The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17
PAYS TO BE A HARRISON
WHEN ONE HAS A DUBIOUS CLAIM.
The Presidents sister-in-Law, Though Not
Received at the white House, Gets a
Big Back Pension-some Talk
About the Case.

dence OF the presidents adherence to this
simple rule is furnished by the payment
of SS,329.S3 to Mrs. Elizabeth l.. Harrison,
widow OF the presidents brother, Archi-
bald /. Harrison, Northumberland of the
Twenty-seventh Indiana regiment, volun-
teers. Mrs. Harrison, who has been a resi-
dent of Chicago for nearly six years, was
paid this sum Of money Thursday after
noon in settlement of a pension claim
which was favorably passed upon at
Washington within the past three weeks.
The pension is based upon the claim
that Lieut. Harrison's death resulted
from consumption which he contracted
while serving his country in the field. Col.
Harrison died in 1870 on farm near In
dianapolis, leaving an interesting family,
consisting of wife and son and daughter.
Twelve years elapsed after Col. Harrl-
sons death before his widow presented a
claim for pension. The claim was ior-
warded to Washington and placed on file
in the pension office during the early days
of President Arthur's administration, and,
though it was strongly backed by Gen.
refused TO allow it for reasons which he
considered good and sufficient. One Of
these reasons was that the papers did not
prove to his satisfaction that Col. Harri-
sons disease was contracted while in the
service.
The papers were withdrawn after q long
and useless fight. They were placed on
file again during President Cleveland's
administration. Gen. Black, who was the
pension commissioner under Cleveland,
absolutely ignored the claim, and as no
particular effort was made to secure 1t
specially it was believed that it had been
permanently withdrawn.
But Thursdays big payment to Mrs.
Harrison disappointed this belief. 1t
seems the claim was reinstated in the pen
sion office shortly after President Harri-
son was inaugurated, and was advanced
by slow but sure stages to final consld-
Grafton, which resulted in its allowance
There is no doubt that Lieut.-Col.
Harrison rendered the country dis
tinguished service both before and during
the late war. He was educated at West
Point and became attached to the Sixth
Q. S. infantry regiment, which was doing
active duty on the frontier. He was first
connected with the Ninth Indiana during
the rebellion. but later joined the Tween
ty-seventh, with which, according to the
papers on which his pension was allowed,
he contracted the disease that was fatal to
him six years after peace had been de-
clnred. The SS.32993 which was paid to
Mrs Harrison is payment in full OF a
claim that extends over twenty-one years
since the death OF her husband. or $596.66
a year. During the rest of her life,
whether her distinguished relative and
benefactor is reelected or not, she will
draw S99.05 from Uncle Sam every three
months. The pension will stand, no mat
ter who is president.
Mrs. Elizabeth Harrison, the bene-
ficiary Of the presidents generosity, lives
with her son-in-law, Thornton Lewis in a
stone-front apartment building at 4436 st.
Lawrence-ave The building is the most
pretentious one in the block and has for
It's neighbors a lot of handsome and SUBJ
stantial dwellings A reporter inter-
viewed Mrs. Harrison today. She was
much put out because the fact that she
had received pension was to be aired in
the newspapers. She admitted that the
pension had twice been disallowed, but
did not care to talk about the influences
that were used to pass the claim before the
present pension commissioner.
al came up to inquire about the pension
which you drew from the government
Yesterday" the reporter explained to Mrs.
Harrison.
ooh, dear, that is just what we did not
care to get into the papers" said Mrs.
Harrison as cloud of distrust settled on
her face. 1T was our intention not to
say anything about that matter at all.
"But it is q matter of wide interest on
account of your relationship to the presi-
dent" the reporter suggested.
Perhaps it is. but we did not care to
have it published" said Mrs. Harrison.
"What was the cause Of Col. Harrison's
death, Mrs. Harrison?"
Consumption"
"Did he contract the disease in the
field P'
The presidents sister-in-law bowed her
head in acquiescence, but with an ex-
preston that clearly indicated that the
subject was distasteful.
"When did Col. Harrison die?" the re-
porter continued.
"In 1870"
"What was his business from the time
he left the army until his death ?"
Agricultural business"
"Was he farmer?"
Eyes"
"Where?"
Near Indianapolis"
"When did you frs, make an applica-
ton for ( pension, Mrs. Harrison"
eve first made our application after
after" Here the lady paused and looked
curiously at the visitor as if uncertain
whether to proceed or not.
"You made il when?" said the reporter.
"In 1882" This in feeble voice
"Was the application rejected at that
| timer"
"Well, really" Again there was a
pause. which was broken by the shrill
notes OF an infant from an adjoining loom
mingled with the cooling tones of a woman,
who was trying to quiet the youngster.
THAT, said Mrs. Harrison, with a sigh
which said palmer than words that the in
terruption was pleasant one for her, sis
my grandson, William Sheets Harrison
| Lewis. He is President Harrison's grand
nephew" Then turning her head in the
direction OF the room from which the ba-
bys cries came she called out "Come,
Willie, and show yourself to the
gentleman" There was q momen-
tary cessation OF infantile cries,
but they soon began again with
more vigor than ever. II guess Willie is
not in good humor." said his grandmother,
turning to her visitor again. The reporter
piled Mrs Harrison with questions rela-
tive to the history OF the pension claim,
but with little success beyond learaing