At Cincinnati, Tuesday morning, the party was joined by Archibald Eaton, the President's nephew; Col. W. B. Shattuc, Col. John C. New, and a committee of escort from Lawrenceburg, comprising Gen. Thomas J. Lucas, Archibald Shaw, John O. Cravens, John K. Thompson, and Valentine J. Koehler. Near North Bend, Ohio, the old Harrison homestead was reached, and the train came to a stop just abreast the house in which Benjamin Harrison was born, and but a few yards from the white shaft that marks the tomb of his illustrious ancestor, President William Henry Harrison. The occasion was not for words, and as the President passed to the rear platform he was unaccompanied by the rest of the party, who left him to the memories that the scenes of his childhood and youth called forth.
Arrived at Lawrenceburg the President was visibly affected at meeting many old friends and neighbors of years ago. Among the leading citizens who welcomed him were: John Isherwood, Z. Heustes, Peter Braun, Dr. J. D. Gatch, Frank R. Dorman, D. W. C. Fitch, J. H. Burkham, W. H. Rucker, Wm. Probasco, Louis Adler, H. G. Kidd, John S. Dorman, John B. Garnier, A. D. Cook, Chas. Decker, John F. Cook, Dr. T. C. Craig, C. J. B. Ragin, J. E. Larimer, D. E. Sparks, and Capt. John Shaw; also, M. C. Garber, of Madison, Robert Cain, of Brookville, and Alfred Shaw, of Vevay, Ind.
The President addressed the large assembly in a voice heavy with emotion. He said:
My Friends—I want to thank you very cordially for this greeting. All the scenes about here are very familiar to me. This town of Lawrenceburg is the first village of my childish recollections, and as I approached it this morning, past the earliest home of my recollections, the home in which my childhood and early manhood were spent, memories crowded in upon me that were very full of interest, very full of pleasure, and yet full of sadness. They bring back to me those who once made the old home very dear, the most precious spot on earth. I have passed with bowed head the place where they rest. We are here in our generation, with the work of those who have gone before upon us. Let us see, each of us, that in the family, in the neighborhood, and in the State, we do at least with equal courage, and grace, and kindness, the work which was so bravely, kindly, and graciously done by those who filled our places fifty years ago. Now, for I must hurry on, to these old friends, and to these new friends who have come in since Lawrenceburg was familiar to me, I extend again my hearty thanks for this welcome, and beg, in parting, to introduce the only member of my Cabinet who accompanies me, General Tracy, Secretary of the Navy.
[NORTH VERNON, INDIANA, OCTOBER 7.]
At North Vernon, Jennings County, many old acquaintances greeted the President, among them J. C. Cope, John Fable, P. C. McGannon, and others. Acknowledging the repeated cheers of the assembly, the President said:
My Friends—I am very glad to see you, and very much obliged to you for your pleasurable greeting. It is always a pleasure to see my old Indiana friends. We have had this morning a delightful ride across the southern part of the State, one that has given me a great deal of refreshment and pleasure. [Cheers.] Let me again assure you that I am very much obliged to you for this evidence of your friendship. I hope you will excuse me from further speech on this occasion. It gives me pleasure now, my fellow-citizens, to introduce to you General Tracy, of New York, the Secretary of the Navy, who accompanies me on this trip. [Cheers.]