Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-11-04

Mrs. BENJAMIN Harrison, wife OF the
| President, expired at As o'clock a few
mornings ago in the White House, at Wash
/ ington. She had b een i'll since last April
with pulmonary disease, resulting from an
attack of the grip.
Those at the bedside vera the President
Mr. and Mrs. NICK ,e NJ. and Mrs. Russell
/ Harrison, Private Secretary Halford Lieu
tenant and Mrs. Parker. Mrs Dimmck, Dr.
| Gardner Miss Davis, nurse AMI Mrs. Har-
rison's maid, Josephine. DR.. Scott retired
before midnight, and did not witness the
! death scene.
From l o'clock Mrs. Harrson's breathing
| was hardly perceptible, and her respiration
gradually decrease until |: As, W en she
passed away. President Harrison was at
the right side Of his wife in a reclining posi-
ton from l CLOCK. when DR.. Gardner no.
titled the family that the end was
close at hand. In this position he
remained until las, when life was
thought TO be exUinccr, and Lieutenant Par
ker. who was at the bedside, called in Dr.
Gardner, and the experienced eye Of the
physician soon detected that Mrs. Harrison
was no more. The President gave way to
an almost audible outburst Of grief but soon
suppressed his emotion and endeavored to
console Mrs Mckee, his daughter.
All the members of the family remained
in the room for PROBABLY fifteen Or twenty
minutes after thu death.
The President passed the entire dav at the
bedside Of his wife. He did not enter the
office portion of the building. In the morn
ing, during the two hours when it seemed
that death was IMMINENT he stood over the
bedside. holding the hand of his stricken
partner, ard breath by breath they fought
back the invader together and won few
more hours of earthly c0mpanionshp.
Mrs. Harrison's Life.
Mrs. Caroline Lavina Harrison was
-
daughters OF John Witherspoon Scott. a
pioneer Presbyterian minister. Sac was
born in 1888, in Oxford Ohio where her
father was then President OF a college, for
young women. Mrs. Harrison was thor
oughly educated at tais school. She was q
favorite in the simple, but cultivated, So
ciety gathered around the institutions of
learning for which the town was then
famous.
At Miami University, in Oxford, Benja-
min Harrison was student, only few
months older than the charming girl woo
subsequently became his wife. 1t was purely
a love match. After leaving the University,
young Harrison studied law in Cincinnati,
returning to Oxford for his bride as soon as
those studies were complete. Tney were
married on October 20, 1853. The honey
moon was passed at the residence Of the
groom's parents. North Bend, Ohio
the future President had Gully a capital Of
$500 given him ov his father The young
couple lived in a boarding house for several
months, until their income warranted the
renting OF a home. They had moved to
! indianapolis in Marco, 1854. Russ I'll Harri-
son, their el1est child, was corn in t1e sum-
mer following. The young wife an / mother
was bravely and hopefully struggling to
siSt her husband.
During the war while hec husband was at
the front, Mrs. Harrison, though remaining
at home was still his constant helpnate.
After the war; VITA General HarrlsOl's
! and a. U haT
home became a social center. Mrs. Harri-
! son was pro ninent in CHARITY and church
work. She painted in oil and water colors.
| and directed personally the thorough educa-
| tlon o her children. In 1881, upon joining
| the circle of Senators wives in Washington,
Mrs. Harrison made her mark mmediately.
! AS wife of the President her social duties
| of last winter were unusually severe. and
| when spring came her health was failing
| rapidly. During Lent there were so many
visitors that she set aside certain afternoons
| in each week for reception purposes.
| On several of these occasions she
was unable to be present in person.
| The last reception was held on
the 9th of April Mrs. Harrison receive1 in
person. The doors and windows OF the
| Blue Parlor were thrown open, for the day
was warm. That night Mrs. Harrison
| coughed continually, and her suffering was
| obvious. This was the beginning OF her
| last illness.
| she was finally carried from Loon Lake
! back to the White House a month ago, a
| fatal termination of her illness was only
matter of days and hours.
Her name is identified prominently with
! dozens Of charitable enterprises in Indian
| apolls, Washington and elsewhere. She
| was one Of the first directors of the Garfield
Hospital, and was prime mover in the
! organic alton known as Daughters of the
Revolution, OF which she became the official
| head.
| Mrs. Harrison had only two children
| Russell Harrison and Mary Scott Harrison,
the latter now Mrs. w. R. Mckee, of
| Indianapolis.
Mrs. Harrison was never what is called a
''dressy' woman. She never originated a
! fashion. Black was her favorite color.
| Last Election Day she wore one Of her
| usual house dresses. For evening and
| party dresses she deferred largely to
| fashion, but never adopted extremes. In
the matter Of jewelry she was particularly
| modest. On State occasions she wore
small bar OF diamonds at her throat. Her
earrings were Of black pearls, and her only
| ring was wedding ring.
| Each detail of the management of the
/ White House was familiar TO her AMI came
! under her personal supervision. Three