Item 80: Letter from Benjamin Harrison to John Scott Harrison, 1876 October 10
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 80
Dates
- Created: 1876 October 10
Creator
- Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter.
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
8 ⅞ in. x 5 ¾ in.
Description:
The following letter, dated October 10, 1876, is written by Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, to his father, John Scott Harrison. In the letter, Benjamin is writing about the recent election. He states his anxieties about what the result might be and writes that he is going to bed as he does not think it will be decided for some time. At the conclusion of the letter, Harrison notes that his son is also with him, exercising his “maiden vote”, or first vote, for his father.
The poll referenced within this letter is for the election of the Governor of Indiana. It was an election he lost, being unable to secure the votes needed for the position.
Location:
Wright’s Block, Market Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Transcription:
B. Harrison. C. C. Hines. W. H. H. Miller.
Law Office of Harrison, Hines & Miller,
3, 4 and 5 Wright’s Block, Market Street,
Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 10th 1876.
My dear Father I finished my canvass yesterday at Lebanon and got home to stay about 6 P.M. Today I have been resting at home-after voting. It is now within an hour of the time for closing the polls when all the agony of work will be on and that of waiting will begin. The ticket is a very long one, some 40 names, and cannot be counted out fully before midnight tomorrow night. Our friends are very confident of my election. I feel so too, but am not resting too confidently in what is positively uncertain a popular election. I have no
Second Page:
prevalent anxiety about the results and shall not feel depressed if I am defeated. My cause has made me many friends and my profession offers me a just living and a wide & consequential field for my ambition. I am pressed to speak in Penn[sylvani]a New York & New Jersey & shall probably have to make a s hort tour East, after resting a few days. It will give me the opportunity again to see the Centennial & Mama. Russell is here exercising his rights giving his maiden vote to his father. I am very well – stirred the canvass wonderfully seen to all. Your affectionate Son Benj[amin] Harrison
In pencil: defeated as Gov[ernor] 1876
My dear Father I finished my canvass yesterday at Lebanon and got home to stay about 6 P.M. Today I have been resting at home-after voting. It is now within an hour of the time for closing the polls when all the agony of work will be on and that of waiting will begin. The ticket is a very long one, some 40 names, and cannot be counted out fully before midnight tomorrow night. Our friends are very confident of my election. I feel so too, but am not resting too confidently in what is positively uncertain a popular election. I have no
Second Page:
prevalent anxiety about the results and shall not feel depressed if I am defeated. My cause has made me many friends and my profession offers me a just living and a wide & consequential field for my ambition. I am pressed to speak in Penn[sylvani]a New York & New Jersey & shall probably have to make a s hort tour East, after resting a few days. It will give me the opportunity again to see the Centennial & Mama. Russell is here exercising his rights giving his maiden vote to his father. I am very well – stirred the canvass wonderfully seen to all. Your affectionate Son Benj[amin] Harrison
In pencil: defeated as Gov[ernor] 1876
Creator
- Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu