Show ui I 4 t Scott I k G Released by Western Newspaper Union First Presidential Death O ONE NE NE hundred years ago Americans Americans Americans Ameri- Ameri cans were mourning the loss of their Chief Executive William Executive William Henry Henry Henry Hen Hen- ry Harrison When he died on April 4 1841 it marked the first presidential presidential presidential death in the White House and the end of the shortest presidential term in history history exactly exactly one month Harrison was also the oldest man ever chosen to that high office He was nearly 68 years old when he hewon hewon hewon won his victory over President Martin Martin Martin Mar Mar- tin Van Buren candidate for reelection reelection reelection re elec tion in the campaign of 1840 The rigors of that campaign undermined his health and the long tiresome journey to Washington from Ohio made by canal canal boat boat and on horseback horseback horseback horse horse- back told heavily on his strength March 4 1841 the day of his in inauguration inauguration inauguration in- in was cold and disagree disagree- able While delivering his inaugural address the longest ever given by any President Harrison stood outdoors outdoors outdoors out out- doors bareheaded He caught a severe severe severe se se- vere cold which developed into pneumonia pneumonia pneumonia monia and resulted in his death Despite the fact that Harrison is chiefly remembered as the leading figure in the exciting Log Cabin- Cabin Hard Cider campaign of 1840 he had many other real claims to distinction distinction distinction dis dis- that are little known to most Americans Born in Virginia February February February Feb Feb- 3 1773 the son of Benjamin Harrison one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence he became became became be be- came the ward of Robert Morris the Financier of the Revolution after fter his fathers father's death Prophetic of Harrisons Harrison's later role in the development of the West was his determination to enlist in the army for service against the Indians Indians Indians Indi Indi- ans in the Ohio country Morris opposed opposed op op- op- op posed this plan but young Harrison c cf cp p f b applied directly to President Washington Wash- Wash ington and although he was only 19 years old he was commissioned an ensign His gallant conduct during Mad Anthony Waynes Wayne's campaign won the favor of his commander a promotion to a captaincy and command command command com com- mand of Fort Washington later Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cin Cin- Ohio In 1798 Harrison resigned from the army but President Adams immediately immediately immediately im im- im- im mediately appointed him secretary of the Northwest Territory In 1800 President Jefferson made him the first governor of the new Territory of Indiana an office which he held for 12 years As governor he was also charged with negotiating ing treaties for the cession of Indian lands It was his activity in this regard which caused the famous Shawnee chief Tecumseh to unite the tribes to resist further encroachments encroachments encroachments encroach encroach- ments upon their hunting grounds But Tecumseh's plans were ruined when his brother The Prophet made a premature attack on the force of 1000 soldiers which Harrison Hardson Harri Hard son had assembled on the banks of the Tippecanoe river That victory made the young governor a popular military hero The War Var of 1812 added to his reputation culminating as it did in his victory at the Battle of the Thames at which Tecumseh was killed In 1816 Harrison was elected to congress and after serving serving serving ing one term retired from politics However he was elected to the senate senate senate sen sen- ate in 1825 but during the administration administration administration admin admin- of President Jackson his fortunes both political and financial sank to such a low state that he was glad to accept a position as county recorder in order to support his large family He was the father of 10 children more than any other President before or since his time In 1836 Harrison returned to the political arena as the Masons' Masons candidate for President Although he received only 73 electoral votes he apparently was the strongest of Van Burens Buren's prospective opponents This belief was justified in the campaign campaign campaign cam cam- of 1840 which sent him to the White While House for his short and ill-fated ill stay slay there Few of our Presidents have had more nicknames than William Henry Henry Henry Hen Hen- ry Harrison Because he had lived on a farm near North Bend Ohio he was called the Honest Farmer of North Bend also the Buckeye Who Follows the Plow Significant of his role in opening the Old Northwest Northwest North North- west to settlement were his two nicknames of Hero of the West and Father of the Great West But his favorite nicknames were those which reflected his career as asa asa asa a military hero and an Indian fighter fight fight- er er The The Hero of the Thames and Old Tippecanoe |