The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1890, 1888-07-07
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
A Brief Sketch OF the Nominee Of the
Republican Party for President
OF the United
States.

General Benjamin Harrison was born at
North Bend, Ohio. in his granlfathers,
house, August 20, 1888. The name is his
toric not only as Il family name but us u
whole, for the subject of our is the third
great man to give honor to the title.
Major General Harrison was one of Oliver
Cromwell's trusted followers and Fl lighters
In the zenith of Cromwell's power it
became the duty Of General Harrison to
participate in the trial of Charles l. and
afterwards to sign the death warrant of the
King. He subsequently paid for
this with his life, being hanged October
13, 1860. His descendants emigrated to
America and the next member Of the
family that appears in history was Ben
jamln Harrison, of Virginnia, who, us a
member of the House of Bnrgesses, and
later of the Colonial Congress, bore an
active and leading part in the patriotic
movements of the Revolutionary period
was one of the signers Of Declaration OF
Independence, three times elected Gov
ernor of Virginia., and Il member
of the convention that ratified the con
stitution. lie was the father OF General
William Henry Harrison, who won re,
nown as /. soldier and statesman and was
elected President of the United States in
1910. President Harrison was the father
of John Scott Harrison and the grand
father OF the favorite son of Indianna
A HARD STUDENT.
General Benjamin Harrison inherited ;
ROBUST intellect that matured early. tie
entered Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
at the age OF IL and graduated at IL
Professor David Swing says that Harri
son, though one of the youngest students
ut Oxford, was very stndious, and early
gave evidence Of being foremost III what
ever he might undertake. He there &C
uuired those habits of study and menta
discipline which have characterized lin
through life, enabling him to grapplt
with any subject on short notice, to con
centrate his intellectual forces and give
his mental energies that sort of a direc
and effective operation that indicates thu
trained and disciplined mind.
He was What might be cnl,e1 Il logo
mind, and on quitting college he com
menced the study of law in Cincinnati will
Hon. B. s. Storer. In 1854 he removed t,
indianapolis, where he began the practice
of his profession. Those were time
which appealed to the manhood of til,
country, and it was quite natural th,l
the grandson of General Harrison shouIt
take an interest in politics, especial,
when the issue was one OF eXtendin!
slavery into the new territories of tn
west and northwest He soon won
place as II lawyer in his new home, an,
before 1860 he was also considered one 0
the ablest political speakers in the state
In the memorable Lincoln campaign o
1860 he and the late Thomas A. Hendrick
happened to have appointments in til
same town on the same day. 1t was al
ranged that they should divide the tim
and the friends of Hendricks expected t.
see him only amllse himself with til
young white-haired man who was t
speak against him. They've surprised
| Inc young man was not so easily van
uuished, and democrats admitted thu
Mr.. Hendricks had met his match, Will
republicans thought he had been badl
worsted. The chairman OF the meetin
afterwards said: 81 have heard IL gooo
many political debates in my time, but
neyer heard Il man skin an opponent /;
quickly as Ben Harrison did IIenuricls
that day"
AS A SOLDIER.
In 1860 Mr.. Harrison was nominate
for reporter of the supreme court, an
was elected. In July, 1862, Governo
Morton, under the call Of the presiden
for 1000 three years troops, requeste
Harrison to assist in recruiting the regi
ment from the Sixth Indiana district, ull
der the call the quota from each distric
being one regiment.