The Statesman Quarterly October-December 2014

The StatesmanQuarterly A Publication of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

Volume 40, Issue 4

October - December, 2014

The Honorable Randall T. Shepard with Event Chair Elaine Sholty

Fred F. Fielding with Harrison descendant Kim Harrison Morsman

PresidentBenjaminHarrison.org

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site 1230 N. Delaware St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 317.631.1888

This has been an amazing month. On September 1, I officially succeeded the redoubtable Phyllis Geeslin as President & CEO of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site after her impressive 21 year tenure. And on September 11 it was my distinct honor to welcome this year’s Mary Tucker Jasper Speaker Series keynote speaker, Fred Fielding, along with the Honorable Randall T. Shepard, winner of the 2014 Advancing American Democracy Award, and special guest Kimball Harrison Morsman, Benjamin Harrison’s great-great-grandson.

see the artifacts of an age long past, I see an organization that will be acclaimed as much for its historical accuracy as its vibrant ability to bring to life the American system of self-government. Where some might see in Benjamin Harrison a kindly, bearded old gentleman, I see a brilliant mind, tempered by experience and human charity, one of the greats of his age.

I am going to make you a promise. Within the next five years, we will be the most innovative, impactful, and civically-engaged presidential site in the United States.

In this and many other ways, the Presidential Site is carrying forward Benjamin Harrison’s legacy today. But We will accomplish this by continuing to build upon I think we can do more. While there is no question that a history of strong board and executive leadership, the Presidential Site is already an integral part leveraging our unparalleled Harrison Collection of Indianapolis’ vibrant cultural community, and immaculately maintained Harrison ‘Within the time has come for us to be bold mansion, and drawing upon our and take our place alongside the superlative staff and volunteer the next five premier cultural organizations in resources. This is a potent years, we will be the state of Indiana. combination, and you can expect great things to come from this the most innovative, The Presidential Site is poised team. impactful, and and ready to accomplish great things. Where some might see With your support, we can make civically-engaged a house museum, I see the this happen. We’re just getting beating heart of a living, breathing presidential site in the started, and I promise the best is civic center. Where some might yet to come.

United States.’

--- Charles A. Hyde

Presidential Site Team Charles A. Hyde, President & CEO Margaret Sallee, CFO & Operations Manager Jennifer Capps, VP of Curatorship & Exhibition Melissa Calahan, Director of Volunteers Roger Hardig, VP of Education David Pleiss, Asst. VP of Education & Publication, Editor Our mission is to increase public understanding of, appreciation for, and participation in the American system of selfgovernment through the life stories, arts and culture of an American President.

Stacy Clark, Events Specialist Julio Zepeda, Facilities Manager Gary Larreategui, Weekend Supervisor Telephone: (317) 631-1888 Fax: (317) 632-5488 PresidentBenjaminHarrison.org

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President & CEO

Walking Tour of Historic Delaware Street This fall, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site will host the inaugural Walking Tour of Historic Delaware Street.

The purpose of the program is to illuminate the history of Indianapolis though the architecture, life stories and culture of the city’s first elite. Even homes that have been lost to time will be brought back vividly to life.

For a small fee and a deposit, you’ll receive a small MP3 player with headphones. The spoken tracks will guide you up the west side of Delaware to 16th Street and down the east side of the street with an audio tour of 28 homes. You will have an informative reference guide that contains a short visual glossary of architectural features, a photo of the home and a brief description.

After you return the player, hold onto the brochure as a keepsake!

Volume 40, Issue 4

--- Melissa Calahan

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What is in a name? Names are personal and make us identifiable as individuals. Family names are carried down through generations, as is clearly illustrated by the Harrison family line. We have examined the Harrison family in recent issues and now turn to Caroline’s side of the family.

Caroline’s mother was Mary Potts Neal. Recent research has added information on the Neal side of the family. For some time we did not have the maiden name of Mary Potts Neals’ mother in our records.

Speculation might lead you to think that her mother’s maiden name was Potts, but it was Simes. The Potts could still be somewhere in the family tree. Simes could also be spelled Symmes, so there could be a distant connection to Anna Symmes Harrison yet to be discovered.

Mary Potts Neal’s parents were John Neal, born October 25, 1774 in Bristol, England, and Mary Elizabeth (Eliza) Simes, born February 20, 1780 in London, England. They were married March 22, 1798 in Philadelphia, PA. According to a letter from Mary Lord Harrison, John immigrated to the United States in 1797. Eliza Simes was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Weston Simes. They were married in 1778 at Saint Mary, St. Marylebone, London, England. The Marylebone neighborhood of London takes its name from the church. Samuel Simes came to the United States with his family and took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania in 1785. He died just ten years later in Philadelphia. Elizabeth Weston Simes died June 25, 1827. In our collection, we have a letter from Eliza Simes Neal to Caroline’s mother, Mary, telling her of the passing:

June the 25th Since writing the foregoing your dear grandmother rode up with an intention of staying a few days to see what change of air might [sic] effect she bore her ride better than she expected and was better for some days after, she staid nearly three weeks when she wished to take a ride round to see all her children, but she did not bear the ride back as well she could hardly be got in from the carriage she was so much exhausted I think it was too much for her - she survived it only 4 days when she bid adieu to this terrestrial world and her emancipated spirit took its joyful flight for that world to which she had so often desired to be admitted without a struggle or a groan she often said she was afraid of the dying agonies and could not conquer the fear of the last conflict, and begged us to pray for her her prayers were answered, she literally fell asleep desiring to depart - the night before her departure, I was with her till eleven oclk, she wished me to stay with her all night, but I had left Mr Neal somewhat indisposed and not considering her worse, I went home, promising to go down early the next morning, she said she had an assurance, that she should soon go, and not to bring the children with me, and to return as soon as I could, but Mr Neal required attention in the night, having taken medicine, I was up several times, and could with difficulty get off in the morning, when on the road, I was met by a messenger, but alas too late to have a last farewell or see her alive.

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If we follow another branch of the Simes tree, we find some names worth dropping. Eliza’s sister Olivia Simes married John Morris. Olivia and John’s portraits were painted by James Peale in 1814. Olivia’s painting is part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago and can be seen today in the American Art Gallery (see above). James Peale and his brother, Charles, were quite famous and have painted the likes of George Washington and Mad Anthony Wayne. The Simes and Peale connection was made even stronger when Eliza and Olivia’s brother Samuel married Jane Ramsey Peale, daughter of James Peale. To keep things straight, genealogically speaking, Caroline Harrison and the Peales are not blood relatives, but she would be first cousin, once removed, to the children of Samuel and Jane Peale Simes.

We do not know of a portrait of Eliza Simes Neal, so I find it interesting to look at the portrait of her sister Olivia. I wonder how their lives were similar and where they may have differed. Did they look alike? Did Eliza wear similar fashions to those shown in her sister’s portrait? They both spent most of their lives in Philadelphia, which brings us to another family connection.

John and Eliza Neal had nine children. Two of their sons became doctors: Dr. Samuel S. Neal and Dr. Ebenezer Neal. Another son, Benjamin Rush Neal, was named after the famous Philadelphia doctor, Benjamin Rush. According to an obituary for his son, Benjamin Rush Neal, Jr., Dr. Rush was a friend of the family who helped deliver Benjamin Rush Neal, Senior. Little did John and Eliza Neal know that years later their granddaughter Caroline would marry into the Harrison family, creating another connection

be blessed to him… I have written him by Mr. Acheson directed to Elizabeth Morris I sent him two jacket’s two pair of stockings all the numbers of the news and a little book as a reward for being second best in his class, I would have sent him his clothes but feared he would not get them they wait another opportunity Mr. N. thought it would be too great a risk to [sic] sent them by the stage and it was too large a bundle to send by one person - shoes and hat or anything he wants you had better get there, I would have got them here, but feared they would not fit.

to Dr. Benjamin Rush. Benjamin Harrison V wanted his youngest son to become a doctor, so he sent William Henry to Philadelphia to study under Dr. Rush. Rush was a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Rush Neal Sr. married Catharine Rosetta Dodge in 1839 in Philadelphia, but they soon moved to Mississippi. After the Civil War, they moved to Jackson County, Illinois. Benjamin Rush Neal, Jr. ended up in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Samuel S. Neal moved to Bayou Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville, Louisiana, sometime before April of 1824. He died there on August 30,1829.

John and Eliza’s nine children, in order of birth, were: Martha, Samuel, Mary Potts, Elizabeth Jane, Caroline Augusta, John Calvin, Benjamin Rush, Anna Olivia, and Ebenezer.

Caroline’s father, John Witherspoon Scott, was the son of Rev. George McElroy and Anna Rea Scott. George was born in Bucks County, PA on November 14,1759, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1793, and married Anna Rea on May 17,1798. George was the son of John and Agnes McElroy Scott. John Witherspoon Scott was asked several times through the years about his heritage. We are lucky to have three letters in our collection in which he writes about the Scott family genealogy. He explains that the Scott family:

Our collection of family letters includes many from the Neal family.

Some of these letters were returned to the collection in 2007 and provided invaluable genealogical information. Volunteer Nancy Johnson helped transcribe the letters. Names were added to the family tree as well as stories, like that of Dr. Samuel Neal moving to Louisiana, marrying, but dying before or soon after the birth of his only child. The family did stay in touch with his widow, who writes to Mary Neal Scott in 1831:

…came to this country in the early part of the last century from Scotland, through Ireland; to which he emigrated, for a time, with the Earl of Belhaven, on account of dissatisfaction, it is said, when the Scottish crown was suppressed, or rather merged in to that of Great Britain. On coming to America, he settled in Bucks county Pa. My (continued on page 6)

She is a very good child and is very much like her Pa… You wished to know who I called my little girl for. I named her after [sic] yourself and our dear Mother, Mary Elizabeth.

Caroline Scott Harrison was named after her aunt Caroline Augusta Neal. They seemed to share more than just a name.

Both were passionate artists and musicians. In an 1818 letter from Eliza Neal to Caroline Harrison’s mother, Mary, she mentions a young Caroline Augusta’s performance in a school play. Mary was staying with relatives in Philadelphia.

Mary Potts Neal Scott 1803-1876

Your letter of the 14 came safe to hand on Christmas day it was a welcome Christmas Gift, to hear of your health and happiness is one of my greatest pleasures, and constitutes my chief joy: all my other resources would have left a Vacuum had not this been added to them. Your wish to know how we spent Christmas is natural and I will [sic] endeavour to gratify every wish of my dear little absent girl; but to tell you every incident, I must begin where I left off in my last letter, I told you Caroline was preparing for an exhibition at Mr. Wheelers school which was to take place on Christmas Eve, she performed the character of the Washerwoman in the "Rogue Proved Honest" she performed her part well and was received with great [sic] Elan by a large and respectable audience we broke up at ½ past 9 oclk.

Relationship Chart Samuel SIMES (1755-1795) Elizabeth WESTON (1756-1827) Married 1778

Caroline Augusta Neal would later move to Oxford, Ohio, along with her sister’s family. She taught at the Oxford Female Institute.

Caroline Scott Harrison’s father, John Witherspoon Scott, was the first principal. Several of his nieces and nephews from the Neal side of the family were sent to Oxford for education. His two youngest brothers-in-law also came to study at Oxford. Eliza Neal shows her motherly concern and gratitude in the following letter to John W. Scott:

Mary Elizabeth SIMES (1780-1830) John NEAL (1774-1854) Married 1798

siblings

Mary Potts NEAL (1803-1876) John Witherspoon SCOTT Prof.

(1800-1892) Married 1825

niece

I thank you for your last letter because you are candid with regard to my dear little Ebenezer, I hope he will be all, you would have him to be, my sentiments of what is noble in youth, is entirely in union with yours, and I trust your example will Volume 40, Issue 4

10 Sep 2014

Olivia SIMES (1790-1838)

Caroline Lavinia SCOTT (1832-1892) grandniece

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Henry Scott

Caroline Scott Harrison

John Scott

Elizabeth Scott Lord

John Witherspoon Scott Mary Scott Spear

Mary Potts Neal Scott

grandfather himself (Col. John Scott) was born in that county, in the bounds of a church called Neshamony, on a creek called by the same name, a short distance from the Delaware, nearly over against Trenton, N. J. Anna Rea Scott’s parents were Samuel and Ann McCracken Rea. Samuel was born 1732-1734 in New Jersey and died in 1813. Samuel served as Colonel of the First Battalion, Northampton County., PA Militia in the Revolutionary War. Both of Caroline Harrison’s grandfathers on the Scott and Rea side served from the State of Pennsylvania during the war. Caroline Scott Harrison served as the first President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution and her father was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

More information can be found in our current exhibit on the Scott family, other family lines, and the family’s involvement in hereditary societies.

The exhibit “Who Do You Think They Were?” runs through December 31st.

--- Jennifer Capps

of the Harrison Mansion. Resident playwright James Trofatter Candlelight Theatre transports you to a sunny Saturday uses as much original testimony and verbiage as possible afternoon in September 1868 with Jacob and Nancy Jane in the script, bringing to life the actual events leading up to Young as they enjoy a relaxing picnic on the White “It is always the trial. Trofatter explains why he puts the audience River. But instead of building memories, the Youngs a horrid thing in the place of the jury: “I can’t resolve this plot for the became memories. to see the ghastly audience; they have to decide for themselves. The corpses of the dead The investigation into the couple’s violent deaths who have met their death whole play is the trial itself.” leads authorities to fiendish mastermind, Nancy by violence…Not only a Your seat on the jury is reserved. Was Nancy Clem Clem. Prominent Indianapolis attorney Benjamin man was killed, but a frail Harrison is brought in to prosecute Clem, her innocent woman, murdered guilty of this horrific crime? Come judge for yourself in this unique theatrical experience. Performances brother, and a third associate in what will become in cold blood. Who can are on October 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, a landmark case: the first woman tried for murder imagine the horror?”

8 and 8:30pm. October 19 at 2, 2:20, 3,3:30, 4 and in the state of Indiana. The case goes on for three 4:30pm.

– Benjamin Harrison trials and testimony fills thousands of pages. to the jury in the Tickets will sell out. Purchase them online at Nancy Clem case.

Guests of this fall theatre presentation see first-hand PresidentBenjaminHarrison.org or call 317-631-1888. the discrepancies between witness testimonies and the Proceeds benefit the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. events of that tragic day as they unfold within the rooms --- Stacy Clark

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Even though 2016 and the state bicentennial is a year and a half away, we’ve been thinking and planning for the 200th anniversary of statehood for almost two years.

We see the celebration of statehood to be a great opportunity to address an issue that we see as quite worrisome.

To put it bluntly, the civic health index for Indiana is challenging. In a recent report, Indiana ranks 48th in voter registration. Our intention is not to just celebrate the bicentennial, but to use this event as a theme to continue sharing our message about the importance of historical literacy and civic engagement. To aid in this cause, we have teamed up with the Indiana State Library and the Indiana State Capitol to create “In Pursuit of State Pride—a Field Trip to Remember” (IPSP).

This field trip has been generously underwritten by the Ball Brothers Foundation, the Nina Mason Charitable Trust, and the Indianapolis Foundation. It allows us to provide all public school 4th graders in Delaware and Marion counties with a field trip to all three sites. This is a free event for the schools, as we have been generously provided funds to reimburse attendees for their transportation.

The Award is named for Mayburn and Polly Landgraf who were active at the Harrison Presidential Site for 23 years, he as a member of the board, and she as the person responsible for establishing our volunteer organization. Their service was remarkable due to their dependability, dedication, leadership and attitude. Since the creation of the Award in 1985, those characteristics have been the criteria used for the selection of recipients.

But educators in other counties have seen this opportunity and asked…”what about the rest of Indiana”?

This year we honor Jayne Hoffman who has been a part of the Site since 2008. In her words,

“Years after moving to the Indianapolis area I happened to visit the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site and it has changed my life forever. I just had to be a docent.

I started reading books and doing research to verify some facts and supplement my docent training. I wanted to give the visitor the best, most accurate tour I could provide. I wanted the visitor to feel how the Harrison family lived and contributed to the betterment of our country.

My passion for history made me a docent, but it also created a reverence for President Harrison that allowed me to do much more for the Site.”

Well, help has just arrived. In the next few weeks we will be learning the more details about a new grantor that has come on board. The IPSP initiative has received a Library Services and Technology Grant.

This grant seeks to offer this program and accoutrements (website, flashdrives, etc) to rural schools that fall outside the Marion and Delaware Counties. There are people in need in every community in Indiana. This grant is a great first step in making our field trip available to all students in Indiana.

--- Roger Hardig

Awards Jayne has previously received: Volunteer of the Year 2009, White Glove Award 2014. She served as Volunteer Association Board Secretary 6/11 – 6/12 and Volunteer Association Board Vice President 6/12 – 6/13.

2015 Exhibition Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War

Jayne has a passion for transcribing and indexing documents from first ladies’ notebooks, the Library of Congress holdings of the Harrison collection and the Volweiler & Russell Harrison collection at IU. At the Library of Congress, Jayne was permitted to make electronic copies. She pays for any photocopies she gets from IU and uses one of the museum’s microfilm readers at home. Often Jennifer will ask Jayne to find information from her research files.

Jayne is genuinely, sincerely committed to preserving Harrison’s memory and inspiring admiration in visitors. Last year’s successful fundraiser, The General’s Memory Quilt, was entirely her idea and her contribution. I honestly believe she never intended to receive any recognition for her effort; she just wanted people to enjoy it.

She has a calm, humble demeanor that relaxes others and makes the sometimes-chaotic situation here at the Presidential Site more manageable and enjoyable.

--- Melissa Calahan Volume 40, Issue 4

January 26 March 6

PresidentBenjaminHarrison.org A traveling exhibition organized by the National Constitution Center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Image Courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division.

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The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

Board of Directors

David G. Sease, Chair James E. Wallis, Vice Chair Andrea Neal, Secretary Susan C. Bradford, Treasurer Robert H. Everitt, Past Chair Steve Campbell Thomas P. Ewbank Michael C. Peek George W. Geib Susanne S. Ridlen Ron Gibson Peter J. Rusthoven James Kirsch Ed Simcox Jason T. Konesco Michael W. Wells Howard J. Lacy IV Nikki Woodson Susanah M. Mead

Honorary Directors

The Benjamin Harrison

Presidential Site 1230 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46202

Non-Profit Organization US Postage

PAID

Indianapolis, IN Permit No. 4112 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Advisory Cabinet

Eugene M. Busche Jamia Jasper Jacobsen John L. Krauss Boris E. Meditch James Morris Andrew J. Paine, Jr. Kimball Harrison Ex-Officio Morsman J. Scott Keller Diane Crabtree Virginia Z. Willkie

President & CEO Charles A. Hyde

PRESIDENTIAL SITE HOURS (OCTOBER - JANUARY) Open Monday-Saturday, 10am-3:30pm. Closed November 27, December 24 & 25, January 1-5.

Closed for Tours January 6-20 (offices open). The museum opens again for regular tours on January 21.