New-York tribune., 1901-03-14
GEN. HARRISON'S CAREER.
PRESIDENT, SENATOR, SOLDIER AND
LAWYER-LONG AND EMINENT
PUBLIC SERVICES.


by Samuel Pepys in his diary under date of Octo-
Der 49, 1860:
II went to Charing Cross to see Major-Gen-
eral Harrison hanged. drawn and CHARTERED;
which done there, he looking as cheerful as
any man could do in that condition. He was
presently cut down. and his head and heart shown
to the people. at which there was great shouts of
Joy. 1t is said that he said that he was sure TO
come shortly at the right hand of Christ to judge
them that had judged him; and that his wife
do expect his coming again. Thus 1t my
chance to see the King beheaded at Whitehall.
and to the first blood shed in revenge for the
King at Charing Cross" General Harrison had
been appointed by Cromwell to convey Charles I
from Windsor to Whitehall for his trial, and he
signed the warrant for the beheadng of the King.
When the King was in General Harrsons GUS
tody, he was struck with his soldery appear
ance, and he told him he had been informed that
he CHarrson) would assassinate him. Harrison
answered that Parliament would not strike the
King secretly. The descendants of the patriot of
the Commonwealth came to America after
the hanging at Charing Cross but the family did
not come prominently into view until just before
the Revolutionary War.
Benjamin Harrison's great grandfather Benja-
min Harrison. of Virginia. was one Of the signers
of the Declaration of independence, and
prominent in public affairs from 1864 until his
Congress and three times Governor of Virginia,
He entered upon his public career in 1864 soon
after reaching his majority. a member Of the
Virginia House OF Burgesses. and he took
tive part in the pre-ReVoutionary movements.
General William Henry Harrison. mis- son. served
his country almost continuously from 1871 to 1884,
both in military and civil places. He fought the
battle of Tlppecanoe in 1911, was a member Of
Congress. a United States Senator from Ohio.
Mir,is to of(
month March TO April A. 1S41. when he died)
President of the United States His son. John
Scott Harrison, who member of Congress
from 1858 to 1857, died May 26 1873. at his home
near North Bend. Ohio.
EARLY LIFE IN OHIO.
Benjamin Harrison. the third son of John Scott
Harrison, was born August 90. 1888. at the
home Of his grandfa ther at North Bend Ohio on
the bluffs overlooking the Ohio River, fifteen
| miles below Cincinnati. His early life was passed
in the usual occupations Of a farmers son-feed-
ing the cattle and aiding in harvesting .he crops.
His early education acquired in log school
house fronting on the Ohio River.
When fourteen years old he was sent to Farm
efs college. on College Hill, near Cincinnati.
where he remained for two years, and where one
or his classmates Murat Ilalstead. The
year after he left school he lost his mother
loss that affected The irnpressibie nature of the
young man for long time. In the fall Of 1850
he became a student at Miami University, OK
ford. Ohio. He entered a member of the
junior class, and in June. 1852. he graduated
| fourth In class Of sixt en- At the university
with young Harrison were the Hon. Milton Say
Ter OF CINCINNATI. who took tTst hcnors: Pro-
fessor David Swing, OF Chicago. who ranked sec
thha' h me rev, pr James br3oks' OF -; Louis;
the late senator OhVer r Morton, OF Indiana,
and the Hon. W. p. Fishback. but not all OF
them were classmates His graduation Grafton
was on The Poor Of Engla ID Professor Swing
said that ex-Presideut Harrison. while at oxford.
though very young, was studiOus scholar. and
early gave evidence OF being foremost in what
HC irei he
charactarlzed him I'M ourb life enabling him ~
grapple with any subject short notice. TO
centrate his intellectual forces and give his men,
Ia! energies that sort Of direct and effective
operation that indicates the trained and dIsci-
plined mind
After leaving the university Harrison began
! the study OF law IN Judge Bellamy Storers office
IN cincinnati where he remained for two years,
on October 20 1853 before reaching his majority.
ne married Miss Caroline Lavin,a Scott daugh-
ter or the Rev John w. Scott then president OF
the Female Seminary in Oxford and sister Of
ex-Judge John n Scott, popular practising
/ attorney of Indianapolis. He had two children
Russell aud Mary. the wife % Robert J. Mckee.
of New-York. In March. 1854 General Har
rison removed to Indianapolis with a fortune of
$500 inherited from one of his relatives. During
the next few years the young lawyer gradually
obtained firm professional foothold becoming
known vigorous. painstaking attorney and
an eloquent advocate. His energy and appiica-
tion are shown by the following incident Many
years ago, before he had attained prominence
in MS profession, ne was appointed 10 prosecute
a negro charged with attempting wholesale muir
I der by putting poison into the cofTee at a motel.
He had only one might in which 10 prepare for
1 the trial He had not a particle of experience
in poison and knowledge of pOsOnS.
He called to his ala DR. r Parvin (who has
since become ns distinguished in his profession
as General Harrison in hisl and the two
young men spent the whole night in diligent
work on the poison case. The next day to the
astonshment and bewilderment of the defence.
young Harrison appeared ready for trial He
conducted the prosecution vigorously and sue
ceeded in having he prisoner convicted.
Soon after settling in indianapolis Mr. Har-
/ riSOn was appointed crier of the Federal Court,
the salary Of which place vas in term-time 81 30
day. The money he received for his services as
Crier was the first he earned He was the law
partner Of William Wallace from 1856 TO 1860.
when Mr.. Harrison formed a partnership with
w. p FiShback.
Mr. Harrison began his work rs a Republican
speaker in the great campaign of 1885. and
had been a conspicuous figure in every cam
paign in Indiana and on many occasions he
had appeared for his party in other States. 1t is
! remembered that in the Lincoln campaign of 1860
he and the late VicePresdent Hendricks hap
pened TO have appoint tments TO speak in Rock
vile the same day. II was arranged that they
should divide the time. and Mr.. Hendricks ex-
pected to amuse himself by devouring the white
haired young man who thus Unexpectedly became
his prey He did not do it The result OF the
meeting surprise 10 both sides. Democrats
admitted that Mr.. Hendricks had met his match,
and Republicans thought he was badly worSted.
The chairman of the meeting atterward said: Il
have heard good manN political debates in my
day. but never heard a man skin an opponent
quickly Ben Harrison did hendricks that
day"
LEAVING THE COURTROOM FOR THE CAMP.
In 1860. at the age of twenty-seven years he
Indiana for four years. and it during the
year that he formed partnership with w.
P. Fishback. In 1862. when the Union armies
had met with reverses in the South, and volun-
| teerr had in a measure ceased offer them
! selves. General Harrison abandoned the quiet