The Portland daily press., 1888-06-26

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family for three generations. Entering Mia
mi University at Oxford, Ohio, at the age of
sixteen, he graduated at eighteen. Both
teachers and classmates have borne testimo
ny to the ease with which he excelled in col
lege contests and of his early promise of fu-
ture success. lie also gained at college that
mental discipline and those habits of applica-
ton which, while not always necessary to
the successful student, are usually regarded
as the first equipments of the successful man,
and especially of the successful lawyer.
Very early young Harrison had determined
that the law should be his profession, and
after leaving college, he went to the law Of
flee Of Hon. b. s. Storer, in Cincinnati where
he remained until he was admitted to the
bar and ready to remove to Indianapolis.
When he arrived in Indianapolis in 1854,
Harrison was just twenty-one years old. He
is described at that time as a solid looking
square-shouldered, young man, with an I'M
commonly large, well-poised head, rather
serious looking face and quiet, dignifed
manners that indicated reserve force. Some
of those who knew his circumstances in those
days, say that he had reason to look seri-
strangers. with nothing but his personal eff
forts to depend upon, and his professional
position vet to make He inherited nothing
from his father, but his education. He was
poor and unknown, and as yet he lacked OPP
portunity to show what was in him. But
the opportunity was not long in coming;
and when it did come it was seized with the
force of ability and courage. An important
legislative investigation was going on in
Indiana, and the Democratic Governor
Wright employed him in connection with it.
Here lie displayed great ability, and laid the
foundation of his reputation. From that
time to this he has built upon that founda-
ton. and today is probably the ablest lawyer
in his State. Speaking of him as lawyer
one of his ablest contemporaries at the Indi-'
ana bar says: HE possesses all the quail
ties of great lawyer in rare combination.
he prepares case with consummate skill;
his written pleadings are models of clear
ness and brevity; he is peerless in Indiana.
as an examiner Of witnesses, he discusses
legal question in written brief or in oral
argument with convincing logic, and as an
advocate 1t may be said of him that when he
has finished an address to jury nothing
remains to be said ON that side of the case.
have often heard able lawyers in Indiana
and elsewhere say that he was the hardest
man to follow they had ever met No lawyer
| who ever met General Harrison in legal
encounter has afterward placed small esti-
mate upon his ability"
The young lawyer drifted inevitably into
politics. The Republican party was then
| just being organized, and the great issues
that were to mark its political alignment
were formulating. All young men of gen.
erous impulses were attracted to it. Harri-
son was Republican by instinct and educa-
ton. His splendid oratorical powers
brought him into great demand, and he soon
became known as one of the best of the
young Republican speakers in the State.
He was not afraid of anybody on the stump
In the memorable Lincoln campaign of 1860
he and the late Vice President Hendricks
happened to have appointments to speak in
the same town on the same day. 1t was ar
ranged that they should divide time, and
Mr.. Hendricks expected to amuse himself
by devouring the white haired young man
who thus Unexpectedly became his prey
He did not do it, The result Of the meeting
was surprise to both sides. Democrats ad-
mitted that AIR. Hendricks had met his
match and Republicans thought he was bad
ly worsted. The chairman of the meeting
afterwards said: 81 have heard a good
many political debates in my day, but |
never heard a man skin an opponent as
quickly as Ben Harrison did Hendricks that
day." During the next four years Mr.. Har-
rison devoted himself closely to the practice
Of law, making political speeches in the city
or local campaigns when called upon. In
1860 he was nominated for Reporter of the
| Supreme Court, a position that he desired
| because it was in the line of his profession
and would bring needed increase OF in
| come. This was the memorable campaign
| IN which Lincoln was elected. From the be-
| ginning to the end of it Harrison's plume
waved in the thickest of the fight, and his
voice was not the least potent among those
| of the many eloquent orators of that day.
| He was elected.
In July, 1862, Governor Morton, under the
call of the President for 100000 three-years'
| troops, requested Harrison to assist in re-
cruiting the regiment from the Sixth Indi-
ana district, under that call the quota from
each district being one regiment. His was
the first recruiting commission issued by the
| Governor for the SEVENTEEN Regiment, bear
ing the date of July IA, 1862, and making him
| a second lieutenant. He inspired enthusiasm
wherever he went and soon raised Company
| A, of which he was elected captain. Then
he assisted in filling up the other companies
of the regiment, which was complete and
ready to go to the front in less than one
| month, and was made its colonel. Governor
Morton suggested, when Harrison took out
| his recruiting commission, that it would be
too much to ask him to surrender the civil
| Office to which he had just been elected, and
| that he would find some one else to take the
| regiment to the field. Col Harrison pre-
ferred, however, to 60 to the front, saying
that he would not ask man to go where he
himself would not go, showing thereby a
soldierly quality that marked the whole of
his military career. After a variety of SER
vice in Kentucky and Tennessee during the
next eighteen months, up to January, 1864,
Colonel Harrison's regiment was formally
assigned to Wards brigade of the third
division of the Twentieth Army Corps, and
with this organization he served until the
/ N~SSN Va eAN Wohs i(uAAhS shO 1tldubd Cdul-
paign Colonel Harrison won the highest
honors of a soldier. His regiment was as
signed the duty of leading the assault at Re-
SAGA on the 10th of May, 1864, and most gal
lantly did he head it in that terrible work,
capturing the enemys lines and four guns.
Again, at Peach Tree Creek, while in COM
mand Of the brigade, he gained such signal
victory as to call forth the highest praise
from his superior officers for his soldierly
| qualities. General Hooker rode along the
lines the day after the fight, and publicly
thanked Col. Harrison for his gallant conduct,
and promised to make him a brigadier gen.
eral Hooker was as good as his word. He
Immediately despatched to Secretary Stan
ton letter loud in praises of the Colonel
| of the SEVENTEEN Indiana. "Col Harrison"
wrote.General Hooker, first joined me in
command of brigade of Wards division in
Lockout valley preparatory to entering up
on what is called the campaign of Atlanta.
My attention was first attracted to this young
officer by the superior excellence of his brig
| ade in discipline and instruction, the result
| of his labor, skill and devotion With more
| forneipht than I hava tuifnaecad in an,y oF