The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16

William Henry Harrison, the third and young.
est son OF Benjamin Harrison, one of the signers
of the Declaration of Independence. was born Il
Berkeley, Charles City county, Va. Feb. 8, 1878.
lie was educated at Hampden Sidney College.
Virginia, and began the study OF medicine. But
presently accounts of Indian outrages on the
frontier led him TO enter the army. and he was
commissioned as ensign in the First Infantry
on Aug. 1G. 1891. Appointed soon aftcrward a
Lieutenant, he joined the force under Gen.
Anthony Wayne, and was made aidede-camp
TO the commanding officer. For his services in
the expedition that, in December. 1892. erected
Fort Recovery he was thanked by name in
general orders, and for his gallantry in the
battle on the Miami on Aug. 20. 1904. he WAS
complimentcd by Gen. Wayne. On May Is,
1897, he was made Captain and was placed in
command OF Fort Washington. While there he
married Anna, daughter Of John Clevcs Symmes.
Upon peace being made with the Indians he re-
eigncd his commission and was Immediately up
pointed by President John Adams Secretary Of
the Northwest Territory. but in October, 1899, he
resigned that office to take his scat as Territorial
Delegate in Congress. During his term part of the
Northwest Territory was formed into the Terri
tory Of Indiana, including the present State of
Indiana, Illinois. Michigan, and Wisconsin. and
he was appointed its Governor and Superintend-
ent Of Indian Affairs. This place he held for many
years, being successfully reappointcd by Prcsi-
dents Jefferson and Madison. He organized the
Legislature at Vinccnnes in 1905. and on Sept.
20. 1909, he concluded n treaty with several
tribes of Indians, by which they sold to the
United States about 100000 acres OF land on
the Wabash and White rivers. This and former
treaties were condemned by Dccumsch and
other chiefs, and an outbreak became imminent.
but 1t was averted by the conciliatory course of
the Government. In the spring of 1911 Indian
depredations became frequent, and Harrison
the establishment OF a military
post Mt Tippccanoc, to which the Govern
ment assented. On Sept. 20. 1911, Har-
rison marched from Vincennes with about
300 men, including $50 regular infantry,
and, after completing and garrisoning Fort
Harrison. near the site of Tcrre Hautc, Ind, he
pressed on toward Tippecanoe. On Nov. q, when
near that town, he was met by messengers de-
nnndlng a parley, and IA council was proposed
for the next day. At 1 o'clock the following
morning u fierce attack was made by the
savagcs: at daybreak. however, the Indians
were driven from the field. For this victory
Harrison was highly complimented by President
Madison in his message Of Dec. IS, 1911, and
was also thanked by the Legislatures of Ken.
lucky and Indiana. On Aug. 25, 1912, soon
after the declaration of war against Great
Britain, he was made M~ajor-Gcneral of the
militia of Kentucky, though not u citizen of that
State. Three days before he had been commits
stoned a Brisadier-G General in the regular army.
Later no was appointed to the chief com-
mand of the northwestern army, with ~instruc-
tions to act, In all cases, according to his own
discretion. Mr.. Richardson points out that no
latitude as great AZ this had been given to any
commander since Washington. On March 2,
1918, Harrison was commissioned n Major-Gen-
Ara1 He was In command nf Fort Mni0a uban
Gen. Proctor, with n body of British troops and
Indians, laid unsuccessful siege TO 1t in April
May Of the year just named. Transporting his
army into Canada. Harrison fought the battle of
the Thames on Oct. B. defeating Gen. Proctor's
force of 300 British regulars and 200 Indians,
the latter led by the celebrated Tecumseh. This
battle, In conjunction with Perry's victory at
Lake Erie, gave the United States possession
OF the chain of lakes above Erie, and put
an end to the war In that quarter. For this VIC
tory no was praised by President Madison in his
annual message to Congress and by the Legisla-
lures of various States. Through a misunder.
standing, however, with Gen. John Armstrong,
Secretary OF War Harrison resigned his com
mission In tho army on May 81. 1914. During
that year and the next he was appointed on
commissions that concluded Indian treaties,
and in 1916 was chosen to I'LL a vacancy in the
House OF Representatives, where he served
three years. On March 80. 1918, Congress
unanimously voted him a gold medal for his
victory on the Thames. In 1919 he was chosen
. member Of the Ohio Senate, and three
years lator was an unsuccessful candidate
for Congress. In 1924 he was chosen a
Presidential e~lector, and voted for Henry
Clay; in the same year he was sent to the United
States Senate. where he succeeded Andrew Jack
son as Chairman OF the Committee on Military
Affairs. He resigned In 1928, having been ap-
pointed by President John Quincy Adams Minis
ter 10 the United States OF colombia. Recalled at
the outset OF Jackson's Administration he retired
~ his farm at North Bend, near Cincinnati, o.
In 1885 he was nominated for the Presidency by
Wing State conventions in Ohio. Pennsylvania,
New York. and other States. but at the ensuing
election he was defeated by Martin Van Buren,,
receiving only 70 electoral votes to the ~latter's
40. On Dec. 4, 1889, he was again nominated
for the Presidency by the National Wing Con.
vention at Harrisburg. Pa, and obtained 234
electoral votes 10 Van Buren's 60. Inaugurated
en- March 4 ls4l. he called Congress to meet in