OHIO PRESIDENTIAL TOUR: “The Mother of Eight Presidents”

This past February, I was privileged to go on the Ohio Presidential Tour, “Road to the White House,” sponsored by the Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society. The tour is listed online under the same name and can also be toured through the Ohio Magazine and other Ohio travel sites. You are supplied a map, site expectations, directions and pictures. You are even given a printout of the tour with places to be stamped after you visit each site. Since Ohio is known as the “Mother of Presidents” and this was a presidential election year, I thought it was a good time to visit some of the homes, birthplaces and monuments of our eight presidents who called Ohio their home. Seven of them were born here. William Henry Harrison, our ninth president, moved here from Virginia and was living here when he was elected president. I am indebted to the Gazette for seeing the value of sharing a firsthand view of Ohio history and informing our readers of history not far from home that shaped our state. I took along a driver to help with directions and driving and a photographer who keeps me focused and helps me capture the best shots. We had to travel five hours the first day to get to our first presidential sites in Georgetown and Point Pleasant, the birthplace and childhood home of Ulysses S. Grant, our 18th president who served, 1869-1877. But in order to learn about Ohio’s presidents in the order they served, I will explore the sites of the two Harrison Presidents first. I knew little of our 9th president, William Henry Harrison, and now I know why. William Henry Harrison only served 31 days as president. At his inauguration on March 1841, the temperature was below freezing. For some reasons, Harrison did not take the advice of his mother and wife, most likely, and he stood in frigid temperature without a winter coat or gloves. Shortly afterwards he caught a cold and developed pneumonia. Just thirty days in office, and all of that time very sick, he passed away a month later at the age of 68. He would be our first president to die in office. Harrison left behind a legacy that includes defeating the Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, leading to the opening of the frontier for settlers, serving as governor of the Indiana Territory and using campaign tactics never practiced before. He was the first to use campaign buttons, banners and flashy slogans. Remember, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”? The reference concerns his victory over the Indians and his vice-presidential candidate, John Tyler. Most impressive of his accolades is that his father, Benjamin Harrison V, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. But Harrison was an orator and known to give long speeches which he did on his inauguration day and is now known as the longest speech given at an inauguration. His grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was only seven when his grandfather took office as our ninth president. The younger Harrison would be elected as our 23rd president in 1889 and remain in office until 1893. He was born on his grandfather’s farm in North Bend in 1833. During the Civil War, he served as a brigadier general and has the distinction of being the last Civil War general to serve as president. The younger Harrison is known for supporting statehood for the western territories, modernizing the Navy, and most of all, supporting Civil War veterans by passing their Pension Act of 1890. I was very interested to learn that he created the very first national forest reserves. Although Harrison won the Republican nomination for president in 1892, Grover Cleveland, former president, won the popular vote by a wide margin. Cleveland preceded and succeeded Harrison. He died of pneumonia on March 13, 1901, and was buried in Indiana. Many sites and markers recognized Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, but in the village of North Bend, both Harrisons are given honor in the signage by the Ohio Historical Connection throughout the town. The location is at the intersection of Cliff Road and Brower Roads. The massive sixty-foot obelisk stands on the hill overlooking the Ohio River and Valley. From that beautiful spot, you can see the corners of three states, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The Congress Green Cemetery just across the road has a very steep hill I did not attempt, but my driver walked up and found William Henry Harrison’s headstone as well as other members of his wife’s family. On the day the older Harrison’s body was brought back from Washington for burial, it was loaded onto a barge draped in black and brought down the Ohio River. As you stand on the Mt. Nebo hill where the large monument is, you can imagine the sight of seeing those barges slowly gliding down the river with its heavy burden and heavy hearts of the people. His wife, Anna, and his son, John Scott, were witnesses to the sight. We toured the sites on a frigid day with the ground powdered with fresh snow and the air tingling. I imagined it was much like that day in March of 1841. Next week, go with me as we enter the little village of Georgetown and Point Pleasant where Ulysses S. Grant spent much of his life. The towns have changed very little since he was there in 1823-1939. If you are interested in taking the Ohio Presidential tour, allow at least 3-4 days for the southern tour and two days for the northern portion. Most sites are open April through October for inside tours and there is no charge for outside tours. All sites are accessible year-round for outside touring. We will be taking the northern tour in May. More information can be found at the Ohio History Connection site and at our local AAA Ashtabula office, who put together a booklet as a result of our trip.

OHIO PRESIDENTIAL TOUR: “The Mother of Eight Presidents”

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