The wife of the ninth President—Born in the year of Independence—A
native of Morristown, N. J.—A motherless girl—A dangerous journey
through British lines—Her father a Colonel in the Continental
Army—Assumes the disguise of a British officer—Takes his child to
her grandparents on Long Island—Separated from her for many
years—Little Anna’s early training—Her grandmother an excellent
woman—A careful teacher and Christian guide—Her grandchild grows
to womanhood—Sent to New York to school—With her grandparents
until nineteen years old—Goes to Ohio with her father—Colonel
Symmes—A step-mother—Settles at North Bend—His second
wife—Daughter of Governor Livingston, of New York—Judge Symmes a
Judge of the Supreme Court—Often absent from home—Anna Symmes
with her sister in Kentucky—Meets her future husband—Captain
Harrison, of the United States Army—In command of Fort
Washington, the present site of Cincinnati—Marriage—A bride at
twenty—Captain Harrison resigns—Elected to Congress—Mrs. Harrison
accompanied him to Philadelphia—Visits Virginia relations—A
healthy, handsome woman—Medium height and slight in person—An
intellectual face—General Harrison appointed Governor of Indiana
Territory—Removes to Vincennes, the seat of government—Many happy
years spent there—Mrs. Harrison popular and admired—A household
of love—Twenty years of pleasant home-life—Governor Harrison
continues in power until 1812—Appointed to the command of the
Northwestern Army—The Battle of Tippecanoe—Defeat of
Tecumseh—General Harrison removes his family to
Cincinnati—Major-General—Marches to the frontier—Mrs. Harrison
and her children—Long separated from her husband—General Harrison
resigns—Removes to North Bend, on the Ohio—Mrs. Harrison a
pleasant neighbor—The mother of ten children—Her husband much
from home—Responsibility and care of the wife and mother—Generous
hospitality—The children of the neighborhood study with her sons
and daughters—Honored and loved in all relations—Loses several of
her children and grandchildren—Thirty years of home-life at North
Bend—Her children devoted to her—An incident of the Presidential
canvass—Delegation of politicians not welcome—General Harrison
declines to violate the Sabbath—His respect for his wife’s
feelings—Nominated for the Presidency—Mrs. Harrison greatly
annoyed—Three candidates in the field—Van Buren elected—A happy
woman at North Bend—Harrison the Whig candidate in 1840—Idol of
his party—An exciting canvass—The financial condition of the
country—“Tippecanoe and Tyler too”—Stirring campaign
songs—Intense interest manifested—Log-cabins and military
parades—The Whigs triumphant—General Harrison elected—Mrs.
Harrison grateful for her husband’s success—Sorry for herself—Not
fond of worldly gayeties—A domestic and retiring nature—General
Harrison leaves home—Welcome at Washington—Visits his old home in
Virginia—The inauguration in 1841—A gala day—General Harrison
rides a white charger—Canoes and cabins in the procession—Throngs
of people from distant places—Mrs. Harrison remains at North Bend
to settle her husband’s affairs—Preparing for her long stay in
Washington—Her husband accompanied by their daughter in-law, Mrs.
Jane F. Harrison—Several relatives of President Harrison in the
White House—The first month of Presidential life—General Harrison
killed by office-seekers—The Whigs clamorous for place—Weak and
aged he sinks under the pressure—Dies the 4th of April—One month
in the White House—Funeral in the East Room—Temporarily buried in
Washington—The Capital in mourning—Mr. Willis’s poem—Mrs.
Harrison apprised of her loss—Anticipating a speedy reunion when
the messenger arrives—Preparations stopped—A grief-stricken
woman—Return of her daughter-in-law and sons—A change of
residence—Children and grandchildren pay her reverence—Resides
with her son—An interested observer of events—Her views regarding
slavery—The civil war—Her grandsons in the army—A cheerful,
contented spirit to the end—Death at eighty-nine—Survived her
husband nearly a quarter of a century—Buried beside her
husband—Their graves at North Bend 346