Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. Page: 61 of 1,110
vii, 9-1011 p. incl. ill., ports. : ports. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this book.
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WttLLIAM HZENRY HARRfSON.
of Indiana Territory and soon after of
Upper Louisiana. He was also Superintendent
of Indian Affairs, and so well did he
fulfill these duties that he was four times
appointed to this office. During his administration
he effected thirteen treaties with
the Indians, by which the United States
acquired 6o,ooo,ooo acres of land. In 1804
he obtained a cession from the Indians of
all the land between the Illinois River and
the Mississippi.
In 1812 he was made Major-General of
Kentucky militia and Brigadier-General
in the army, with the command of the
Northwest frontier. In 1813 he was made
Major-General, and as such won much renown
by the defense of Fort Meigs, and the
battle of the Thames, October 5, I813. In
I814 he left the army and was employed in
Indian affairs by the Government.
In I8i6 General Harrison was chosen a
member of the National House of Representatives
to represent the district of Ohio.
In the contest which preceded his election
he was accused of corruption in respect to
the commissariat of the army. Immediately
upon taking his seat, he called for an
investigation of the charge. A committee
was appointed, and his vindication was
triumphant. A high compliment was paid
to his patriotism, disinterestedness and
devotion to the public service. For these
services a gold medal was presented to him
with the thanks of Congress.
In 1819 he was elected to the Senate of
Ohio, and in 1824, as one of the Presidential
electors of that State, he gave his vote
to Henry Clay. In the same year he was
elected to the Senate of the United States.
In 1828 he was appointed by President
Adams minister plenipotentiary to Colombia,
but was recalled by General Jackson
immediately after the inauguration of the
latter.
Upon his return to the United States,
General Harrison retired to his farm atNorth Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, sixteen
miles below Cincinnati, where for
twelve years he was clerk of the County
Court. He once owned a distillery, but
perceiving the sad effects of whisky upon
the surrounding population, he
promptly
abandoned his business at great pecuniary
sacrifice.
In 1836 General Harrison was brought
forward as a candidate for the Presidency.
Van Buren was the administration candidate;
the opposite party could not unite,
and four candidates tvere brought forward.
General Harrison received seventy-three
electoral votes without any general concert
among his friends. The Democratic party
triumphed and Mr. Van Buren was chosen
President. In 1839 General Harrison was
again nominated for the Presidency by the
Whigs, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr.
Van Buren being the Democratic candidate.
General Harrison received 234 electoral
votes against sixty for his opponent.
This election is memorable chiefly for the
then extraordinary means employed during
the canvass for popular votes. Mass meetings
and processions were introduced, and
the watchwords "log cabin" and "hard
cider " were effectually used by the Whigs,
and aroused a popular enthusiasm.
A vast concourse of people attended his
inauguration. His address on that occasion
was in accordance with his antecedents, and
gave great satisfaction. Ashort time after he
took his seat, he was seized by a pleurisyfever,
and after a few days of violent sickness,
died April 4, just one short month after
his inauguration. His death was universally
regarded as one of the greatest of National
calamities. Never, since the death of
Washington, were there, throughout one
land, such demonstrations of sorrow. Not
one single spot can be found to sully his
fame; and through all ages Americans will
pronounce with love and reverence the
name of William Henry Harrison._ _-C---
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Lewis Publishing Company. Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas., book, 1892; Chicago, Illinois. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth20932/m1/61/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.