of their children, and early in childhood Benjamin was placed under private instruction at home.  In 1847 he and his elder brother were sent to a school on what was known as College Hill, a few miles from Cincinnati.  After remaining there two years entered the junior class at Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1852.  Was married October 20, 1853, to Caroline Scott, daughter of Dr. John W. Scott, who was then president of Oxford Female Seminary, from which Mrs. Harrison was graduated in 1852.  After studying law under Storer & Gwynne in Cincinnati, Mr. Harrison was admitted to the bar in 1854, and began the practice of his profession at Indianapolis, Ind., which has since been his home.  Was appointed crier of the Federal court, at a salary of $2.50 per day.  This was the first money he had ever earned.  Jonathan W. Gordon, one of the leaders of the Indianapolis bar, called young Harrison to his assistance in the prosecution of a criminal tried for burglary, and intrusted to him the plea for the State.  He had taken ample notes of the evidence, but the case was closed at night, and the court-house being dimly lighted by tallow candles, he was unable to read them when he arose to address the court and jury, paying them aside, he depended entirely upon his memory and found it perfect.  He made an eloquent plea, produced a marked impression, and won the case.  Since then he has always been an impromptu speaker.  Formed a partnership later with William Wallace, but in 1860 the latter became clerk of Marion County, and the firm was changed to Harrison & Fishback, which was terminated by the entry of the senior partner into the Army in 1862.  Was chosen reporter of the supreme court of Indiana in 1860 on the Republican ticket.  This was his first active appearance in the political field.  When the Civil War began assisted in raising the Seventieth Indiana Regiment of Volunteers, taking a second lieutenant’s commission and raising Company A of that regiment.  Governor Morton tendered him the command of the regiment and he was commissioned its colonel.  Mr. Harrison appointed a deputy reporter for the supreme court.  In the ensuing autumn the Democratic State committee, considering his position as a civil officer vacated by this military appointment, nominated and elected a successor, although his term of office had not expired.  Their view was sustained by the State supreme court; but in 1864, while Colonel Harrison was in the Army, the people of Indiana gave their judgment by reelecting him to the position of supreme-court reporter by an overwhelming majority.  In 1862 the Seventieth Indiana went into the field with Harrison as its colonel, their objective point being Bowling Green, Ky.  It was brigaded with the Seventy-ninth Ohio and the One hundred and second, One hundred and fifth, and One hundred and twenty-ninth Illinois regiments, under Brigadier-General Ward, of Kentucky, and this organization was kept unchanged until the close of the war.