The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-14
THE DEAD STATESMAN.
A Prominent Figure In National AZ
fairs Since Civil War.


Benjamin Harrison, twenty-third Presi-
dent of the United States, was born at
North Bend, o., on Aug. 20, 1888. His
father, John Scott Harrison, was third
son of Gen. William Henry Harrison,
ninth President of the United States, and
who was a son of one of the signers OF
the Declaration of independence John
Scott Harrison was twice married, his son,
Benjamin, being the second son of his
second marriage. Benjamin was gradu-
ated from Miami College, oxford, O.. in
1852. He married in 1853 Caroline Scott,
daughter of John w. Scott who was then
president of Oxford Female Seminary.
After studying law under Storer &
Gwynne in Cincinnati, he was admitted to
the bar in 1854 and began the practice of
his profession at Indianapolis, Ind, which
city has since been his home.
His first public office was that
at $3.50 day. This was the first
money he ever earned. In 1860 Mr.. Harri-
son was chosen reporter for the Supreme
Court of Indiana on a Republican ticket;
and this was his first political appear
ance. When the War Between the
States began he assisted in raising the
Seventh Indiana Regiment of volunteers.
became of that regiment, the lieutenant
colonel having declined the colonelcy
Subsequently he succeeded to the com.
mand of the regiment, and later to the
command of a brigade under Hooker Col
Harrison took a conspicuous part in the
campaign against Atlanta, and when that
city had been taken by Sherman lin Sep
TENDER, 1864 he received his first furlough
home He did not remain long inactive
but was ordered to join Sherman at Sa-
Vannah. He was stricken with scarlet
fever, however and was unable to join
Sherman until the latter had reached
Goldsboro. At that place he resumed COM
mand of his old brigade, at the head of
which, at the end of the war, he went 10
Washington to take part in a grand army
review. In Washington he was mustered
out, jim June. 1866; not however, until
he had received a commission as brevet
brigadier general, signed by Abraham Lin
coin Returning to Indianapolis he re-
sumed the office of reporter of the Su-
preme Court. In 1868 and 1872 he took
part in the presidential campaigns, sup
porting the nomination of Gen. Grant. In
1876 he declined a nomination for Governor
Of Indiana. In 1880 he was chairman OF
the Indiana delegation to the Nat
ional Republican convention and
cast nearly the entire vote OF
the state Tor James a. GafUell
for President. President Garfield offered
him place in the cabinet, but he de-
clined, preferring the United States sena-
torship from Indiana, to which he was
chosen from 1881 TO 1887. In the Senate
he advocated the Republican party's tariff
doctrine, opposed Cleveland's pension We
toes, and was in favor of civil service re-
form. He was DELICATE at large to the Re-
publican National Convention of 1884, and
again In 1885, In the latter convention he
was nominated for the presidency, and in
the November following he was elected
President, receiving 233 votes in the Elec-
toral College, to 168 for Mr. Cleveland. He
was lnaugurated March 4, 1889. The sal
lent features of the Harrison administra-
ton were the Boring Sea controversy, the
Pan-American Congress, the admission OF
the two Dakotas, Washington, Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming into the Union,
the Indian outbreak IN iS90-9l, the Maaa
lynchlngs IN New orleans in the same
year, the addition Of a number OF first
class ships 10 the new navy, the reciproc-
ity treaties with Germany, France, Aus
tra and certain South American states.
In 1892 Gen. Harrison was nominated 10
succeed himself, Grover Cleveland being
the candidate Of the Democratic party
Mr. Cleveland was elected. Gen. Harrison
then returned 10 indianapolis, where he
resumed the practice Of loW. since thil
time ne has appeared a. counsel iu some
Of the most important cases 40 come be-
fore the courts VI The country