Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-25

oxford and married Miss Scott October 20,
1853. They began their welded life at North
and on slender means. They remained here
year and afterwsrd moved to indianapolis,
which became their fixed home.
The cash capital ct the command Of Benjamin
Harrison when he began married life and the
practice Of his profession was $780, an advance
on lot in Cincinnati, Inherited through his
aunt, who married James Finlay, soldier Of
the war OF 1912 Mr.. and Mrs. Harrison began
their domestic responsibilities in rooms in an
Indianapolis boarding house. In the summer
OF 1854 Mrs. Harrison paida visit to her parents
at the cid home at Oxford, and there. on August
~, Russell Harrison, their eldest child. was
born. After this event in the family circle, the
young mother having returned In the autumn
to Indianapolis, the proud husband rented q
small house and began life in earnest, his faith
ful and industrious wife doing her own house,
work In . cottage OF three rooms The steady
gains In fame, practice and pecuniary rewards
In two years found Mrs. Harrison presiding over
larger and moro pretentious house. Here
their second and last child. Mary Scott Har-
rison, was born. The couple steadily grew in
the estimation Of their neighbors and Mr.. Har-
rtson achieved fame in politics
In 1881 Gen. Harrison came to the Senate
In her Warrington residence Of six years at
that time Mrs: Harrison extended her sphere Of
usefulness. Her name associated with
noble charities and church work. The Garfield
Memorial Hospital especially benefited BY her
active interest She was one of the Hrs1 d.
rectors Of that Institution.
IRON GOOD SCOTTISH STOCK.
Mrs. Harrison was descended from distin-
guished stock Of the Lowlsnds of Scotland,
and, according to the trsditions'of the family,
directly from old Covenanter hero bearing
the name OF Scott. This Scott was d fighter
and won renown for his name at the battle Of
Drunclog, when the Covenanters, surprised in
their public religious service held in one of the
rsvines OF the mountains, defeated and put to
fight the notorious prosecutor Claverhouse and
his band OF cavaliers. The Covenanters, however,
in that final and fatal battle Of Both we'll Brgg
were themselves defeated. Old DR.. Scott has
| devoted much of his time sin,e he took up his
| residence In the White House to gathering
correct and authentic history Of the Scott fam
ny. Faithful as has been his search he has been
unable to discover the Christian name of this
| original Scott The latter has been described
In rather lofty terms rs having fought for the
Covenant and the crown for forty years. max
| ing his Bible and his broadsword the constant
daily companions Of his life" He had a son
by the name Of John Scott, who married Jane
Mitchell in scarborough during the latter part
| Of Queen Anne's reign.
MRS. HARRIsoS's DIRECT ANCESTOR.
| This John Scott was Mrs. Harrison's direct
ancestor. He sailed from Leith about IT'S for
this country, bringing with him bis wife, five
| soho anu az uduXuter- IN the way over
| his wife gave birth to another son. and two sons
| and two daughters were born to him after
| reaching America. He first landed at Pha-
| delphia but shortly afterwsrd settled in Bucks
| county, Pa, in a small place named Neshaminy.
Mrs. Harrison was of the fifth generation which
sprung from John Scott All Of her sturdy
Scotch ancestry rendered valuable service to
| the country in the colonial days. and justly
entitled to be called patriots. From those days
up until now the Scott family have all Of them
occupied positions of prominence and trust in
the communities in which they lived. or the
fighters in the Scott family Matthew Scott. the
youngest son Of the original John Scott,
captain in the revolution, and was twice taken
prisoner He was sent to western Pennsylvania
In lI94 to quell the whisky instruction. 1t is
through Matthew SCOTS daughter Margaret
that Mrs. Harrison was related to Mrs. Lucy
Webb Hayes, the wife of the eI-President.
Another one Of the fighters in the Scott family
was Sergt- Robert Scott, who attached to
Col. Ba1ters Northampton militia, made up at
Elizabeth. n. ]. Another Scott was one Of the
earliest settlers Of New Britain. Conn.
HER CARE FOR HER FATHER
When the family came to the White House
DR.. Scott, who had resided here with his
widowed daughter, Mrs. Russell Lord, came
with them, and resigning his position in the
Joy the first leisure Of busy
life under the White House roof
From that day until stricken down with her
fatal illness he was the object Of the tenderest
care and solicitude the part OF Mrs, Haryi-
son and indeed of the entire household. The
first break in the united circle the death Of
Mrs. Lord, which occurred December 10, 1889,
after the family had again returned to town
after their summer and autumn travels. Mrs.
Lords serious illness began at Nantucket,
where she was staying with her daughter and
where Mrs. Harrison visited also for a time
ffarh hahn 40 V,rL be-, ~, La
ter followed her and stayed almost to the last
che was brought to this city and died day or
two later. Mrs. Harrison and her family were
present at the last sad scenes. Mrs. Harrison
was long time recovering from this blow
The sisters were greatly attached and were al
ways together as much as possible.
HER EvENNEss OF TEMPER
The greatest charm in Mrs. Harrison's
disposition was her strong common sense,
her evenness of temper. her willingness
to oblige and the kindly thought for everv-
body else which dominated every act. She
cultivated the faculty of saying a happy
thing of everybody and depressed the strong
inclination to say the witty things which
always came SO easy to her, for fear she
might unwillingly offend a sensitive person.
Her high position did not change her in the
slightest degree unless it were to make her feel
more than ever willing to give up her private
inclinations to do that which was expected from
her by the public.
HER INDUSTRY.
She was probably one of the most industrious
mistresses the White House has ever had. Her
own method Of life was simple that it gave
her more time than ordinarily comes to persons
in high places to devote to things she liked
best. She a constant reader Of the best
literature and devoted to her brush She has
been q diligent pupil for several years in the
studio Of q china painter. and her talent was
often displayed in the gifts she made her friends
at the holiday period.
As MISTRESS OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
In carrying out the Inequalities of the White
House she has never been excelled. She pre-
sided with easy dignity and grace upon these
occasions and omitted no detail that would add
to the pleasure Of those attending them She
carries out to the letter the written and un-
written laws Of the house and did as much more
as it was possible to do within the limits of each
season.
Speaking Of her yesterday a lady who has
known her for MANY years said: 1.-THE Harri-
sons have been always noted for their hospital
ity. They had ALWAYS houseful Of COMPANY
at their indianapolis home and it was CURRENTLY
said they really entertained beyond their means.
They kept up the practice here. II was not their
fault II any Of their old-time Indiana friends
left Washington without enjoying family meal
at the White House or o drive or some other
courtaav nv ScoYtia old frSopds he x.,-:t.