| Birth: | Jul. 25, 1775 | | Death: | Feb. 25, 1864 | 
Presidential First Lady. She was born Anna Symmes on a farm near Morristown, New Jersey, the daughter of a judge and a senator. With the death of her mother, she was taken to live with her grandparents in New York City and received the best education possible. As an adult, she joined her father now living on extensive land holdings along the Ohio River near Cincinnati. While in nearby Lexington, Kentucky awaiting the completion of a house, she met the future President William Henry Harrison. Her father would not give his blessings to this marriage. However, while away on business, they were secretly wed. The marriage produced ten children. Her husband had a successful career in the army and in politics. William Harrison was commander of the Army of the Northwest in the War of 1812 then served as representative for the Northwest Territory, first governor of the Indiana Territory, U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator and then minister to Columbia. After her father's death, she inherited a farm in North Bend, Ohio which became known as "The Bend". The children kept the Harrison's in constant debt with their educating and marriages. Anna outlived them all but one. Anna's greatest fears came to reality when her husband was elected to the Presidency at the age of sixty eight. She was recovering from a serious illness and waiting until feeling better to attempt the journey to join her husband in Washington. During his inauguration Harris caught pneumonia and died 31 days into his term. Anna was packing when word of her husbands death arrived. After a state funeral in Washington, he was interred in Congressional Cemetery. However, Anna selected a site on a knoll near Congress Green Cemetery in North Bend, where her father was buried, and began construction of a final burial place. A few years later, he was brought home and placed in the tomb. It fell into neglect after her death and the family deeded it to the state of Ohio who erected the imposing monument over the tomb and maintain the site. Anna Harrison outlived her husband by twenty two years. Other then the tomb, nothing physical remains in North Bend, the town founded by her father. A presidential library was never built due to lack of information, letters and the fact that Anna never lived in the White House. Their 22-room residence,"The Bend", burned to the ground. The property was sold and divided while today a golf course surrounds the burial site where many foundations of buildings are still visible. The chapel where President Harrison lay in state was demolished. Anna was forced to live at the home of her only living child where she died at the age of 88 and was placed in the Harrison vault. She holds the distinction of being the wife of a president and grandmother to another, Benjamin Harrison. (bio by: Donald Greyfield (inactive))
Family links:
Parents:
John Cleves Symmes (1742 - 1814)
Anna Tuthill Symmes (1741 - 1776)
Spouse:
William Henry Harrison (1773 - 1841)*
Children:
Elizabeth Bassett Harrison Short (1796 - 1846)*
John Cleves Symmes Harrison (1798 - 1830)*
Lucy Singleton Harrison (1800 - 1826)*
William Henry Harrison (1802 - 1838)*
John Scott Harrison (1804 - 1878)*
Benjamin Harrison (1806 - 1840)*
Mary Symmes Harrison (1809 - 1842)*
Carter Bassett Harrison (1811 - 1839)*
Anna Tuthill Harrison Taylor (1813 - 1865)*
James Findlay Harrison (1814 - 1817)*
*Calculated relationship
Search Amazon for Anna Harrison | | | Burial:
William Henry Harrison Memorial
North Bend
Hamilton County
Ohio, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Jan 18, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 19596 |
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God bless. Rest in peace.
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Ohio Baby
Added: Apr. 24, 2013 |
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D S - F
Added: Apr. 4, 2013 |
Mrs. Harrison,Your husband, William Henry Harrison, may have only served as president for a month, but thank you for serving as first lady for that period of time. may you rest in peace!
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MFPS
Added: Feb. 25, 2013 |
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(4.0 after 94 votes)
