The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-03-20
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
In tho Life of the Iameated
EN-PresIhent.

Benjamin Harrison. a son of John
Scott and Elizabeth Harrison, was born
in North Bend, o., Aug. 20, 1888. He
was grandson Of ex-President William
Henry Harrison and a great-grandson Of
Benjamin Harrison. signer of the Dec
laratiOn Of Independence. His father
was an extensive owner of land and
served in the 33d and 34th sessions of
congress. Benjamin Harrison was placed
in charge Of his fathers farming proper
ty while the elder Harrison served the
people in congress. In 1S4S-40 he at
tended Farmers college near Cincinnati.
He later studied at Miami university,
from which institution he graduated in
1852.
In the same year he was admitted to
the bar and began practice In lndianap-
oils in 1854, where he remained until
1889. During this period he served as
reporter of the supreme court during
1S60-62 and 1SGi-6S. July II, 1862, he
entered the volunteer army and was
made second lieutenant in Company a
Of the Seventeen Indiana volunteers.
On July % he was promoted to the cap
taincy of that company and assumed the
position of colonel Aug. {, 1862. He re-
tanned command of this regiment until
Aug. 20, 1863, when he assumed COM
mand of the Second brigade, Third di-
vision, Reserve corps, retaining command
until Sept 20, 1868. On Sept. %, 1868,
he was assigned to special recruiting SER
vice. He was brevetted brigader gen.
eral Of volunteers Jan. %, 1865
During his military service he partici-
pated in the following battles: Buss-
willie, Ky; Resaca, Ga; Cassville, Ca;
New Hope Church and Dallas, Ga; Ken
esaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta, Nash
vile, and was present at the surrender
of General Johnston, April 26, 1865.
In 1876 he was an unsuccessful candi.
date on the Republican ticket for the gov
ernorship Of Indiana and in the same
year was appointed by ex-President
Hayes 10 be member of the Mississippi
river commission. He was chosen chair
man Of the Republican national conven-
tion held in Chicago in 1880. His name
was presented as a candidate for the
presidency, but he insisted that it be
withdrawn. In 1881 he canvassed In
diana for Garfield. Upon the latter's
election he refused an appointment in
the cabinet. In 1881 he was elected a
United States senator for full term
and was chairman of the committee on
territories.
In 1888 he received the presidential
nomination from the Republican con-
vention at Chicago, being nominated on
the eighth ballot by vote OF 544 At
the election in November he received 81
440,2l6 Of the popular votes against
Grover Cleveland's 5.5SS, 233 votes. At
the session of the Electoral College he
was elected president of the United
States. receiving 233 electoral votes
against Cleveland's 16S votes.
His term as president proved him to be
n diplomat Of the highest order aud many
momentous questions were disposed of
to the satisfaction of all concerned. He
arranged for the arbitration of the diff
ferences existing between the United
States and England over the killing of
seals in the Behring sea; he signed acts
for the admission of North and
South Dakota, Washington, Montana,
Idaho and Wyoming. secured the ex-
| tinguishment of Indian titles to vast
tracts Of land IN the West, which eventu-
ally opened the territory of Oklahoma to
settlement; queled the Indian disturb
ances on the frontier in 1S90-91, and de-
| fined in a message to congress the rights
Of aliens to protection by the United
States government This latter action
was brought about by the demands Of the
Italian government for redress for the
killing of several Italians in New Or
leans
In 1892 Mr.. Harrison was again nom.
mated by the Republicans to be can
didate for the presidency, but was de-
feated by Grover Cleveland. On retiring
from the presidency in 1893 he resumed
the practice Of law in indianapolis and
was nonresident professor Of constitu-
tional law Of the Leland Stanford, Jr.,
univ ersity.
In 1853 he married Caroline Lavinia
Scott Of Oxford, o., and two children
were born to them. Russell Benjamin
Harrison was graduated from Lafayette
college in 1877 and later entered the jour.
1aistic field. During the Spanish-Amer-
ican war he served with distinction as a
major Of volunteers. Mary Scott Harrl
son, the daughter, married Robert Nc.
Kee, an Indianapolis merchant Mr.
Harrison married the second time on
Feb. 81, 1893, the bride being Mrs. Mary
Lord Dimmck. a daughter wes born
to them and christened Elizabeth. In
May, 1898, Mr.. Harrison was retained as
counsel by the Venezuelan government
before the court Of arbitration on the
British Venezuelan boundary dispute
He received the honorary degree Of Ill
d. from Miami university in 1888 and
from the college OF New Jersey in 1890