Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-26
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Sketch OF the Life OF the Republican
Candidate for President.

Benjamin Harrison 10 the grandson a
William Henry Harrison, the ninth presiden
of the United States, and great grandson O
Gov. Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, one o
the signers of the Declaration of Indepen
dence. The grandson, if elected, would b,
the 23rd president. General Harrison wa.
born August 20, 1888, on the Harrison
homestead, near North Bend a few mile.
below Cincinnati, where his father, Johr
Scott Harrison, and grandfather were tillins
the farm, to which the latter had retired af.
ter long career as governor of the North
western Territory and in Congress. Young
Benjamin was seven years years old when
his grandfather was elected President in the
famous log-cabin and hard-cider campaign
lie attended the University at Oxford, and
graduated from that institution. For two
years he read law in Cincinnati and in 1856
went to indianapolis. which has ever since
| been his place of residence.
| He was admitted to the bar before he
reached his majority. AT the same time he
took wife, and his 2lst birthday found him
a man of family practically without re.
sources and having only $500 or $500 ad-
vanced by his father. He ard his Young
wife went to keeping house in three rooms,
and for some time had to put up with priva.
ton and hardships. Finally, however, a
successful case brought the young lawyer in
TO notice and broughs him clients and CON-
petence. AT the present time he stands at
the head of his profession in Indiana. When
the war broke out Harrison was still poor
HIS daily labor was needed to support the
wife anu two children who still lived in the
three rooms i'll indianapolis. But for this he
would have been among tie 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
want you to raise a regiment. lie accept
ed the assignment, raised company, was
commissioned second lieutenant, then a
captain and then colonel of the l7th
ludiana. With this regiment he went to the
front. His bravery in the charge at Resaca
won him brigadiers brevet. Later on he
was made brlgadier in full commission for
gallantry in action at Peach tree creek
Though many of his men were killed or
wounded, General Harrison luckily ESCAPED
without injury and served to the close of the
war. In politics he has been republican
from the start, and had taken the stump for
Fremont i'll 1856 and for Lincoln in 1860
In 1850 he was elected reporter for the su
preme court, but while he was absent in the
field the democratic legislature made the office
vacant and put aLOther man in the place. In
1864 however, the people re-electa I'd Harrison
and he held the Office for four years, declin-
Ing to hold it longer Almost from the first
he was taken into the counsels of the party
and the local politicians. He male many
political speeches, assisted in the manage
ment of the State committee, and gradually
grew in prominence until in 1876 he was
nominated for Governor. He made vigor-
Gus campaign but the odds were too strongly
against the republicans in Indiana that year.
In 1850 General Harrison was elected to
national Senate and served six years in that
body. AT the close of his term the Demo-
Gratis had gained control of the legislature
by small majority and he was succeeded in
the Senate by David Turpie.
Those of our people who had the pleasure
of hearing General Harrison speak in this
State during the campaign of 1880, will
cheerfully bear witness to the fact that he is
a scholarly. able and eloquent orator. He
is man who fills his audience with much of
his own strong feeling and enthusiasm.
General Harrison is not rich, but is in
comfortable circumstances and has good
income from his law practice. He is MEM
Der of the Presbyterian church of Indanap-
oils. Mrs. Harrison was daughter of Prof.
Schott of Oxford. They have married
daughter and son who lives in Montana.