The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14
HIS LIFE IN BRIEF.
The Principal Events in the Life of
Benjamin Harrison.

Benjamin Harrison, one of the most pic
turesque and commanding figures in civil.
political and religious affairs of this coun-
try, was born on the farm of his father,
o Scott Harrison, near North Bend, o.,
on the 10Th of August. 1888. His early years
were not spent amid the enervating in
fiuences of luxury. although his parents
were able to provide him with an educa-
ton that was of the best. Until his four
teenth year he was trained and taught by
tutors in his fathers household. At four
teen he and his brother Irwin were sent to
Cary's Academy, a preparatory institution
of learning located on what was then
known as College Hill, a few miles dis
tant from Cincinnati.
In 1850, when young Harrison was seven
teen years old he entered Miami University
at Oxford, o., and completed the course,
graduating in June. 1852. His aptitude in
learning may be gathered from the fact
that in a class of sixteen members be
ranked fourth. After a vacation of a few
weeks he went to Cincinnati and entered
the law office of Storer & Gwynne as a stu
dent. Here he remained two years. On
Oct. 2S, 1853, he was married to Caroline l..
Scott, daughter of Rev. DIR. John w. Scott.
president of Oxford Female Seminary.
Early in the year 1854 Mr.. Harrison was
admitted to the bar in Cincinnati, and in
March of the same year he removed to In
dianapolis, where he settled. 1t is said
that he earned his first money in this city
by serving as court crier in the Federal
Court at $3.50 per day. In a short time he
was given a position in the office of John
H. Rhea, clerk of the United States District
Court.
HIS FIRST JURY TRIAL.
In the fall of 1854 he participated in his
first jury trial, which was a distinct event
in the young attorneys life. He was junior
counsel with the late Maj. Jonathan w.
Gordon. one of Indiana's most brilliant law
yers, i'm the prosecution of the Point Look
out burglary case. The opposing counsel
was Governor David Wallace. who paid
young Harrison a high compliment upon
the ability he displayed in the conduct of
the case. The next year young Harrison
termed a law partnership with William
Wallace. a union that lasted until 1850.
when Mr.. Harrison associated himself with
the late William Pinckney Fishback. an
other brilliant member of the Indiana bar.
This alliance continued until the outbreak
of the civil war. IN the fall OF 1860 Mr..
Harrison was elected reporter OF the Indi-
ana Supreme Court, ana during his tenure
OF this office. until the beginning of the
war. was able TO publish Volumes 10 and
&c and nearly complete Volume IL OF the
Supreme Court reports. In 1860 Mr.. Harri-
son Joined the First Presbyterian Church
of this city. OF which he remained an active
member until the time of his death. except
during the period in which he was President
OF the United States. when he temporarily
transferred his membership to a church of
the same denomination in the national CAPT
tai.
In July. 1862. Governor Morton offered
Mr.. Harrison the command OF a regimen
in the war. This offer was declined and the
young man secured a second l~ieutenant's
recruiting commission and began the work
of raising a regiment. He raised and took
into the field the first company (A) of the
Seventeen Indiana Infantry. In less than
thirty days after he obtained his lieuten-