USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 6
USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 6
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rank of Lieutenant, and joined the army which Washington had placed under the command of General Wayne to prosecute more vigorously the war with the In- dians. Lieutenant Harrison received great commendation from his commanding offi- cer, and was promoted to the rank of Captain, and placed in command at Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, Ohio.
About this time he married a daughter of John Cleves Symmes, one of the fron- tiersmen who had established a thriving settlement on the bank of the Maumee.
In 1797 Captain Harrison resigned his commission in the army and was appointed Secretary of the Northwest Territory, and cx-oficio Lieutenant Governor, General St. Clair being then Governor of the Territory. At that time the law in reference to the disposal of the public lands was such that no one could purchase in tracts less than 4.000 acres. Captain Harrison, in the face of violent opposition, succeeded in obtaining so much of a modification of this unjust law that the land was sold in allerinde tracts of 640 and 320 acres. The Northwest Territory was then entithel to one delegate in Congress, and Cap- tin Harrison was chosen to fill that of- fice. In Itto he was appointed Governor
di H. Manasjon
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WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
of Indiana Territory and soon after of Upper Louisiana. He was also Superin- tendent of Indian Affairs, and so well did he fulfill these duties that he was four times appointed to this office. During his admin- istration he effected thirteen treaties with the Indians, by which the United States acquired 60,000,000 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 re- nown by the defense of Fort Meigs, and the battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813. In 1814 he left the army and was employed in Indian affairs by the Government.
In 1816 General Harrison was chosen a member of the National House of Repre- sentatives to represent the district of Ohio. In the contest which preceded his clection he was accused of corruption in respect to the commissariat of the army. Immedi- ately 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 those services a gold medal was presented to him with the thanks of Congress.
In ISigHe was elected to the Senate of Olio, and a I Segura one of the President fever, and after a few de of violent del- tial electr of this Store, he parchi viene to Henry Cor. hilde some . ar besicos elected to the Series of the Limited Satis. In 1 2º he was appointel b- Pr
immediately rit & the inaugust. . Of the latter.
1
GEIR ...
North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, six- teen miles below Cincinnati, where for twelve years he was clerk of the County Court. He once owned a di tillery, 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 candi- date; the opposite party could not unite, and four candidates were 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, Penn. ylvania, Mr. Van Buren being the Democratic candi- date. General Harrison received 234 elec- total votes against sixty for his opponent. This election is memorable chiefly for the then extraordinary moins employed during the canvass for popular votes. Ma meet. ings and processions were introduced, and the watchwords "log cabin" and " hard cider " were effectually used by the Whigs, and aroused a popular enthusia m.
A vast concourse of people attended It ilauguration. His addic .on that occasion va- in accordance with li antecedent , and gave great setilaction. A short time after It. took his sat, he was sized by a pleins
mitic . :
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WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
of Indiana Territory and soon after of Upper Louisiana. He was also Superin- tendent of Indian Affairs, and so well did he fulfill these duties that he was four times appointed to this office. During his adınin- istration he effected thirteen treaties with the Indians, by which the United States acquired 60,000,000 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 re- nown by the defense of Fort Meigs, and the battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813. In 1814 he left the army and was employed in Indian affairs by the Government.
In 1816 General Harrison was chosen a member of the National House of Repre- sentatives 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. Immedi- ately 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 i819 he was elected to the Senate of Ohio, and in 1924, as one of the Presiden- tial 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 Colom- bia, but was recalled by General Jackson immediately after the inauguration of the latter.
North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, six- teen 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 candi- date; the opposite party could not unite, and four candidates were 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 candi- date. General Harrison received 2344 elec- toral votes against sixty for his opponent. This election is memorable chiefly for the then extraordinary means employed during the canvass for popular votes. Mass meet- ings and processions were introduced, and the watchwords "log cabin " and " hard cider" were effectually used by the Whigs, and aroused a popular enthusiasmn.
A vast concourse of people atten led his inauguration. His address on that occasion was in accordance with Lisantecedents, and1 gave great satisfaction. AA short time after he took his seat, he was seized by a pleurisy- fever, and after a few days of violent sich- n es, died Aprils, just one short month after his inauguration. Ilis death wasuniversally regarded as one of the greatest of Nations! calamities. Never, since the death of Washington, were there, throughout odo Mod. such dem mstraviny of sorrow. Not one single spot can be found to sally his fame; and through : flages American will
Upon his return to the United States, pronounce with love and reverence the General Harrison retired to his farm at home of Willindlfears Harrison.
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PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
BORN TYLER
OHN TYLER, the tenth President of the United States, was born in Charles City County, Virginia, March 29, 1790. Ilis father, Judge John Tyler, possessed large landed estates in Virginia, and was one of the most distinguished men of his day, filling the offices of Speaker of the House of Delegates, Judge of the Su- preme Court and Governor of the State.
At the carly age of twelve young John entered William and Mary College, and graduated with honor when but seventeen years old. He then closely applied himself to the study of law, and at nineteen years of age commenced the prac- tice of his profession. When only twenty- one he was elected to a seat in the State Legislature. He acted with the Demo- cratic party and advocated the measures of Jefferson and Madison. For five years he was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the unanimous vote of his county.
When but twenty-six years of age Le was elected a member of Congress. He advo. cated a strict construction of the Constitu- tion and the most careful vigilaice over
State rights. He was soon compelled to resign his seat in Congress, owing to ill health, but afterward took his seat in the State Legislature, where he exerted a powerful influence in promoting public works of great utility.
In 1825 Mr. Tyler was chosen Governor of his State-a high honor, for Virginia had many able men as competitors for the prize. His administration was signally a successful one. He urged forward inter- nal improvements and strove to remove sectional jealousies. Ilis popularity secured his re-election. In 1827 he was elected United States Senator, and upon taking his seat joined the ranks of the opposition. He opposed the tariff, voted against the bank as unconstitutional, opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resisted all projects of inter- nal improvements by the General Govern- ment, avowed his sympathy with Mr. Cal- houn's views of nullification, and declared that General Jackson, by his opposition 10 the nullifiers, had abandoned the principks of the Democratic party Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress.
This hostility to Jackson caused Mr. Tyler's retirement from the Senate, affer his election to a second term. He com efter removed to Williamsburg for the better education of his children, and setin took his seat in the Legis Fare.
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JOHN TYLER.
03
In 1839 he was sent to the National Con- vention at Harrisburg to nominate a Presi- dent. General Harrison received a majority of votes, much to the disappointment of the South, who had wished for Henry Clay. In order to conciliate the Southern Whigs, John Tyler was nominated for Vice-Presi- dent. Harrison and Tyler were inaugu- rated March 4, 1841. In one short month from that time President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler, to his own surprise as well as that of the nation, found himself an occupant of the Presidential chair. His position was an exceedingly difficult one, as he was opposed to the main principles of the party which had brought him into power. General Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should he retain them, and thus surround himself with councilors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or should he turn against the party that had elected him, and select a cabinet in harmony with himself? This was his fear- ful dilemma.
President Tyler deserves more charity than he has received. He issued an address to the people, which gave general satisfac- tion. He retained the cabinet General Harrison had selected. His veto of a bill chartering a new national bank led to an open quarrel with the party which elected him, and to a resignation of the entire cabinet, except Daniel Webster, Secretary of State.
President Tyler attempted to conciliate. Hc appointed a new cabinet, leaving out all strong party men, but the Whig members of Congress were not satisfied, and they published a manifesto September 13. break- ing off all political relations. The Demo- crats had a majority in the House; the Whigs in the Senate. Mr. Weleer soon found it necessary to resign, being forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends.
April 12, 1844. President Tyler concluded, through Mr. Calhoun, a treaty for the an-
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nexation of Texas, which was rejected by the Senate; but he effected his object in the closing days of his administration by the passage of the joint resolution of March I 1845.
He was nominated for the Presidency by an informal Democratic Convention, held at Baltimore in May, 1844, but soon with- drew from the canvass, perceiving that he had not gained the confidence of the Demo- crats at large.
Mr. Tyler's administration was particu- larly unfortunate. No one was satisfied. Whigs and Democrats alike assailed him. Situated as he was, it is more than can be expected of human nature that he should, in all cases, have acted in the wisest manner ; but it will probably be the verdict of all candid men, in a careful review of his career, that John Tyler was placed in a position of such difficulty that be could not pursue any course which would not expose him to severe censure and denunciation.
In 1813 Mr. Tyler married Letitia Chris- tian, who bore him three sons and three daughters, and died in Washington in 1842. June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mar- riage with Miss Julia Gardner, of New York. He lived in almost complete retire- ment from politics until February, 1861, when he was a member of the abortive "peace convention," held at Washington, and was chosen its President. Soon after he renounced his allegiance to the United States and was elected to the Confederate Congress, He died at Richmond, January 17, 1862, after a short illness.
Unfortunately for his memory the nene of John Tyler must forever be associated with all the misery of that terrible Re- bellion, whose caur . he openly expoused. It is with sorrow that history records that a President of the United States died while defending the flag of reb Hion, which vas arrayed against the national banner in deadly warfire.
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PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
JAMES K, POLK*
516:
AMES KNOX POLK. legal studies and been admitted to the bar, the eleventh President of "he returned to Columbia, the shire town of the United States, 1845- ; Maury County, and opened an office. `49, was born in Meck- lenburg County, North Carolina, November 2, 1795. He was the eldest son of a family of six sons and four daughters, and was a grand-nephew of Colonel Thomas Polk. celebrated in connection with the Meck- lenburg Declaration of In- dependence.
In 1806 his father, Samuel Polk, emigrated with his fam- ily two or three hundred miles west to the valley of the Duck River. He was a sur- vevor as well as farmer, and gradually in- creased in wealth until he became one of the les ling men of the region.
In the common schools James rapidly be - came proficient in all the common brandies of an baglish education. In 1813 he was sent to Murir esboro Academy, and in the autoren of 11; entered the sophomore dass in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill, graduating in jas. After a short serem pir eration he went to Ne's ville and entered the law office of Relax Grun ly. As soon as he had his fini hel
James K. Polk ever adhered to the polit- ical faith of his father, which was that of a Jeffersonian Republican. In 1825 he was elected to the Legislature of Tennessee. As a " strict constructionist," he did not think that the Constitution empowered the Gen- cral Government to carry on a system of internal improvements in the States, but deemed it important that it should have that power, and wished the Constitution amended that it might be conferred. Sub- sequently, however, he became alarmed lest the General Government become so strong as to undertake to interfere with slyvery. Ile therefore gave all his inbuence to strengthen the State governments, and to check the growth of the cat power.
In January, 1522 ;. M. Polk married Miss Mary Childress, of Ruth -for I County, Tos- novec. Hal sont ont then why he ' to hit that he was desting ! to becon I'nin dont of the United States and that he malt sheet for his companion one who vinhl adorn that distinguido station. b. ( .pl not be made a more in bag choice Sie was truly aldi of rage lauf van ! cadere. In the tại (f 1435 31 . Poik was thezu
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YIMES K. POLK.
ously re-elected until 1839. He then with :- drew, only that he might accept the gubernatorial chair of his native State. He was a warm friend of General Jackson, who had been defeated in the electoral contest by John Quincy Adams. This latter gentleman had just taken his seat in the Presidential chair when Mr. Polk took his seat in the House of Representatives. He immediately united himself with the opponents of Mr. Adams, and was soon regarded as the leader of the Jackson party in the House.
The four years of Mr. Adams' adminis- tration passed away, and General Jackson took the Presidential chair. Mr. Polk had now become a man of great influence in Congress, and was chairman of its most important committee-that of Ways and Means. Eloquently he sustained General Jackson in all his measures-in his hostility to internal improvements, to the banks, and to the tariff. Eight years of General Jack- son's administration passed away, and the powers he had wielded passed into the hands of Martin Van Buren; and still Mr. Polk remained in the House, the advocate of that type of Democracy which those distinguished men upheld.
During five sessions of Congress Mr. Polk was speaker of the House. He per- formed his arduous duties to general satis- faction, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was passed by the House as he with- drew, March 4, 1839. He was elected Governor by a large majority, and took the oath of office at Nashville, October 14. 1830. Ile was a candidate for re-election in 18.11, but was defeated. In the mean- time a wonderful revolution had swept over the country. W. H. Harrison, the Whig candidate, had been called to the Presiden- tial chair, and in Tennessee the Whig ticket had been carried by over 12.coo urgority. Under these circumstances Mr. Poll's sur. cess was hopeless. Still he canvassed the
State with his Whig competitor, Mr. Jones, traveling in the most friendly manner to- gether, often in the same carriage, and at "one time sleeping in the same bed. Mr. Jones was elected by 3,000 majority.
And now the question of the annexation of Texas to our country agitated the whole land. When this question became national Mr. Polk, as the avowed champion of an- nexation, became the Presidential candidate of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic party, and George M. Dallas their candi- date for the Vice-Presidency. They were clected by a large majority, and were in- augurated March 4, 1845.
President Polk formed an able cabinet, consisting of James Buchanan, Robert J. Walker, William L. Marcy, George Ban- croft, Cave Johnson and John Y. Mason. The Oregon boundary question was settled, the Department of the Interior was created, the low tariff of 1846 was carried, the financial system of the Government was reorganized, the Mexican war was con- ducted, which resulted in the acquisition of California and New Mexico, and had far- reaching consequences upon the later fort- uncs of the republic. Peace was made. We had wrested from Mexico territory equal to four times the empire of France, and five times that of Spain. In the prosc- cution of this war we expended 20,000 lives and more than $100.000,000. Of this money $15,000,025 were paid to Mexico.
Declining to seek a renomination, Mr. Polk retired from the Presidency March 4, 18 ;0, when he was succeeded by General Zachary Taylor. He retired to Nashville, and died there June ry, 1440. in the fifty- fourth year of his age. His funeral was at- tendedl the following day, in Nashville, with every demonstration of respect. He left no children. Without being josesed of extraordinary talent Mr. Polk was a capable administrator of public affairs, and irre- proacleitde in privile life.
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
ACHARY TAY- LOR, the twelfth President of the United States, IS.19 -'50, was born in Orange County, ' Virginia, Septem- ber 24, 1784. His father, Richard Taylor, was Colo- nel of a Virginia regiment in the Revolutionary wir, and removed to Kentucky in 1785; purchased a large plantation near Louisville and became an influential cit- izen ; was a member of the convention that framed the Constitution of Kentucky; served in both branches of the Legislature; was Collector of the port of Lewisville under President Washington ; as : Presi lapial elector, voted for Jefferson, Madison. Mon- roc and Clay; died January 19.1% ).
Zachary remained on his father's pianta- tion until isos, in which year .Muy 3. he was appointed First Linenor h tir Seventh Infantry, to fill a victory of ca logged in the death of his ding Weather, Hancours. Up to this point he had ron to ? but a limite leduration.
was attacked with yellow fever, with nearly fatal termination. In November, 1810, he was promoted to Captain, and in the sum- mer of 1812 he was in command of Fort Harrison, on the left bank of the Wabash River, near the present site of Terre Haute, his successful defense of which with but a handful of men against a large force of Indians which had attacked him was one of the first marked military achievements of the war. He was then brevetted Major, and in 1814 promoted to the full rank.
During the remainder of the war Taylor was actively employed on the Western frontier. In the peace organization of 1815 he was retained as Captain, but soon after resigned and settled near Louisville. la May, 1816, however, In re-entered the army as Major of the Third Infantry ; became Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighth Infantry in iSig. and in 1532 atiand the Colonneley of the First Infantry, of which he had been Lieutenant-Colonel since ist. On diferent occasions he had been called to Washington as member of a military I hard for organiz- in the atitik of the Union, and to all the Government with lis koowledce in the organization of the In lian Bureau, Taking for many years discharged the difs of Joinin . Mas regiment a Net. Org, . Hun a pour over katy seract of Western
Zachary Taylor-
ZACHARY TAYLOR.
country. Ile served through the Black Hawk war in 1832, and in 1837 was ordered to take command in Florida, then the scene of war with the Indians.
In 1846 he was transferred to the com- mand of the Army of the Southwest, from which he was relieved the same year at his own request. Subsequently he was sta- tioned on the Arkansas frontier at Forts Gibbon, Smith and Jesup, which latter work had been built under bis direction in 1822.
May 28, 1845, he received a dispatch from the Secretary of War informing him of the receipt of information by the President " that Texas would shortly accede to the terms of annexation," in which event he was instructed to defend and protect her from "foreign invasion and Indian incur- sions." He proceeded, upon the annexation of Texas, with about 1,500 men to Corpus Christi, where his force was increased to some 4,000.
Taylor was brevetted Major-General May 28, and a month later, June 29, 1846, his full commission to that grade was issued. After needed rest and reinforcement, he advanced in September on Monterey, which city ca- pitulated after three-days stubborn resist- ance. IIere he took up his winter quarters. The plan for the invasion of Mexico, by way of Vera Cruz, with General Scott in command, was now determined upon by the Govenrment, and at the moment Taylor was about to resume active operations, he received orders to send the larger part of his force to reinforce the army of General Scott at Vera Cruz. Though subsequently reinforced by raw recruits, yet after pro- viding a garrison for Monterey and Saltillo he had but about 5,500 effective troops, o which but 500 or 600 were regulars. In this weakened condition, however, he was destined to achieve his greatest victory. Confidently relying upon his strength at Vera Cruz to resist the energy for a long time, Santa Ana directed his entire army
against Taylor to overwhelmn bim, and then to return to oppose the advance of Scott's more formidable invasion. The battle of Buena Vista was fought February 22 and 23, 1847. Taylor received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal, and "Old Rough and Ready," the sobriquet given him in the army, became a household word. He remained in quiet possession of the Rio Grande Valley until November, when he returned to the United States.
In the Whig convention which met at Philadelphia, June 7, 1848, Taylor was nomi- nated on the fourth ballot as candidate of the Whig party for President, over Henry Clay, General Scott and Daniel Webster. In November Taylor received a majority of electoral votes, and a popular vote of 1,360,752, against 1,219,962 for Cass and Butler, and 291,342 for Van Buren and Adams. General Taylor was inaugurated March 4, 1849.
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