The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-14
BENJAMIN HARRISON'S CAREER.

DENJAm1N HARRISON'S CAREER.
BENJAMIN Harrison was the great
GRANDSON of Signer of the Declaration
OF independence. the grandson of the
iiihIh president OF the United States. and
islllSelI was distinguished as a lawyer. a
| SoidIer' and a statesman. Coming from
a family identified with the history of
the country from its foundation he up
heid It's best traditions. and While he
was known as a cold man in his deal
ii&S With other men. his honesty of pur-
pose and patriotic desires We're never
DOUBTED throughout his long public ca
feer The family from which ne came
was distinguished in England before its
name became part of the history of
TINS nation, and it was an ancestor of
his. Major General Harrison, who as an
officer under Cromwell. signed the death
warrant of Charles / This member of
the family paid the penalty Of his promi-
nence in the revolution after the Resto-
ration by being hanged on October Is.
1860
The first of the family to become con-
Spicuous in America was benjamin. the
siSner of the Declaration. who for years
was one OF the leading citizens of Vir-
ginia- He was a member OF the House
OF BurSesses. delegate 10 the Colonial
congress, three times the Governor of
virginia, and member Of the conven-
uon that ratified the Constitution His
son. William Henry Harrison, died after
he had been President of the United
States month. in 1874. The third son
of William Henry Harrison was John
Scott Harrison. and he was the father
OF the second Benjamin. who rose to high
place in the service of his country.
John Scott Harrison lived in the log
cabin homestead Of his grandfather. made
famous in he campaign Of his father for
the Presidency, when his third son, the
second benjamin. was born on August %,
1873 The cabin stood in North Bend
Ohio John Scott Harrison was twice
elected to Congress, so the line of public
service did not fail in the family, al
though it was once said Of him that his
only distinction was that he was the son
of great father and the father Of a
great son" His second wife. Elizabeth.
the daughter Of A. Irwin of Pennsylvania.
by whom he had seven children. was the
mother of Benjamin. All of the accounts
OF the cary life Of Benjamin agree in say
ing that he was a fine, manly boy, of
great independence Of character, who was
willing to work hard and who was anx-
ious to learn He was physically and
mentally vigorous. and was one OF the
leaders in all of the sports in which the
boys OF the neighborhoOd engaged. When
/ he was sixteen years Old he entered Mia
mi University at Oxford. Ohio and com
pleted the course in tE;O years. During
, his days at the university he showed z;
strong inclination for the law. and as
soon as he had been graduated he went
3
in the offices Of Storer & Cigyynne. lie
completed his studies in 1874 and was ad-
mitted to the bar While a student he was
married 10 Caroline l. Scott. the daUgh-
ter of the President of the girls school at
oxford. His friends obtained for him the
appointment Of crier Of the Federal Court
at a compensation Of S2.50 a day. This
was the first money that he earned and
it was his start IN life
The first law case that he had was the
prosecution Of a man accused Of burglary
Mr.. Harrison was to make the final ar
gument. and had taken extensive notes
Of the testimony. To his great alarm the
last session Of the court was held ct night,
the room being half Illuminated by can
dIes He could not read the notes that
he had made but he threw them away.
trusted to his memory. and won the case
This Incident made him become anxious
10 be independent Of notes, and the train
ing that he put himself through to accom-
plish this end resulted in his great ability
10 make telling extemporaneous speeches.
Tor which he became famous IN his pouti-
cal life.
Young Harrison moved TO indianapolis
when he Was tWenty-One, and that city
was his home thereafter There he rose
To the high place he held in his profession
He had no inheritance except his name.
and his physical and mental VigOr and he
had 20 work hard TO provide for his young
wife. Through the Kindness of Gov. JO-
Seph A Wright. Democrat ne obtained
employment in 4 legislative Investigation.
and his conduct of the duties entrusted
10 him attracted the attention of other
lawyers and Of laymen who brought bust
ness to him In 1885 he became n mem
Der OF the firm of Wallace & Harrison,
Arm which lasted for five years 10 be
succeeded in 1863 by the nrm Of Harrison
& Fishback-
1t was IN this year that he took his
first part in active politics, getting the
nomination Of the Republicans for the
Office Of Reporter Of the Supreme Court.
He CanVasSed the State for the party,
and at Rockville he met in joint debate
Thomas A Hendricks, the Democratic
nominee for Governor HaTTiSOn's speech
was a complete answer to all Of the
arguments Of his older antagonist and did
much TO increase his fame in the State.
He was elected TO the Office Tor which he
had been nominated and was performing
its duties when the war between the
States began. he at once began to help
in the organization Of the Seventeen IN
diana When the regiment was com
Pleted Gov. Oliver P Morton appointed
him its Colonel. The regiment was des-
patched to Bowling Green, Ky. TO join
the forces under Gen Don Carlos Buell.,
then opposed by Gen. Braxton Bragg.
Colonel HARRISON first independent
command was an expedition to capture a
Confederate force. and his success was
complete. After q long period Of guard
duty in the West. in which the principal
occupation Of the command was the re-
pulsion Of guerrilla raids. the regiment
was attached 10 the Twentieth Corps uH-
der Gen. Joseph Hooker with which il
made the campaign from Chattanooga to
Atlanta. and in the battle Of Peach Tree
Greek Colonel Harrison conduct. while
in command Of a brigade. was 50 excel
lent. and the discipline Of his brigade was
so good that General Hooker wrote 10
the Secretary OF War in special com
III. adation OF him. Later he was on duty
il Indiana IN recruiting fOr the army,
but he rejOineG his command in time TO
take part In the grand revie" in Wash
iugtOn in June. 1860. Six months before
he had been bTeveted Brigadier General
FOR ability and manifest energy and gal
lantry in command of the brigade"
To his men General Harrison was
known as Little Ken because Of his
short stature. and of him many acts of
Kindness We're told while he was in the
army Throughout his life ne valued his
army title more than any other that he
Introduce a stranger 10 him they fire.
Quently told him to address him AS Cen
eraI" and as the General he was al
WAYS referred to in conversation among