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Anna Symmes Harrison
First Lady for a
Month
By Anne Adams
Though she was First Lady for only a
month, and never actually lived in the
White House, Mrs. William Henry Harrison
did not derive her position of influence
from her marriage alone. As the daughter
of Colonel John Cleves Symmes, developer
of the Northwest Territories, Anna
Symmes Harrison came from a family of
power and influence.
Anna
was born in July, 1775, and several
months later her mother died. Because
the Revolution was beginning and the
British were a threat to their New
Jersey home, Colonel Symmes disguised
himself as a British soldier, and
smuggled his children through the enemy
lines intending to take them to their
maternal grandparents on Long Island.
One legend relates how Symmes concealed
baby Anna in a sack, and when questioned
about the parcel, informed the
authorities that the bag contained
turnips for the table of the British
commander on Long Island, New York. He
arrived safely at his destination and
there Anna and an older sister grew up
and attended school.
Then
in late 1794 after Symmes remarried and
decided to find a new home in the
Northwest Territory in what is now the
Ohio and Indiana area, Anna accompanied
them. Before they arrived there, they
stayed a while at the home of Anna’s now
married older sister in Lexington. Then
while there, after a few years Anna met
Lt. William Henry Harrison. He had just
returned from many months in frontier
battles, including serving as an aide to
the famous General “Mad” Anthony Wayne
at the victory at Fallen Timbers in
northwest Ohio. Because of his
distinguished military record and
prominent Virginia family background,
Harrison drew female attention at the
many parties and receptions he
attended. However, for his part, he was
attracted to the dark-haired, dark eyed,
serene young lady named Anna Symmes. Yet
while they had time for only a short
visit before Harrison had to return to
his duties of arranging Indian treaties
with area tribes, when he left it was
with the assurance that Anna returned
his affections.
Then
in the spring of 1795, Symmes moved his
family to his new home near the Ohio
community of North Bend, on the Ohio
River, west of Cincinnati. Since he was
stationed nearby, Harrison visited often
that year, spending much time with Anna,
and by the fall she was ready to be
married. However, there was the problem
of her father’s objections to her
intended groom.
.
Symmes had two objections. First, he was
not sure Harrison could support Anna “in
the style in which she was accustomed”
on his military pay, and second, he had
heard that Harrison’s unit and possibly
Harrison himself were known to be rowdy
and prone to drunkenness. Though
Harrison had assured Symmes that he was
not part of that, Anna’s father still
had reservations.
However, while Anna was sure Harrison
was not what her father suspected; Col.
Symmes did not relent and forbade Anna
to see him. Despite this she defied her
father and they eloped and were married
in November, 1795 and their first child
(eventually they would have ten
children) was born the next year at
their home near Cincinnati. About this
time, Harrison bought land and built a
cabin near North Bend. He had been
promoted but still left the army and
though he had business interests and
government service opportunities in the
area, he decided to accept an
appointment by President John Adams to
be Secretary of the Northwest Territory.
Though Anna had been raised in a
privileged genteel atmosphere, she came
to prefer life at their North Bend home
to army camp with its rough and rowdy
atmosphere. For though she loved her
husband, she was not fond of military
life.
The
next year Harrison was elected to
Congress and then a year later became
Governor of the Indiana Territory and
this meant a family move to Vincennes,
Indiana.
They
found Vincennes to be set in a beautiful
countryside but also the scene of unrest
among the area Indian tribes. Because of
the numerous white settlers, the chiefs
feared the loss of land, fewer game
animals to hunt and that there was
discrimination against tribesmen in
criminal prosecutions. Since Harrison
was also Superintendent of Indian
affairs in the territory there were
frequent Indian visitors making official
calls at the Harrison home.
However, William encouraged the local
tribes to settle down and farm, citing
the success of Cherokee and Creeks
further south. Even though he asked
Washington to provide advisors there was
no real progress in persuade them to
adapt to a new life. Then President
Thomas Jefferson advised Harrison that
because the federal government was
reserving all land east of the
Mississippi for white settlers he was to
begin making treaties with the local
tribes.
The
large Harrison family was now living in
a new brick home - the first one in the
Vincennes area. In one sense the home
was luxurious with black walnut
paneling, elegant handcrafted
mantelpieces, and imported window glass,
yet because of its frontier location it
was also a fort. This meant it was built
with slits in the walls for rifle
barrels, and a ready supply of gunpowder
in the basement. There in the home they
called Grouseland, Anna was to live
eleven years and add more children to
their family.
Meanwhile, Harrison began his
negotiations with the local tribes,
seeking a settlement of land trades.
Many agreed to the benefits offered, but
Shawnee leader Tecumseh was not willing
to do so. In fact he and his brother,
who was regarded as a spiritual leader
among their people, began to encourage
other local tribes to break the treaties
they had already signed.
Because Washington did not provide the
troops thought necessary so when
Harrison led U.S. forces at the battle
of Tippecanoe in 1811 Harrison had to
rely on local volunteers and reserve
troops. However, Harrison’s victory that
year persuaded the tribes to let the
treaties stand. Meanwhile back at
Grouseland, Anna and the children
managed despite rumors of enemy raids.
Though they were never bothered, there
was the ongoing fear they might be
attacked.
Then
when the War of 1812 began soon after
Harrison was appointed Supreme Commander
in the Northwest Territory and in
October, 1813 with Harrison leading his
forces against the British in the Great
Lakes area, Anna gave birth to her ninth
child. He had great influence and
respect because of his military
successes, but when political
authorities began to countermand his
orders he decided to resign his
position. Anna was relieved, gratified
that her husband would be coming home to
stay, especially since she had just
given birth to a tenth child who did not
long survive.
With
Harrison’s retirement from military
life, the family moved back to the North
Bend area where they remodeled and
expanded their log house into a spacious
but sprawling residence. It was not as
elegant as Grouseland but it was the
home Anna would occupy for many years to
come. Because of its location on the
Ohio River, the Harrison home became a
frequent stop for visitors who wanted to
pay their respects to the war hero
Harrison had become.
Harrison entered politics as he was
elected to Congress in 1816 and then in
1819 to the Ohio State Senate.
Meanwhile, the Harrison children were
becoming adults and as they pursued
their education the expenses meant such
a heavy financial burden to their
parents Harrison had to mortgage some of
his property.
In
1825 Harrison was elected to the. U.S.
Senate, where his popularity and his
attempts to introduce legislation
benefiting the military irritated some
colleagues. They were concerned that he
might seek the Vice Presidency in the
next election so to remove him from this
possibility they assigned him to a
foreign diplomatic post in South
America. However, after difficulties
with the local government officials
there, he was recalled.
Anna
remained at home, and now had become
worried about two of her sons – one had
become an alcoholic and could no longer
support his family and the other was
deeply in debt. Besides these concerns
there was also an ever-present Harrison
family debt. However, just when they
were about to sell some of their lands,
Anna’s father died and her inheritance
eased their situation.
Now
age 60, Harrison’s health was declining
and he was occasionally ill, so Anna was
shocked and puzzled when he was named as
the Whig candidate for president in
1836. However, she said little since her
husband was flattered and pleased at the
honor, but to her relief Martin Van
Buren defeated him.
For
the next few years the Harrisons enjoyed
a peaceful life surrounded by children,
grandchildren and many visitors. Anna
continued to practice her Presbyterian
faith, complete with strict Sunday
observation, and expected others in the
family to do so. Harrison even learned
not to discuss politics on that day.
In
1840 the Whigs approached Harrison to
run for president. Despite Anna’s pleas
that he decline, he began to campaign
even though he was almost 68 and his
health was not good. His record as a war
hero as well as his political views
appeared to please the voters and he was
elected. . “I wish my husband’s friends
had left him where he is,” Anna noted,
“happy and contented in retirement.”
At
news of her husband’s victory, Anna was
reported to have openly wept One
writer described her as: “terrified that
the demands of the White House would rob
her of the least years of her husband’s
life.” (“Secret Lives of the First
Ladies”, Cormac O’Brien, p. 48).
Unfortunately, she was correct.
When
Harrison left for Washington to take
office in March, 1841, Anna was ill and
grieving for a son’s recent death and
thus could not immediately accompany
him. However, their daughter in law,
Jane Findlay Harrison went along to be
official hostess until Anna could come
to Washington.
A
cold wind was blowing at the inaugural
on March 4 and Harrison spoke nearly two
hours, wearing no gloves or hat. Because
of his advanced age and with his
resistance lowered because of hard work
and many visitors, he developed
pneumonia. He died exactly a month after
assuming office, on April 4, 1841 and
when she received the news, Anna was
still packing for the trip to
Washington.
Anna
remained at her home at North Bend, with
her children nearby to see to her needs.
However, if her father had been
concerned about her husband’s inability
to provide for her in her final years,
then he had been proved correct.
Harrison had left debts that were paid
partially by a congressionally granted
pension, but Anna spent her final years
in “genteel poverty” and assisted by her
family and her church.
Also,
in her final years she became
particularly close to her grandson
Benjamin. Their relationship was devoted
and affectionate, and she often
admonished him to remember to conduct
himself in such a way as to bring honor
to the family name. She died in
February, 1863, and did not know that
her beloved grandson would become the
president himself. |
