The lives of Benjamin Harrison and Levi P. Morton

Front matter

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A* a\ o ti

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Preface

There is no more instructive reading than faithful biographies of great men. Every period of the world's history is represented by a few lives ; and ever^^ important event of that period bears some relation to one or more of those lives ; and the spirit of the period is the spirit of those lives. Religion, philosophy, science, government, politics, have very little attraction for the common reader, or even the majority of students, when treated abstractly ; they are dull, dry morsels, not easily assimilated by minds not abnormally disposed toward them. But when the sympathy of the reader, or student, is awakened in a person who bears, in study or daily life, a close relation to the religion, philosophy, science, government, or politics, and the life is traced with interest, he rises from the reading of the story instructed and benefited.

In writing the stories of the lives of Benjamin Harrison and Levi P. Morton, constant care has been given to accuracy, to harmony and relationship of details with the absorbing themes of public interest with which the people associate them, and to the story-like features of their lives that will make the book interesting to the general reader.

1st. If accuracy be wanting, the book could be of no value. The desire and purpose has been to make no statement as of fact that would not bear the criticism even of the men themselves, and in that respect receive their indorsement.

2d. Choice has fallen upon them for high offices because it was believed they were eminently qualified for them. If they are, they have come to their present ([ualifications, partly by

3 PREFACE.

inheritance and circumstance, but mostly by their course of life from birth to manhood. It required long years to make them what they are — fitting representatives of mighty issues and principles. It is no straining of facts, therefore, but a pleasing adherence to truth, to observe that harmony and relationship of the details of their lives with these great themes.

3d. If a character is consistent, the line of life will carry its central principles from first to last, and a faithful record of it will read like a story-book. This is its charm to all readers ; and this is the special charm of the lives of these men. Particular care has been taken to discover these lines of principles arid trace them, not in a philosophical manner, as if writing a treatise on those principles, but in a simple, straight-forward narrative.

Sources of information have been various, but not always reliable. It has been, therefore, no easy task to separate the true from the fictitious and sensational. Thanks are due to those friends who have kindly assisted in this task, as well as supplied further points for record.

If this book shall succeed in honoring these men as they deserve to be honored, and in showing them forth as representatives of those principles they are selected to champion, and in stirring the ambition of young men to like noble lives,

its object shall have been accomplished.

G. L. H.

CHAPTER I. Ancestral Line

birth of harrison a valuable ancestral line a memorable event in english history — thomas harrison's principles successful harrisons identified with virginia history a brief but suggestive record a famous homestead — a famous son

— record of tippecanoe a notable birth in vin-

cennes a more notable one in north bend,

Pages 17-34

CHAPTER II. Boyhood of Har.rison. a typical american boy typical american people

THE BOY AT HOME CHARACTERISTICS HIS SURROUND- INGS THE FAMILY HIS TUTORS HIS MANNER OF

STUDY AND APPLICATION THE LOG CABIN UNDER- GOES CHANGES — THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O FIRST WHIG

VICTORY HISTORY OF A MOVEMENT A PEOPLE'S CAM- PAIGN SONGS, BANNERS, AND BADGES A GREAT DAY

AT THE HARRISONS — -DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT — IM- PRESSIONS ON THE BOY, . . . - Pages 35-45

Chapter III

The Young Student, the boy goes from home the home he left farmer's college keeps up his reputation his

TEACHERS RETURNS HOME DEATH OF HIS MOTHER

GOES TO MIAMI UNIVERSITY TWO YOUNG FRIENDS

JOINS THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PROFESSORS AND

CLASSMATES — A SUCCESSFUL TWO YEARS INCLINES

TOWARD THE LAW ANOTHER COLLEGE IN THE TOWN

A ROMANTIC EPISODE HE GRADUATES WITH HON- ORS, ....... Pages 47-53

CHAPTER IV. The Law Student

a characteristic resolution a noted law firm

first contact with public men a review of the

political situation his home while reading law

heart turns towards oxford the romance ends

PROPITIOUSLY A HAPPY EVENT LIVING WITH THE

OLD FOLKS AN UNEXPECTED INHERITANCE ANOTHER

CHARACTERISTIC RESOLUTION, . . PaGES 54-63

CHAPTER V. The Young Lawyer

JOURNEY TO LAWRENCEBURG THENCE TO INDIANAPOLIS

THE CITY AT THAT TIME A HUMBLE COTTAGE

HE PUTS OUT HIS " SHINGLE " POOR PROMISE OF SUC- CESS DAYS SPENT IN ABSTRACT OFFICE OFFICE OF

JOHN H. REA, CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT OF UNITED STATES A PROVIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITY POINT LOOK- OUT BURGLARY CASE — PARTNERSHIP WITH WILLIAM WALLACE ANOTHER CASE BRINGS HONOR PARTNER- SHIP WITH W. P. FISHBACK, . . PaGES 65-73

CHAPTER VI. The Young Politician

the campaign of 1s56 the new party and its prl.xci-

ples a successful candidacy a memorable

debate at rockville the lincoln campaign a

RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES THE

SITUATION IN i860 WHIG PRINCIPLES AND FREE SOIL

ISSUES THE SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN THE REPORTER

IN OFFICE THE GUNS OF SUMTER BOUND AT HOME

— A PATRIOT, Pages 74-S6

CHAPTER VII. The Patriot Soldier

"three hundred thousand more" THE EFFECT ON THE

YOUNG PATRIOT A VOLUNTEER RECRUITING AND EN- LISTING SERVICE COLONEL OF THE SEVENTIETH INDI- ANA KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE FIRST BRIGADE OF

THE THIRD DIVISION OF THE TWENTIETH ARMY CORPS

THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN THE BATTLE OF RESACA

"come ON, boys!" THE BATTLE OF PEACH TREE

creek a letter from general hooker to the

secretary of war its result a promotion a

partisan insult at home thirty days leave of

absence — reelection sherman at savannah

an old-fashioned battle at narrowsburg victory

joins sherman the general returns home,

CHAPTER VIII. A Lawyer of Experience

TAKES UP ROUTINE OF OFFICE OF REPORTER A VIEW OF

THE SITUATION GENERAL HARRISON RESUMES PRAC-

TICE OF LAW SOME NOTED CASES THE CHARACTER

OF THE MAN -r- THE CITIZEN AND CHRISTIAN CONFI- DENCE OF ASSOCIATES FAMILY MR. FISHBACK LEAVES

THE FIRM "PORTER, HARRISON & HINES" "HAR- RISON & HINES" "HARRISON, HINES & MILLEr"

THE "clem" CASE, . . . PaGESIII-122

CHAPTER IX. Victory in Defeat

THE campaign OF 1S76 THE NATIONAL CANDIDATES

BEFORE AND AFTER THE CRISIS OF 1S73 THE CAM- PAIGN IN INDIANA THE CORRUPTION FUND THE

STATE TICKET — A CHANGE A POPULAR DEMAND

TASK NO OTHER COULD FILL AN ENERGETIC CANVASS

— INCIDENTS "COME ON, BOYS ! " THE RESULT A

VICTORY IN DEFEAT ACQUAINTANCE IN THE STATE

IN DEMAND FOR THE GENERAL CAMPAIGN, PaGES I23-I36

CHAPTER X. Lawyer and Politician

a leader of the indiana bar the strike of 1s77 —

on the side of sympathy the campaign of 1s78

CONTEST WITH GREENBACKERS MEMBER OF THE

MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION AN INDUSTRIAL PARADE

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1S80 THE UNITED STATES

SENATE A VIEW OF THE LAWYER, THE POLITICIAN,

THE MAN, Pages 137-153

Chapter XI

Senator and Citizen, removal to washington the old home at indianapolis a typical american woman — daughter

AND SON THE NEW HOME AND SOCIETY SIX YEARS

OF SOCIAL VICTORIES TWO MARRIAGES HARRISON

IN THE SENATE THE BURLINGAME TREATY THE

HISTORY OF CHINESE LEGISLATION THE DAKOTA RE- PORT AND SPEECHES MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE

ON FOREIGN RELATIONS THE CONTRACT LABOR BILL

ALIEN OWNERSHIP OF AMERICAN SOIL A REVIEW

OF RECORD HISTORY OF THE SECOND CONTEST FOR

SENATORSHIP HOME AGAIN, . . PaGES 154-174

CHAPTER XII. Citizen and Candidate

RESUMES THE PRACTICE OF LAW CASES A VIEW OF THE

MAN AS A CITIZEN WHOM THE INDIANIANS WANTED

FOR PRESIDENT WORK OF THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL

OTHER CANDIDATES HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT

THE GREAT CONVENTION ITS HISTORY THE NOM- INATION GENERAL SATISFACTION AMONG DELEGATES

ENTHUSIASM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ENTHUSI- ASM AT HOME — "COME ON, BOYS ! " PaGES I75-2OI

CHAPTER Xni.

A Characteristic Speech.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY A YOUNG PARTY A " BOOK OF MAR- TYRS " CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY IN 1 86 1 WAR,

FINANCE, diplomacy; GRANT, CHACE, SEWARD

achievements of the republican party — work yet to be done equality in all the states protection to american industries and american labor,

Pages 202-2 is

Chapter XIV

Record in Speeches, the principle of control by the majority the corner-stone of american government — democratic slanders tariff utterances — a cruel page in our

history principle of the dependent pension bill

the admission of dakota to the union discouraged republicans in south carolina —tenure-ofoffice act, and the democratic star chamber —

civil service commission sea-coast defense

places for the surplus a plea for the union of

temperance forces home rule in ireland why

a change of administration is desirable,

CHAPTER I. Ancestry

A passenger on the SHIP ANN A SETTLER IN MIDDLE-

BORO', MASSACHUSETTS LATER GENERATIONS A BIRTH

IN MAINE — REMOVAL TO VERMONT SCHOOL AT MID-

DLEBURY, VERMONT STUDIES FOR THE MINISTRY

REMOVAL TO SHOREHAM ANOTHER FAMILY OF

MASSACHUSETTS REMOVAL TO ADDISON COUNTY, VER- MONT THE FIRST AMERICAN MISSIONARY TO THE

HOLY LAND MARRIAGE THE FOURTH CHILD HIS

NAME, Pages 241-247

CHAPTER II. The Boyhood of Morton

THE preacher's SALARY A FAMILY OF EIGHT HO\V TO

EDUCATE THE CHILDREN THE COMMON SCHOOL AT

SHOREHAM THE INFLUENCE OF HOME COUNTRY

STORE IN ENFIELD A TWO YEARS' PRACTICAL SCHOOL- ING — APTITUDE FOR BUSINESS HABITS MIND

ANOTHER COUNTRY STORE A MARK OF EMPLOYER'S

CONFIDENCE — BRANCH STORE IN HANOVER DART- MOUTH COLLEGE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SUCCESS

FIRST VOTE AND POLITICAL ^TE^VS ANOTHER AD- VANCE IN 1849, .... Pages 248-254

CHAPTER III. Business and Financial Record

" BEEBE & company" JOINED BY MR. ^MORGAN — yiU.

morton a resident partner in new york death

of his father "morton & grinnell," first

marriage a financial failure a new firm —

an honorable deed — mr. bliss enters the firm

"morton, rose & company," london death of

his wife years of bravery under affliction

another happy marriage "halifax award " —

story of the resumption of specie payment,

CHAPTER IV. Congressional Experience

A SURPRISE TO MR. MORTON NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS

A REDUCTION OF DEMOCRATIC VOTES NOMINATED

AGAIN AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY A PROMINENT

POSITION IN CONGRESS SOME BILLS HE INTRODUCED lo CONTENTS.

SPEECH ON THE UNLIMITED SILVER COINAGE BILL

SPEECH ON THE BILL FOR EXCHANGE OF TRADE

DOLLARS WITH LEGAL-TENDER DOLLARS SPEECH ON

APPROPRIATION FOR INTERNATIONAL FISHERY EXHIBI- TION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAN IN HIS SPEECHES

A SOCIAL SUCCESS, . . . PaGES 27I-287

CHAPTER V. Minister to France

the campaign of 1880 mr. morton declines the

offer of vice-presidency declines the secre- TARYSHIP OF THE NAVY ACCEPTS THE OFFER OF

MINISTER TO FRANCE WELL FITTED FOR THE POST

REMOVAL OF AMERICAN LEGATION OFFICE A POLIT- ICAL GATHERING PLACE THE MORTON ENTERTAIN- MENTS IN FRANCE MRS. MORTON's SOCIAL TACT AND

SKILL THE DISABILITY REMOVED FROM AMERICAN

CORPORATIONS THE AMERICAN HOG A SERIES OF

IMPORTANT ACTS TARIFF ON FRENCH ART BIRTH- PLACE OF LAFAYETTE MINISTER MORTON'S SPEECH

PRESENTATION AND RECEPTION OF BARTHOLDl's STA- TUE OF " LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD '*

TWO SPEECHES, ..... PaGES 288-309

CHAPTER VI. Brilliant Closing of Ministry to France

ELECTION OF 1S84 MR. MORTON PREPARES TO RESIGN ;

INAUGURATION OF ORIGINAL MODEL OF "LIBERTY EN- i LIGHTENING THE WORLD" AN EARLY BANQUET i

SCENE ON THE PLACE DES ETATS-UNIS PRESENTA-'l

I

TION SPEECH BY MR. MORTON RECEPTION BY M.

BRISSON SPEECHES BY M. BOUE, M. DE LESSEPS, AND

SENATOR LAFAYETTE INVITATION TO A FAREWELL

BANQUET THE TOASTS TESTIMONIES OF APPRECIA- TION FROM FRENCH AND AMERICANS A RESPONSE BY

MR. MORTON REPORTS FROM PARIS AND LONDON

PAPERS A PERSONAL TESTIMONY BY PRESIDENT

Chapter VII

Home and Charities, no. 85 fifth avenue — " fair lawn " " ellerslie "

DOMESTIC CHARACTER AND TASTES FAITHFUL AND

ACCOMPLISHED WIFE AND DAUGHTERS A MAN OF

BENEVOLENCE " ONE QUARTER OF THE CARGO OF

THE CONSTELLATION " DETERMINATION IF NOT AC- CEPTED $50,000 FOR RELIEB- OF WORKINGMEN DURING

ROCKAWAY BEACH IMPROVEMENT TROUBLES TESTI- MONY OF GRATEFUL EMPLOYES A GIFT TO DART- MOUTH COLLEGE — OLEOMARGERINE LAWS — A RECORD WORTHY OF HONOR, .... PaGES 328-335

CHAPTER I. Its Glorious Achievements

REPEAL OF THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE POLITICAL BREAK- UP FORMATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ELEC- TION OF 1856 FREEDOM OR SLAVERY IN THE TERRI-

TORIES LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS DEBATE ELECTION

OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN SECESSION WAR FOR THE

UNION UNPATRIOTIC ATTITUDE OF THE DEMOCRATIC

PARTY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THE DEFENDER OF

NATIONALITY EMANCIPATION ENFRANCHISEMENT OF

THE COLORED RACE, . . . PaGES 339-35 1

CHAPTER II. The Tariff

REVIEW OF THE TARIFF CONTROVERSY THE QUESTION

STATED BY MR. BLAINE INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF TARIFF

REDUCTIONS TARIFF OF 1857 PROTECTION AND FREE [

TRADE AS A POLITICAL ISSUE IN THE UNITED STATES —

TARIFF OF 18S3 PRESIDENT CLE^'ELAND's MESSAGE

THE RAW MATERIALS QLIESTION THE DOCTRINE OF

PROTECTION, ..... Pages 352-371

Chapter III

The Mills Bill, and the Surplus and Whiskey Tax Questions.

ascendency of the free trade democrats the mills

bill its passage in the house of representatives

the wool question threatened prostration

of industries unwise policy of the cotton interest minnesota and the tariff the mills bill

not a measure for the reduction of the surplus

sugar tariff trusts the republican plan for

reducing the surplus the whiskey tax,

CHAPTER IV. The Labor Question

labor qltestion related to politics speech of s. b.

elkins the republican party the labor party of

THE COUNTRY THE HOMESTEAD ACT PROTECTION

FAIR ELECTIONS AND NATIONAL AID TO EDUCATION ESSENTIAL LABOR MEASURES, . PaGES 389-399

CHAPTER V. Free and Fair Elections

THE SUPPRESSION OF SUFFRAGE IN THE SOUTH GROVER

CLEVELAND NOT FAIRLY ELECTED MR. BAYARD's

PROPHECY IMPARTIAL TESTIMONY AS TO DEMOCRATIC

FRAUD THE SILENT SOUTH REPUBLICANS PLEDGED

TO RESTORE THE BALLOT TO THE COLORED RACE MR.

BLAINE's AUGUSTA SPEECH A FREE BALLOT THE

GROUND OF REPUBLICAN UNITY THE SOUTH DAKOTA

QUESTION, Pages 400-41 1

CHAPTER VI. Pensions

dependent pension bill of 1887 veto of president

cleveland dependent pension bill of 1888

mr. cleveland and the democrats unwilling to do justice to the soldiers of the union washington and cleveland in contrast vetoes of

SPECIAL PENSION BILLS, . . . PaGES 412-417

Chapter VII

Civil Service Reform, a delusion and a sham under president cleveland's administration the president's promises the

president's PERFORMANCE, . . PaGES 418-435

CHAPTER VIII. The Fisheries Question

the honor of the republic involved in the protec- TION OF THE RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS NATIONAL

VALUE OF THE FISHING INTEREST TREATY OF 1818

CANADA COVETS OUR MARKET CANADIAN OUT- RAGES TREATY OF 1 854 TREATY OF WASHINGTON

THE FISHERIES AWARD MORE OUTRAGES THE

DISGRACEFUL SURRENDER OF CLEVELAND AND BAYARD TO ENGLAND, PaGES 436-45 1

CHAPTER IX. The Temperance Question

ONE GREAT ISSUE AT A TIME PROHIBITION NOT THE ISSUE

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THE TRUE REFORM PARTY

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HOSTILE TO TEMPERANCE MEASURES THE PROHIBITION PARTY A HINDRANCE TO

REFORM, Pages 452-459

CHAPTER X. The Republican Platform for 1888, . . 460-468

CHAPTER XL General Harrison's Letter of Acceptance, . 469-497

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Birthplace of General Harrison at North Bend, Ohio, . 31

Residence of Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Ind., . 46 House in which General and Mrs. Harrison Commenced

The White House, or Executive .Mansion, Washington,

Scene in the Chicago Convention. ..... 33S

Log Cabin and Scene among the Pioneers, . Title Page

PORTRAITS.

Benjamin Harrison, . . . . . . Frontispiece.

President William Henry Harrison, ..... 16

Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, 64

Abr.aham Lincoln, . . . . . . . . .110

(The First Republican President.)

Russell B. Harrison, 131

(Son of General Benjamin Harrison.) Ulysses S. Grant, . . ... .... 147

(The Second Republican President.)

Rutherford B. Hayes, ........ 195

(The Third Republican President.)

Levi Parsons Morton, 240

Mrs. Levi P. Morton, . .270

James A. Garfield, 310

(The Fourth Republican President.)

Chester A. Arthur, 388

(The Fifth Republican President.)

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON,

NINTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Chapter I. ANCESTRAL LINE

BIRTH OF HARRISON — A VALUABLE ANCESTRAL LINE- — A MEMORABLE EVENT IN ENGLISH HISTORY — THOMAS HARRISON'S PRINCIPLES SUCCESSFUL — HARRISONS IDENTIFIED WITH VIRGINIA HISTORY —

A BRIEF BUT SUGGESTIVE RECORD A FAMOUS HOMESTEAD A

FAMOUS SON RECORD OF TIPPECANOE A NOTABLE BIRTH IN

VINCENNES A MORE NOTABLE ONE IN NORTH BEND.

Benjamin Harrison was born August 20, 1833, at North Bend, Ohio.

A truly great man does not depend for honor upon prestige or ancestry. He wins his own fame, and the record of his personal life is his glory among his fellows. This is true of this man. If honor and praise were all that is to be sought for him, the simple recital of the story of his life from the cradle to the prime of his manhood would be sufficient. No ambition can be purer in quality and more honorable in itself, than that of the man who, possessing all the requirements for fame without merit or noble eftbrt, seeks to rise on personal merit, or not to rise at all.

This ambition has marked the life of Benjamin Harrison. While not despising those ancestors of renown, and pleased that blood so noble flows in his own veins, he has sought, with something of anxiety, to win what laurels he might win, solely by his own merits. If good blood is of any value, let it be manifested in the deeds of the man, not in the heralding of the circumstance.

But a record of lineage is sometimes valuable. First, it is a revelation, in some degree, of the man's inherited possibilities ; and while this is an inquiry the public, with proper motive, has a right to make, it allows the man the additional triumph of exhibiting in his life the prophesy of blood fulfilled. Second, it allows the tracing of those influences — family traits and inclinations and ways of thinking — that helped to make the boy what he was, and the man what he is. No biography can be complete, therefore, without some such record.

One of the first Harrisons of whom there is any authorized public account, and from whom General Harrison descended, was a martyr to the cause of human liberty. Major-General Thomas Harrison was one of Cromwell's generals. He conveyed the king, Charles I., from Hurst to Windsor Castle; from Windsor Castle to Whitehall for trial ; sat as one of his judges, and signed his death-warrant.

It is of some interest to note the character of that Harrison, as it was manifested in his manner of performing those tragic duties. Charles had been warned that his escort's instructions were to assassinate him on the way ; but when he saw the soldierly bearing of the latter, he frankly confessed his fear, aroused by the warning, and that it had now been somewhat quieted. Harrison informed his majesty that " he needed not to entertain any such imagination or apprehension ; that tlie parliament had too much honor and justice to cherish so foul an intention ; and whatever it resolved to do would be public, and in a way of justice to which the world should be witness, and would never endure a thought of secret violence."

When Charles II. was restored to the throne, of course those most active in the revolution fell under his wrath. The inimitable Samuel Pepys made the following statements in his diary of October 13, 1660:

"I went out to Charing Cross to see Major-General Harrison hanged, drawn and quartered ; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could do in that condition.

. . It is said that he said that he was sure to come shortly at the right hand of Christ, to judge them that now had judged him ; and that his wife do expect his coming again."

Had the cause of Cromwell been successful, even English writers would not have considered General Harrison's offense a crime, nor even an offense at all. But that cause, though unsuccessful as to its immediate aims, was not a failure. The principles for which Thomas Harrison fought and died flourish to-day both there and here, while with the death of Charles I. died from the hearts of Englishmen his doctrines ; for though the son of Charles, as well as subsequent sovereigns of England, may have presumptuously recognized those doctrines in petty ways, yet in policy they have recognized the changed feeling of the English Nation. By that revohition ^vas our revohition made possible.

Men of the spirit of the Harrisons are intolerant of intolerance. For this reason, even before the bloody times of the English revolution, some of them emigrated to tl.e freer American Colonies. Thev came to Virginia ; and from that day to this the Harrisons have been identified with the soil and blood of that great State. And there they fostered the princij^les of human freedom.

In the northwest of England, through the county of Lancaster into the Irish Sea, flows the River Ribble. Here, along the banks of this stream, according to private records, was the English home of the Harrisons. From this region Benjamin Harrison, cousin to the martyr, emigrated to the shores of America, in 1635 — twenty-five years before the execution of his illustrious relative.

That Benjamin Harrison — first of the name and family in this country — settled in Surry Coimty, Virginia, on Wamiskioke Creek, just across the James from Jamestown, and only twenty-eight years after the settlement of that colony. Either here, or in England just before the emigration, a son was born to him, who was also named Benjamin.

This son grew up on his father's farm in Surry ; and when he was of age he married Hannah Churchill, of the renowned family of Churchills in England, to which belonged the Duke of Marlborough. The happy couple lived at Huntingdon, Surry County, and there died ; and in the churchyard which he himself gave to Southwark Parish, near Huntingdon, the tombstone of this Benjamin Harrison may be seen to-day.

To Benjamin and Hannah Churchill Harrison was born a son, whom they also named Benjamin — the third of the name in America. This son married a daughter of Lewis Burwell, of Gloucester County, Virginia. He settled at Berkeley, on the north bank of the James River, in Charles City County, at a point about twenty-fiv^e miles above the site of Jamestown, and twenty-five miles below Richmond. Here he built a typical mansion of those times, which became known from that day as the homestead of the Harrisons.

The fourth Benjamin Harrison was a son of this gentleman. He married a daughter of Robert Carter, of Carotoman, in the northern neck of Virginia. From this time on the name of Harrison is included in the Carter family list — the list of one of the most noted families of the Old Dominion, and one that has added much to her honor.

This gentleman lived at the old homestead built b}' his father, at Berkeley. One day, during a heavy thunder-storm, he was standing with two of his daughters in the hall of the old mansion, when a stroke of lightning ended all their lives. He left, besides his widow, several sons, two of whom preserved the honor of the old family name in public capacity. His son Charles was a general of artiller) during the Revolutionary War, and did efficient service in the cause of independence. Benjamin, the brother of Charles, achieved greater fame, however, and became the historic Harrison of the Revolution.

Thus, Benjamin Harrison, of the American Revolution, was descended in a direct line from Benjamin Harrison, cousin of Major-General Thomas Harrison, of tiie English

Revolution. The simplest record that can be made of his life is enough to give him high rank among America's most famous heroes. He was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, and one of its renowned leaders ; a member of the first Colonial Congress ; the reporter of the Resolution of Independence ; a signer of the Declaration of Independence ; president of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1777 to 1781 ; thrice elected governor of Virginia ; a member of the convention that ratified the Constitution of the United States ; and father of William Henry Harrison.

This Benjamin Harrison married a Miss Bassett, who was a sister of the wife of Peyton Randolph. Before he was tv/entyone, he was sent to the House of Bui-gesses. Here he was so outspoken, and withal so sternly true in his patriotism, and so talented, that, spite of his youth, he was made speaker of the House. Afterwards he was sent to the " rebel Congress," and there he so distinguished himself that he barely escaped the honor of being made president of the Congress. The following story is told of the circumstance :

When his brother-in-lav/, Peyton Randolph, who was president of the Congress, died, Ben Harrison was immediately thought of as his successor ; and would have been elected, had he not withdrawn in favor of John Hancock, of Massachusetts, in the interest of harmony between the Northern and Southern colonies. He himself secured the unanimous election of Hancock, who, on account of British proscription for his faithfjulness to the colonial cause, rather feared to assume so lofty and dangerous a post. But Ben Harrison — almost a giant in physical proportions and strength — lifted the hesitating president-elect from the floor, carried him to the official chair, and placed him in it, giving utterance to these characteristic words, which showed both the temper of the Congress and the rugged and unfaltering nature of Harrison's devotion to his country :

" We will show Mother Britain how little we care for her by making a Massachusetts man our president, whom she has excluded from pardon by public proclamation."

Harrison was chairman of the Committee of the Whole that considered the Declaration of Independence, and on the loth of June, 1776, he reported the resolution for Independence to the Congress. On the 4th of July he voted for it ; and one month afterwards it received his signature, between those of Thomas Jefferson and Lewis Morris. While that noble host of patriots was engaged in that act which meant liberty or death to them, and perhaps to all who were dear to them, not the least confident of the success of the liberty side was " Bluff Ben Harrison." He turned to Elbridge Gerry, and in a jovial taunt, that expressed his utter fearlessness of any chance of defeat, he said: " Gerry, when we shall be hung for high treason, I shall die quicker, because I am heavier."

When he resigned his seat in Congress, in i777' ^^ "*^^^ again elected to the House of Burgesses in Virginia, and served there as speaker until near 17S2. His subsequent career is already given ; but in 1791, after he had been elected governor of Virginia the third time, he died before the inauguration took place.

William Henry Harrison was born at Berkeley, Charles City County, Virginia, February i^, 1773, just one year before the first meeting of the Continental Congress. He was therefore three years and a half old when his father signed the Declaration of Independence. He grew up on the plantation at Berkeley. He had the best instruction a good mother and competent tutors could give him until he entered college. But meanwhile he was receiving a training in a different sort of school. The War of the Revolution raged all around him, if it did not at first come within range of his vision. In 1775 Norfolk was burned, and from that time the patriots who lived at Berkeley and in the vicinity, had only the themes of patriotism on their tongues. In January, 1781, the traitor, Benedict Arnold, landed with his marauding forces at Westover, but a short distance from Berkeley. Then British and Hessians continued to arrive, a fleet was in the James, and the forces of Cornwallis began to march from Carolina up toward Yorktown, to the northeast of Berkeley. But it was not long until the danger to the plantations was over, and Cornwallis had surrendered to Washington. Then, in 1 783, the war was declared at an end.

The father of William Henry Harrison, while not rich, yet possessed enough means by which to manifest great liberality. But the Berkeley homestead could not, in money, be valued at half what it is to-day — for it yet stands on the bank of the James, a typical old Virginia home. When William Henry had been sometime in his " teens," he was permitted to enter Hampton-Sidney College, for which, by application under his tutors, he was thoroughly prepared.

From the time of the peace of 17S3, hostilities were carried on by the Indians in the Northwest Territory, who were urged on by British agents and traders. Tliere were yet Britisli posts within the United States, and these exercised great influence upon the red men. Matters grew worse as the years went on. It is said that from 1783 to 1791 fifteen hundred men, women, and children were killed or captured by the Indians.

Washington, from the first of his administration, strove to put an end to these hostilities, and to protect the frontier. It was the influence of these depredations, and of the spirit of Washington, his father's friend, in endeavoring to marshal! forces for the defense of the frontier, and of the hostility still manifested by British power through the Indians, that led William Henry HaiTison to give up his studies for the medical profession, which he had been pursuing, and determine to enter the army. It was, in the minds of most of his friends, a most extraordinary and hazardous decision. He had always been a " book-worm." His appearance was effeminate. He was mild in manner, and unobtrusive. The resolution was taken about the time of his father's death, and the great banker, Robert Morris, was his guardian — for he was but eighteen. Mr. Morris was so opposed to the plan that he consulted Washington about it. But Washington approved, and the result was that, in April, 1791, William Henry Harrison received a commission as ensign in the First Regiment of the United States Artillery, which was then stationed at Fort Washington, near the present site of Cincinnati.

The event proved Washington's estimate of the lad to be correct. His garrison life was a good military discipline for young Harrison, and he soon so won the confidence of his superior officers, that he was intrusted with dangerous and important duties. Then came the disastrous defeat of the army of St. Clair, the commander-in-chief. More than five hundred officers and privates perished, and the rest fled to Fort Washington, arriving one by one at the fort.