Lot 302
ANNA HARRISON
(1775 - 1864) First Lady, wife of William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States. Rare and fine content A.L.S. "Anna Harrison 2pp. 4to., Northbend, [Ind.], Nov. 18, 1848 to Mrs. [Phebe R. ] Reeves of New York. She writes in part "Anna [Tuhill Harrison Taylor (1813-1865)] & myself received you affectionate letter 2 weeks ago & thank you for it. I am never good of apology but I think I will have to do so at this time. My own poor health often, very often, keeps me from writing when I wish so to do, & as to Anna, she has a family of little ones, to be attended too [sic] & often her health is not good, & at times, she can not find a nurse, for her youngest child, & when this is the case, she has to dispense with the pleasure of writing to her friends…you have had affliction, & death in your family altho not any of your own family - but death is a very solemn thing, at any time. I do not remember Mrs. Horton, or her husband. I remember Sally Hallock, & I think [?], Sally died before I left the Island, Thankfull Hallock, a Niece of your Uncle, I remember well. I have played with her, many a day, we must have been about the same age - My Grand Mother, & her Grand Mother, were very dear friends…& about one in a year, they always spent a day together, at each other's Houses…you ask me after my G[rand] Daughter Clara Banks, on their return, the D[octor]s Health was much better, but for a few weeks, Afterwards, he was very ill, but I am happy now to say, he is much better, but I doubt much if he lives Long…the oldest of my son William's sons, Findly, was Married a few weeks ago & has moved on the Wabash in Indiana, Pike Harrison, is still in the Army, he has not been home since he went to Mexico, He is now 2 at Fort Smith in Arcansis, I think I informed you of the death of his youngest brother in Mexico, it is now almost a year since his death. His remains has been brought up & now lay on the other side of the Ohio, behind his Father Mother & Grand Mother Mrs. Gil Pike -- My health has been so poor together with the rainy weather, that I have not been able to attend Church for some time. Oh what a very great blessing it is when we are able to go to the House of God -- but oh, the many Sabbaths have I spent misemproved, they are gone [&] never can be recalled. We have now a young clergyman. Some do not like him. I think he does very well for so young a man. You will be good as to exept [sic] of a short letter at this time as I have a severe pain in my jaw. Anna sends her kind love and thanks and will answer your letter soon. Present mine very kindly to your husband and all of my old friends that ask after me, also to your children - that health and every blessing may attend you and yours prays your affectionate friend and relative, Anna Harrison. " A superb letter filled with news of the extended Harrison family. Anna's granddaughter "Clara Banks" referred to in the letter was Clarissa Louisa Harrison Banks (1824-1883) who married Dr Tomlin Banks. Anna's prediction of an imminent demise of Dr. Banks was indeed correct and Clarissa remarried Oliver Perry Morgan. The grandson, Findlay, was James Findlay Harrison (1824-1907), the eldest son of William Henry Harrison, Jr. (1802-1836), an Ohio lawyer who was educated at West Point. He served in both the Mexican and Civil Wars. The "Pike Harrison" mentioned was the son of John Cleves Symmes Harrison (1798-1830), the eldest son of President and Mrs. Harrison, who married Clarissa pike, the daughter of Gen. Zebulon Montgomery Pike. Anna Harrison material is extremely rare in all forms and this is a particularly fine content letter for her. Usual folds, else fine condition.
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