Early Years

The Move to Indianapolis

In 1853, Harrison married Caroline Scott. They considered moving to Chicago or staying in the Cincinnati area. The young couple finally decided on Indianapolis, arriving in April 1854. Here, Harrison found that establishing a law practice was much more difficult than he had anticipated. In September of 1854, he wrote:

… I should feel contented if only I had some business to occupy my attention, however trifling the profits might be… But, however much I may be discouraged at the prospect, I never suffer myself to falter in my purpose. I have long since made up my mind that with God’s blessing and good health, I would succeed, and I never allow myself to doubt the result.

Through the friendship of U.S. Marshal John L. Robinson, he was appointed court crier at a salary of $2.50 per day while he tried to build his law practice.

In 1855, he formed a law partnership with William Wallace. They enjoyed a steady stream of clients and a regular income. Wallace reflected on their early years:

… He [Harrison] is a hard worker, giving to every case the best of his skill and labor, so that he never went unprepared…He was poor. The truth is, it was a struggle for bread and meat with both of us… He did the work about his home for a long time himself, and thus made his professional income, not large, keep him independent and free from debt.

In 1857, Harrison’s hard work and diligence paid off. Major Jonathan W. Gordon, then Prosecuting Attorney for Marion County, noticed him and Harrison was elected to the position of City Attorney.

Harrison assisted in the prosecution of a hotel servant charged with poisoning a guest’s coffee. The trial was the next day so he asked his neighbor, Dr. Kitchen, to give him a crash course in the chemistry of poisons in the human body; he then studied books for over ten hours. His questioning during the trial confounded the physicians testifying so much that the sensation of the case was transferred from the crime to the prosecution of the crime. He demonstrated his absolute thoroughness when faced with a challenge.

In 1860, Wallace was elected Clerk of Marion County, and the law partnership dissolved. Harrison then formed a partnership with William Fishback.

Supreme Court Reporter

In 1860, Harrison was elected Supreme Court Reporter, according to his own account, the only political office he ever voluntarily sought. He valued the information he gained from his position and considered it equivalent to a postgraduate education in law.

In 1862, Harrison joined the Civil War. He made arrangements for his position to be filled while he was gone. The Democrats took advantage of his situation and claimed that he abandoned his position. For more on Harrison’s law career click here.