics show that the battle of Chicka-
mauga was, for the time of the battle and
number of men engaged the bloodiest of the
| war. Harrisons brigade was III the thickest
| of the fight. Down Peach Tree creek the
| blood literally ran in streams He stood like
a hero infusing courage and confidence into
| his struggling men. With not a bit of brag
| and bluster but with quiet dignity he was
| always at his post of duty in any time of
| need. He went with Sherman in his march
| to the sea-
| After the war was over he returned to In
dianapolis and to his cottage home on
| Alabama street and, forming a
| partnership with Albert G. Porter and w.
| p. Fishbuck resumed the practice of law.
| No stronger firm than that of Porter, Harrl-
| son and Fishback has ever been known III
| Indiana. The bographers say that he was
| the republican candidate for governor in
| 1876 and was defeated This is partly true
| and partly mistake. In that year Godlve
| S. Orth was nominated for governor and
| after the canvass had been begun such
| serious charges were made against the
| nominee that it was apparent that his defeat
| was certain. In this dilemma the state cen
tral committee took his name off the ticket
| and inserted the name of Harrison. If Har-
| rson had been the original nominee there is
| little dovbt but he would have been elected.
| In 1850 he was elected United States scna-
tor, which office he held for six years In
| the minds of men who Hre familiar with In
| diana politics, there is but little doubts
| that he might have successfully contested
| the seat of his successor, Senator Turpie, on
account of the frauds practiced in the cleo
| tion of the Indiana legislature in 1856. But
| he declined to contest.
| People who know nothing of the man have
| sometimes accused HIM of being cold and
| formal. He is anything but that. He is a
| dignitied gentleman and does not walk up to
| an acquaintance on the street and slap him
on the back and salute him with ''Hcllo
| Jack but he attends to every duty in life
is far from being rich man,
| but he has comfortable fortune,
| every dollar of which he has earned. Peo-
| pie who 90 to him for legal services that are
| able to do so are required to pay liberal fees
| No poor person with mertorious case was
| ever turned away from Benjamin Harrison's
| Office on account Of inability to give him re-
| tainer. No worthy object of charity ever
| went away from his door unasslsted. Dur
| ing the war or since its close, an appeal
| from a soldier never failed to get a generous
| response.
| Can he carry Indiana9 With whoop and
| hurrah. The soldiers of Indiana know true
merit when they see it and in Little Ben"
| they recognize Cr-e that they know is the
| true blue.
| He is rather under statute, but he
| Is giant from the shoulders up,
| and it is literally true that his head is so big
| that he is compelled to get his hats made to
| order
In 1876 party of ex-residents of Indiana
| met in Topeka Kas., and to them the writer
| predicted that within twenty years Benjamin
| Harrison would be president of the United
| States. The first step in the prophecy has
| been fulfilled and / am certain that the com
| ing election will witness its complete verit-
| tiOn, for do not believe that the voters of
| this enlightened county will ignor the claims
of a man with big head full of brains and
| re-elect man who can take his shirt off
| without unbuttoning the collar
| If you think that | espOuse his cause too
| warmly and am too confident Of his ability TO
| carry Indiana, then ] only ask you to wait
| until after the election. when ! am certain
| you will see that most of the boys who wore
| the blue feel as kindly towards Benjamin
Harrison as he who signs himself
| A HoOsIER SOLNIER,