Among lawyers of national reputation he ranks with the best. Among statesmen he is accorded a high place. He is worthy of the cordial support of Republicans everywhere for the exalted position to which he aspires."

After graduating from Miami College, young Harrison went home for a short sojourn and then to Cincinnati, having decided to study law. He found a home with his married sister, Mrs. Dr. Eaton, and a friend in the well-known Judge Bellamy Storer, who was noted for his kindness and courtesy to struggling young men. He studied law in the office of Storer & Gwynne for two

years. All the while he corresponded with his fiancée, who remained at Oxford with her father, and, while still under his majority and before he had started out for himself, he returned there and they were married, October 20, 1853.

After his marriage young Harrison and his bride resided for several months in the family homestead at North Bend (where the original log cabin had been transformed into a frame structure) until he had decided to emigrate to Indianapolis and practice law. A streak of good luck had befallen him in an inheritance of $800. From an aunt he inherited a lot in Cincinnati, which he sold for

that sum, being enabled thereby to make a start in life in a strange city. At first the young couple boarded at the local hotel, but he soon found a house which he rented for $6 per month, and here, August 12, 1854, their first child, Russell, was born. A friend, John H. Rea, clerk of the United States District Court, gave him desk-room in his office in the State Bank Building, near the Bates House; but for some months clients were scarce. Soon after he was appointed, through John H. Robinson, crier of the Federal Court, the salary of which in term time was $2.50 per day. This money that he received for services as crier was the first that he earned. During the next few years the young lawyer gradually obtained a firm professional foothold, becoming recognized as a vigorous, painstaking attorney and an eloquent advocate. For many years Gen. Harrison stood at the head of the bar, not only in his own State, but in the Western country.

II.

Harrison as a Lawyer-Indianapolis Bar-First Important Case-An Old-time Court-room-A Legislative Investigation-Wallace & Harrison-Fishback & Harrison-Reporter of the Supreme Court-Fishback, Porter & Harrison-Fishback, Porter, Harrison & Hines-Harrison, Miller & Elam-Legal Methods-The Sons of Liberty Case-The Lieutenant-Governor's Case.

T the time he entered the Indianapolis legal arena there were in it some of the most talented lawyers of the day. Among those who had already made their mark were Simon Yondes, Lucien Barbour, Ovid Butler, Oliver H. Smith, Calvin Fletcher, Hugh O'Neal, John L. Ketcham, James Morrison, David Wallace, David McDonald, Hiram Brown and William Quarles. Beginning their career like Harrison were N. B. Taylor, Albert G. Porter, and John Coburn. In those days the sharp and shrewd lawyer who wins his case on some technicality, some point discovered in a dusty and forgotten volume, had no place. Mere law machinery would not persuade a judge or a jury. Oratorical ability was a requisite.

The lawyers already named possessed this requisite in an eminent degree, and among these gladiators Harrison-like the Irishman, who, when asked if he could play the fiddle, said he did not know until he tried-found himself in ignorance as to whether he could cope with them in oratory or not. An opening occurred, through his acquaintance with Jonathan W. Gordon, in 1854.

Gordon was at that time prosecuting attorney and commanded a high place in popular favor. Harrison's evident ability attracted his attention, and he resolved to, push him forward. A chance occurred in the giving of a lecture by Horace Mann one evening. Gordon was anxious to hear him, but as prosecuting attorney he had in hand a burglary case. The case was not until afternoon, and he feared that he would be detained in the evening. He asked Harrison to take his place, and the request was granted. The lawyers for the defense were Gov

ernor Wallace and Sims Colley. The evidence took up the afternoon and the further hearing of the case was adjourned to evening.

After supper every one interested assembled in the court house. Even at its best it did not present a very brilliant appearance. In the dim light of a fall evening it was mournful. In the rear of the room, and separated from the officials by a rail running across, were a number of citizens. There were no electric lights, no patent-burner lamps, no gas-nothing but the old-fashioned tallow candles. Two were set on the rudely-fashioned desk before which the judge sat. At odd spots around the room several more threw their feeble glimmer over a small space. Gas and smoke from a broken stove make breathing and seeing a matter of difficulty. Here and there the plaster had fallen from the walls, the color of which was a nondescript brought about by years of smoke and dirt. A broken window was patched with a newspaper. The falling leaves from the trees in the yard blew dismally against the unbroken glass. Every now and then some one inside the rail would inadvertently kick against a spittoon. On one corner of the table provided for the lawyers and their assistants, one of them sat chewing the stump of a cigar, ejaculating, every few minutes, "I object," with a truly Western drawl, some portions of the proceedings not suiting his ideas of law. Under such discouraging surroundings Harrison rose to sum up for the prosecution. In his hand he held a bundle of memoranda bearing upon the case. He had carefully noted the evidence and got to his feet with that comfortable feeling that he knew just exactly where he stood. Not a sound except the liquid shots at the spittoons disturbed the room. when occasion for reference to his notes arose. But turn as he would the dim light rendered them illegible. Many men under such circumstances would be disconcerted and lose the thread of their argument, but it only served to rouse him to a keen sense of his position. He flung his notes from him and broke into a flow of speech that ended not until he was satisfied he had convicted his man. The jury found the prisoner guilty, although the defense had an opportunity, as was customary in those times, to undo the effect of his attack. Every one talked of his success and ability, and he became by this one effort widely known and eagerly sought after as a brilliant and able young lawyer. Shortly afterwards he was appointed by Governor Wright to conduct a legislative investigation. He proved himself fully equal to the task.

He got fairly under way

While living in the small house on Vermont Street already referred to, William Wallace offered him a partnership in his law business. The offer was

gladly accepted, and soon afterward the firm of Wallace & Harrison commenced business on Washington Street. They succeeded fairly well, most of their income coming from writing deeds, consultations, notarial work, services in probate, and collections. They also secured not a little business in circuit court and justice of the peace cases. Harrison attended sessions at Danville, and had a number of clients in Hancock County. A few years later Wallace was elected clerk of Marion County. The partnership between him and Harrison was terminated and the firm changed to Fishback & Harrison. In 1862 this firm

was dissolved in consequence of Harrison joining the army. the close of the war he necessarily had nothing to do with law.

From this time to

At the time he joined the army he was reporter of the Supreme Court, and when he was mustered out he resumed this office, and later, at the request of Fishback, his old partner, who had gone into partnership with Porter, he joined that firm. He maintained his reputation as a tireless worker by carrying proof of his reporter copy in his pocket to be corrected whenever a spare moment offered, and even when he went to a place of amusement he had some work with