Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-29

Descendant of a Reg eide and Of Presi
dent Of the United States
A Republican Since the Party'S Birth
His Birth and Boyhood in ohio, His Earl
Career in Indiana-His service as Sol
dier-His Campaign for Governor
His Record as u. 5. senatOr-His
worth in Private Life.

The first Gen. Harrison known to his
tory was one of CromWells trusted lieu
tenants. He was appointed one of the
board of commissioners who tried King
Charles for treason to Parliament, and
with loyalty to the great Protector and
fathfulness to the Presbyterian church,
he signed that kings death warrant. Per
haps he may have felt a premonition of
the reac ion i'll politics that was to result
in his own death, this first Gen. Harrison,
when he witnessed the royal execution.
He paid the penalty of his steadfastness
to his principles by being hanged by order
of Charles IL, on October 10, 1860, and
Pepys says that he looked as cheerful as
could be expected under the circum-
stances. He died a martyr to the cause of
constitutional liberty as opposed to the
prerogative of kings. The ignominy OF
his execution has become illumined with
the progress of civilized institutions until
it shines rs pillar of fire.
The Harrison family, under the reign of
the Stuarts, it may be imagined, found
little comfort in England. Certain it is
that they emigrated to America as Nr
ginia colonists. Once more blood told,
and they soon were heard from on this
side of the water. Benjamin Harrison of
Virginia was a typical patriot of the revo-
luton. A member of the Virginia House
of Burgesses, he heard Patrick Henry
make his historic speech in the little
church that still owns one of the hills of
Richmond, eXclaiming "Gve me liberty
or give me death" and he took his life i'll
his hands when with his felow-leaders of
American patriots he signed the Declare
ton of Independence. Three times was
this Benjamin Harrison elt cted COVER
nor of Virginia, and he was member OF
the State convention that ratified the con
stitution of the United States. His son
Gen. William Henry Harrison, renowned
both as soldier and statesman, WAS the
ninth president of the United States, and
the grandson of that president, is to be- il
he lives, the twenty third president of the
United States.
HIS BOYHOOD AND YOUTH.
But honorable and distinguished as his
English and Virginia ancestry may be- il
Is not their merits that alone shed lustre
about the career, the character and the
present position of Indianas favorite son.
He stands for himself, and his deeds in
war, his record in politics, his ability as a
lawyer, his brilliauce AS stump speaker
and his acts rs a statesman all speak Tor
themselves.
General Harrison's grandfather was one
of the early settlers of Ohio, ana in hum
bic huuse at North Bend, O., ON August
2G, 1898, young Ben amiu's eyes ti:.t met
the light. He WAS Il lad OF sletrler but
why physique, and he inherited an intel
lect that matured erly. His father, John
Scott Harrison. had himself served as gov
ernor OF the y JrthwC stern Territory and
in Congress. bu, had I.tired to till the
farm at North Bend, only a few miles be-
Low Cincinnati.
Young Benjamin was Only seven years
old when his grandfather WAS elected
president in the famous log cabin and
hard cider campaign, foung Benjamin
was sent to district school There he
made such rapid progress that at IL he
entered Miami Univefsity, al oxford, O.,
and graduated at IS His teachers and
classmates have bone testimony to the
cease with which he held his own in all
fEollege contests, AMI his early promise #
ffuLure success. Professor David Swing
says that harrison though very young,
was a studious scholar and early gave
evidence of being foremost in whatever he
hight undertake. he there acquired the
abits of study and mental discipline
~hich have characterized him through
On leaving college he began the study
of the law in Cincinnati, in the Office of
Judge Bellany Slower. He was admitted
to the bar before he was 81. Not only had
saw him with wife as well. He had but
300 which his father furnished him, he
had no practice and no influence behind
him. and he determined to take his wife,
not as burden but as an inspiration and
start career for himself. He carried ont
the idea, and the year OF his majority saw
him hang out his modest lawyers Single
in Indianapolis.
BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER.
1t was in 1855 that young Harrison began
his career in Indiana. He looked then,
the record says, like school boy slender
of figure, immature of voice, and alone
among strangers, there seemed little
promise of the brilliant career to FOLLOW
Yet he had wife and was DOOR For a
long time he lived in three rooms in lit
tie old house, which still stands on Yer
mont street, near Alabama, in lndianapo-
lis.
But though so young and unknown, his
big head held brain that soon brought
him into notice. He was successful from
the very start. One of his earliest cases
concerned legislative investigation, In
which he was employed by the democratic
governor, Joseph \. Wright. The ability
he displayed soon brought him other
cases. In one of the earliest of these he
was fortunate enough TO be selected a.
assistant prosecutor against woman
cha rged with poisoning a mana case
which excited great public interest \
flood Of clients followed, and ne has tor
nearly two decades been one OF the fore
most lawyers in the state. Now that the
Hendricks firm is broken up it
may be said that General Harrison
shares with one, or possibly two
others, the honor Of standing at the
head of the Indiana bar. General Har-
rison's former partner Hon. ", J..
Fishb say, ole possesaes all the
qualities of great lawyer in r...e comb
nations. He prepares a case With con
summate skill. He is peerless "a. lIdana
as an examiner of witnesses, he ,..scusses
legal ques ton in written trief or IN
oral argum ent with convincing logic, and