The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-07-04
GEN. BENZ. HARRISON.
The Career of the Republican
Candidate for President.


Gen. Benjamin Harrison, the Republi-
can candidate for the Presidency, repre-
sents the American idea of politics. He
is of most distinguished ancestry, his
grandfather, William Henry Harrison,
having been President of the United
States, and one of the English ancestors
was general in the armies of Oliver
| Cromwell, and was hanged for having
signed the death warrant of Charles |.
Genera. Harrison WAS born at North
Bend, Ohio, on August 20, 1853. His ia
ther John Scott Harrison, was q quiet
farmer in moderate circumstances. The
subject of this sketch was Z years of age
when his grandfather was elected to the
Presidency in the famous log cabin and
hard cider campaign Of 1910. In his tif-
teenth year, after having previously at
tended the district school. young Ben
Harrison entered the Miami University
at Oxford, o., where he graduated three
years later.
Immediately after graduating he enter
ed the law office of Judge BelIamy Sto-
yer, in Cincinnati, as student. Apply
ing himself TO his work with the applica-
ton and diligence which have always
characterized him, he was admitted TO
practice before he reached the age of q
years.
He had married previously the daugh
ter of Professor Scott, of Oxford, and at
the very outset of his career was a man
of family without resources, the only
money at his command being less than
$500, which had been advanced by his
father The young lawyer faced the fu-
ture bravely, however he felt within
himself the ability to cope successfully
with fortune, and throughout all his sub
sequent career demonstrated that the
quiet self-confidence which he felt in
himself was amply justified.
In 1854 General Harrison removed to
indianapolis, where he has lived ever
since For a long time he lived in three
rooms in little old house that is still
standing in Vermont street, near Ala
bama. He was not an imposing figure at
that time. A little slender fellow, with
smooth face, a big, tow-white head,
with no neck to speak of, and only the
rather incredible fact that he had a wife
saved him from being mistaken for a
J 4. l. f..I
from the start One of his earliest en-
! ployments was by the Democratic Gov
ernor, Joseph A. Wright, in legislative
investigation, wherein he displayed much
ability.
Then he was so fortunate as to be Sc
lected for assistant prosecutor in the case
of a woman charged with poisoning a
man at the old Ray House-a case which
excited great deal of. public interest.
His success in that brought him clients,
| and of them he has since had no lack.
Indeed, he has for ten or fifteen years
been one of the foremost lawyer of the
State, and now that the Hendricks firm
1 - CA-17tliatOi -INtOiaAl
largely out of the law, he may be said,
with the possible exception of John NJ
Butler, to stand at the head of his profess
sion in Indiana.
When the war broke out Harrison was
still poor His daily labor was needed
TO support the wife and two children,
who still lived in the three rooms in
Delaware street. But for this he would
| have been among the first to shoulder
musket. He was not slow in going to
/ the front, however. Governor Morton
met him on the street one day, and said
! to him:
Ben, l want you to raise regi-
/ ment."
He accepted this assignment, raised
( company, was commissioned a second
/ lieutenant, then captain, and then colo
mel Of the Seventeenth Indiana. With
this regiment he went tolthe.. front, and
though for some time he had little but
guard or garrison duty to perform in Ken
tucky and Tennessee, an opportunity to
show what kind Of stuff he was made of
soon occurred, and he was not found
wanting. In the charge at Resaca his
regiment held the post of honor, where
4 the bullets were the thickest.
1t was there, according to history, that
General Hooker rode up to him and
said
BY God, Ben Harrison, III make you
a brigadier for this days work"
Shortly afterward Colonel Harrison
was breyeted Z brigadier general. Gen
Harrison served with credit and without
/ injury to the end Of the war At that
| time General Harrison was described as
being, although only 80 years, a mere
boy in appearance, and slight of frame.
/ he had square shoulders, and powerful
arm. He was an odd looking figure,
! slender, with a tow-white head, short
neck and short legs He used to ride
large horse, too, and was laughed at
/ good deal.
/ But he had the respect and confidence
of all. He was exceedingly tenacious of
/ his rights, or rather of the rights of his
command. He insisted on having for
his boys the best camping place and the
best. of the supplies and aceoutrements.
He was young and inexperienced, and
knew little of the art Of war, but he had
learned what his rights were, and in his
quiet way he insisted upon having them,
and invariably succeeded.
After the war, when General Harrison
returned to the practice OF his profession
be took an active part in politics, being a
Republican from the start. He took the
stump for Fremont and for Lincoln, and
supported the party with enthusiasm.
In 1860 he had been elected reporter of
the supreme court of Indiana, relinquish-
ing his Office to go to the war. In 1854 he
was reelected and served until 1868, and
then declined a reelection. Gradually
he became influential in the councils of
his party in Indiana, until in 1876, tthe
Tilden and Hendricks year. the Central
Committee named him fer Governor
/ while he was absent from the State, Gov.
Orth, the regular nominee, having with
drawn. Harrison made a gallant fight,