The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-10-30

CHICAGO Get. 20.--Carter Horny Har-
rison was born near Lexington, Fayette
county, KY, February 10, 1925. lis
father and also his great.grandtather
bore his full name The latter was
prominent man in Virginia and was =
brother oil Benjamin, signeF OF the
Declaration OF Independence, and IA
Their of President William Henry Har'
rison. Carter Harrison traced his fam.
lily back to CromwePs Lieutenant Gen
eral Harrison, who led Charles l. to tho
block.
His grandfather was cousin OF
Thomas Jefferson, and he himself was a
cousin Of both John G. Breckenridge
and ex-President benjamin Harrison
His father died when he was seven
months old, leaving him an only child
in the care OF his mother, y daughter
OF Colonel William Russell, OF the
United States army, whose lighting
saved Illinois from the Indians.
Mr.. Harrison's first home was IN q
log house, and his first cradle was a
new sugar trough. 10 his training his
mother devoted herself till he attained
his majority. She instilled those les
sons whose influence marked his whole
life. He acted with the Emancipation
lists OF Kentucky in 1919.
PREFERRED HIS MOTHER TO THE LAW.
His preparatory education he received
under the instruction OF DR.. Marshall,
father of the late chief justice. lie en-
tered the sophomore class of Yale Col
iege, from which he graduated in 1915,
and Immediately entered upon his legal
studies. Owing to his mother g lonely
life on the farm, he came to live with
her instead OF entering at once upon
the practice OF law. In 1851 he went
abroad, extending his travels as far east
as Egypt, Syria and Asiatic Turkey.
In 1866 he married Miss Sophy Pres
ton, OF well-known Southern family,
and, while travelling through the north
west in search OF home, spent ten
DAYS in Chicago, and became 30 thor
oughly satisfied as to its future that he
invested all OF his means in real estate,
expecting to earn his living at law. The
allurements OF the real estate business,
however, prevented his giving close at
tention to the law, and he used his pro-
fessional knowledge principally in mat
tiers pertaining to his Office affairs. In
all matters oil trust his motto was TO
forget entirely his own interests IN that
OF his client In all OF his real estate
speculations he exercised the utmost
care. He purchased only what he could
pay for by rigid economy, and The met
his engagements promptly.
HIS EARLY POLITICAL HISTORY.
Mr.. Harrison was at one time Wing,
but believing that Republican rule
would lead to civil war, he cast his ballot
for DougIassin 1860, and up to the time
OF his death was closely identified with
the Democratic party. He took no ac-
tive part in politics until 1870. In 1871
he was elected member OF the first
board OF Cook county commissioners,
and held the office till December, 1874.
In 1872 he was a candidate for Congress
from the Second congressional district
of Illinois on the Liberal ticket, and vas
defeated; but in 1874 he was elected to
Congress by the opposition party.
AS member OF the Forty.fourth Con-
gress, Mr.. Harrison, believing that there
was desire on the part Of the people
to limit the term OF the Presidential
Office, offered resolution for an amend
ment to the constitution limiting the
time to six years, with ineligibility for
another term, but making the retiring
President a senator for lie OF the United
States at large, without. however, nav
ing the right to vote as senator. Such
a clause in the constitution, he argued
would raise the President above parti-
sanship and make him nestor OF the
senate. The measure was defeated.
Believing his intercourse with for
eign people and knowledge OF foreign
languages the most valuable part OF his
education, he sent his family, consist
ing OF his wife, two sons aud one daugh-
ter, abroad in 1873, his purpose being to
enable them to obtain more perfect
knowledge of the German language. y
daughter was subsequently born in
Germany. Although Mr.. Harrison did
not believe in foreign education for
Americans. hethought sojourn abroad
most excellent experience for children
till they reach the ages OF fourteen or
fifteen years. Mr.. Harrison spent the
summers OF 1874 and 1875 travelling in
Europe with his family.
SEPARATE VOTES FOR CONGRESS MEN.
He also offered an amendment to the
election laws, providing that the vote
for congressman shall be by separate
ballot, SO as to oblige each candidate to
stand on his own merits and not rely
on the strength OF party ticket. This,
too, was defeated. Being believer in
senatorial patriotism, he warmly sup.
ported an appropriation for carrying
the act OF the Forty-seCond Congress
for the Centennial celebration at Phila.
deiphia. He also iabored hard and
earnestly to remove all sore feeling
growing out OF the war OF the rebellion,
and earnestly advocated general am
nesty, believing that could such an act
be passed in the centennial year il
would cause each American to feel that
this was, indeed, his native land.
Mr.. HARRISON, PHYSICALLY AND SOCIALLY.
Physically, Mr.. Harrison was feet
10 inches in height, heavily and stou,Iy
built, powerful and quick in movement,
erect and dignifed in bearing. Per-
sonally, his honesty was never i'm.
peached. During his term OF office as
commissioner, he was the first 10 dis.
cover "steal" or job when brought up
for action, and invariably opposed it.
He was always noted as friend OF the
poor, and during his dealings in real
estate, never refused time to an unfor.
tunate debtor. Although his sales to