The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-07-05
HARRISON
BENJAMIN HARRISON.

BENJAMIN HARRISON.
General Benjamin Harrison was born
August 20, 1888, at the house of his grand
father, President Harrison, at North
Bend, Ohio. His early education was re-
ceived at home, from tutor employed in
the family, and at the age of fourteen he
was sent to Cary's Academy, near Cincln-
natl, where he remained about two years.
In the summer of 1850 he suffered the
loss of his mother, and in the fall of the
same year went to Miami University, Ok
ford, Ohio, then under the Presidency of
Rev. W. G. Anderson. Here he entered
as a junior, and in June, 1852, graduated
fourth in class of sixteen. After few
months vacation he commenced the
study of law in the Office of Storer Sc
Gwynne, of Cincinnati, where he remain
ed two years. In October, 1858, he mar
ried Miss Carrie l.. Scott, daughter of
Rev. J. w. Scott, d. D., of Oxford, Ohio.
Two children of this marriage survive
Russell B. and Mamie S. Harrison. In
March, 1854, Mr.. Harrison settled in In
dianapolis with fortune of $500, inher-
tied from the estate of deceased aunt
Mrs. General Findley, of Cincinnati.
Here he first entered the Office of Jno. 81.
Rea, Clerk of the District Court of the
United States, and while there was in
vited by Major Jonathan M. Gordon to
assist in the prosecution of the "Point
Lookout burglary case. This was his
first jury trial. Governor David Wallace
represented the defense. When Mr.. Har-
rison sat down. after making his argu-
ment, and the Governor prepared to re-
ply, he paid the young lawyer a graceful
and well merited compliment. Soon af-
terward he was invited to form part
nership with VIM. Wallace, and accepted,
and the firm did a prosperous and success
full business. Shortly after entering his
partnership, Mr.. Harrison was appointed
by Judge Major to prosecute a case
against negro. He was accused of put
ting poison in some coffee at the Ray
House. He had but one night for prep
aration and no previous knowledge on
the subject of poison, but he sat up the
greater part of the night, and with the
assistance of DR.. Parvin acquired consid-
cradle information on tOXicology from
several experiments for the detection of
arsenic in the coffee exhibited by DR.. Par
vim. The result was the conviction of
the criminal. In 1860 his partner, MI.
Wallace, was elected Clerk of Marion
County, and Mr.. Harrison formed a law
partnership with Mr.. w. P. Fishback,
which continued until he entered the ar
my. In the fall of 1860 Mr.. Harrison was
elected Reporter of the Supreme Court of
Indiana. During his term of Office he
published two volumes of reports CIV.
and XVI) and had nearly completed
third (XVII) when he entered the mill
tary service. A notable event in connec-
tion with the political canvass was his
joint meeting with Governor Hendricks
at Rockville, Park County, which was
quite accidental, but in which the youth
full orator acquitted himself in the most
creditable manner. The joint debate is
still remembered by all who heard it, and
showed General Harrison to be an orator
second in debate to none in the country.
In July, 1862, Mr.. Harrison felt it his
duty to take the field, although a young
man, holding a comfortable civil Office,
just starting in life, and with young
wife and two little children. Governor
Morton asked him to raise a regiment,
and some one else could be found to lead
it to the field, but Mr.. Harrison refused,
saying that if he persuaded man to go
to the front he would be found there with
him Tho G0uarpO1. adi oil
him the command of a regiment. He OBJ
tanned Second Lieutenancy's recruiting
commission, and raised and took the first
company, A, of the Seventieth Indiana
Regiment, into camp, and in less than
thirty days from the date of the first re-
cruiting commission was in Kentucky
with one thousand and ten men. This
was the first regiment in the field under
that call. General Harrison continued in
the army until the close of the war, when
he was mustered out as a Brevet Briga-
dier General. His regiment served in
Kentucky and Tennessee in the Army of
the Cumberland, and was connected with
the brigade command for long time
with General Ward, of Kentucky.
On the Atlanta campaign the brigade
was attached as the First Brigade to the
Third Division of the Twentieth Army
Corps, commanded by General Joe Hook
er. After General Butterlield left the di-
vision Colonel Harrison was assigned to
the command of the brigade, and contin-
ued in command until after the surrender
of Atlanta, being then temporarily de-
tached for other duty after Sherman's ar
my marched from Atlanta; he was as
signed to command a provisional brigade,
and took part in the battle of Nashville
and the subsequent pursuit of Hood to
Tuscumbia, Ala. Being relieved at his
own request, and ordered to join his brig
ade at Savannah, he would have joined
them there, but on the way was prostrat
ed by severe fever, which confined him to
his bed for several weeks. Before he was
fully recovered he started for Savannah,
and the army having moved, was assigned
to command a campin which the recruits
and convalescents were gathered. When
Sherman reached Raleigh Colonel Harri-
son Joined his brigade and accompanied
them to Washington.
Meanwhile, in the fall of 1864, he was
reelected Reporter Of the Supreme Court
and was offered place in the firm Of
Porter and Fishback, which then became
Porter, Harrison & Fishback. After Mr..
Fishback resumed the editorship of the