comparatively uneventful. Still it should not be passed as unworthy separate notice.

His youth was spent upon the farm at North Bend. The repeated and long-continued absences of his father in and about official duties demanded a confidential agent to superintend home affairs. So it resulted that the second of the sons became a farmer; and from all that can be gleaned of him this was strictly in consonance with his tastes. He was of a quiet, meditative turn. The bustle and jostling of great crowds were distasteful to him. He loved best to sit with his family by the door of summer evenings. The education of the boys absorbed every thought aside from his farm. He lived chiefly for them. As, in his later years, the goodly acres melted away, he sacrificed pride and personal comforts, everything, indeed, but honor, in the settled determination to see them equipped for their several

races.

It must not be supposed that he was naturally an inferior or that he was without capacity. On the contrary, he was a fair writer and a speaker of power.

In his youth and middle age the parties representing the chief political divisions of the country were Democratic and Federal. In 1840 they were Whig and Democrat. Following Jefferson and Jackson, John Scott Harrison became a Democrat, and remained of that party.

Recognizing his merit and capacity, his political friends succeeded in drawing him from retirement long enough to represent his district twice in Congress; and it is said that he could have been returned to the seat indefinitely. But the cares and harassments of business and his innate preference for home smothered the last spark of ambition in his breast.

Contemporary members of Congress remember him as active in the discharge of official duties. Constant at committee meetings, they say he was ready in speech and always commanded a hearing on the floor.

In August, 1861, the Democratic State Convention held at Columbus nominated John Scott Harrison for lieutenant-governor, with Hugh J. Jewett for first place on the ticket. Dr. Johnson, then secretary of the central committee of the party, formally notified him of his nomination. In a letter described as smoothly written in a flowing hand, and without an erasure or omission, Mr. Harrison declined the honor. The year 1861 is forever sadly memorable as that of the outbreak of the great rebellion. It may be of interest to the reader to know the position occupied by the father of the present candidate for the Presidency in that day of uncertainty and general political rupture. The following is the gentleman's letter of declination:

WM. A. JOHNSON, ESQ.:

POINT FARM, Ö., Aug. 13, 1861.

Dear Sir: The extreme illness of a member of my family has for several weeks so entirely engrossed my attention as to leave me but little time for other engagements, and will account for this tardy acknowledgment of your favor of 8th instant.

I had noticed in the city papers the proceedings of the Democratic Union Convention lately assembled at Columbus, and was not a little surprised to find that my name had been used in connection with the lieutenantgovernorship of the State. I deeply regretted that I had not been consulted in the matter, and now desire to say that I respectfully decline the nomination.

I have no inclination to be a candidate for any office. If I ever cherished ambition for such distinction I have been cured of it, and feel entirely reconciled to the quiet and retirement of private life. But it is perhaps due to myself to say that if this were not the case, and I felt entirely free to enter again the field of political conflict, I could not consent to be a party candidate for office in the present condition of the country. Party spirit, in my opinion, has done more than anything else to bring about the late calamities which now so seriously afflict us, and the poison which has induced this national paralysis would not prove an efficient remedy in the restoration of the patient. The time has come when we should forget party, throw off its trammels and obligations and stand up for the country, its union, Constitution and laws.

I was not, as you know, a supporter of Mr. Lincoln for the presidency, neither do I approve of all the acts of his administration. But it seems to me that this is not the proper time to arraign the administration for these errors of policy, and that it is neither the part of wisdom nor patriotism to assail the government when the enemy is thundering at the gates of the capital. Let us first settle the great question of country or no country, government or no government, Union or disunion; and having accomplished this great work of duty and patriotism, we will have ample time to inquire into the alleged delin

quencies of our rulers, and if we find them wanting in the Jeffersonian requirements for office, let them be condemned by a verdict of the people.

I certainly owe the Republicans, as a party, no debt of political obligation, and yet I do not hesitate to say that the administration has my warmest sympathy in its effort to put down this rebellion, and I am in favor of doing this effectually and permanently-in peace if we can, in war if we must. A distinguished member of Congress is reported to have said, in his place in the House of Representatives during last session, that he was for peace -peace before the Union. I, too, am for peace, but I am for the Union before peace, for I know without union we can have no peace.

In repeating my determination to decline the nomination, which, as the organ of the convention, you so kindly tendered me, I beg to assure you of my proper appreciation of this mark of respect and confidence on the part of the convention.

Very respectfully your obedient servant,

J. SCOTT HARRISON.

He died in the spring of 1878, loved by his neighbors and respected, despite his financial misfortunes, by all who knew him. Benjamin Harrison, of whom we are writing, was his second son, Irwin being the first.

CHAPTER II.

CHILD, BOY AND STUDENT.

IN 1787 the Continental Congress, sitting in New York, adopted “An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio." This was speedily followed by sales of public lands, notably one of five millions of acres, bordering the Ohio river from the Muskingum to the Scioto, to citizens of New England organized as "The Ohio Company," and another of two millions of acres in the region between the Great and Little Miami rivers, including the site of Cincinnati.

The purchaser of the latter tract was John Cleves Symmes, of New Jersey, concerning whom there are some particulars of interest.

He was a son of Rev. Timothy Symmes, of Scituate, Mass., a graduate of Howard College. At one time he was a delegate to the Provincial Congress and was active in framing the constitution of his State in 1776. A year later he became justice of the Supreme Court. Still retaining his position as such justice, in 1784 and 1785 he was a delegate to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia. Following that he was appointed

(37)