His father, Benjamin , was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and three-time governor of Virginia.  His grandson, also Benjamin, would become the 23rd president of the United States.   And William Henry Harrison would also serve the people as both governor and as president.
     William Henry was born Feb. 9, 1773, in Virginia. He was educated in Virginia until the age of 18 when he traveled to Philadelphia to enter medical college.  After his father's death, he ended his formal education and began a career more to his liking: that of a soldier Gen. George Washington granted him a commission as Ensign of the First Regiment of the Infantry.
     During 1795, William Henry married Anna Symmes, daughter of Judge John Cleves Symmes and  Anna Tuthill Symmes, owners of vast tracts of Ohio lands.  Harrison and his wife settled near North Bend, Ohio.  Following the campaign of Fallen Timbers, Harrison was promoted to the rank of captain by President John Adams and made commandant of Fort Washington, near present-day Cincinnati, Ohio.  His career and his family continued to grow.  His first two children were born at the fort.
     Later, Harrison was appointed Secretary of the Northwest Territory and during 1799 he was elected to congress.   The 26-year-old saw his responsibilities in congress quite clearly.  As a resident of the territory, he had seen firsthand the problems its residents faced. 
     Settlement of the western territory had slowed considerably. Frontier families were reluctant to move to the territory in which cheats, thieves, and other criminals swarmed.   Before congress Harrison argued the need to improve the system of courts and persuaded the formation of a congressional committee to "inquire into the judicial system of the Northwest Territory and recommend changes."  The logical solution was a division of the territory, thereby reducing the burden upon the judges of the territory.
     The committee, which Harrison chaired, made a recommendation to congress to create two territories from the Northwest Territory.  The report stated, "From southeast to northwest the territory extended fifteen hundred miles.  The two most widely separated places for holding court were thirteen hundred miles apart.  This fact alone would prevent the administration of justice.  In the three western counties - Knox, St. Clair, and Randolph - during a period of five years there had been only one session of court having power to punish felonies."
     On  July 4, 1800, the territory was divided.  The eastern section remained the Northwest Territory and the western area became the Indiana Territory.  Its government would be fashioned after the system in use in the Northwest Territory.  This government would be formed in several stages.  The first stage prescribed a government without representation of the inhabitants - an interesting choice as America was founded upon the idea of representation in government.  Instead, a governor, secretary, and judges were appointed to handle the requirements of the territory.   
     The second stage of government was possible when the population of the territory included 5,000 free males over the age of 21.   Land ownership requirements would keep many from being allowed to vote or to serve in their government.  Only adult males who owned 50 acres or more  were allowed to elect representatives to the territorial legislature.  The representative was required to be a landholder of at least 250 acres.  This group of representatives would  meet and would nominate 10 individuals to serve in the upper house. These individuals were required to own 500 acres or more.  The list of  names was sent to the president who chose five to serve in that capacity.
     Harrison's second concern before congress involved the methods by which land was sold within the territory.  The government typically sold the land in lots of 4,000 or more acres.  Speculators purchased the land, divided it into smaller lots, and resold it at a huge profit.  This practice made settlement by  typical frontier families all the more difficult.  It increased the cost of the land, taking away resource which were needed for other items essential to the settlers survival such as, livestock, tools, equipment, and seed.
    Again a congressional committee was created and  Harrison was selected to serve as chairman.  On Feb. 14, 1800, a bill was introduced in the house that provided for townships  to be divided into lots of 320 acres which would be offered at two dollars per acre.  The bill further provided for the option of making payments in easy installments without interest.  This was a relief to poor families who hoped to make a new home and to prosper.
      The Indiana Territory now had provisions for selling land.  It had its own judicial positions and was available for settlement.  It even had a capital city, Vincennes.  All that remained was to appoint a governor and to fill the other positions.  Vincennes was not a favored location for a motivated politician.  "There was scarcely a western post at that time with a reputation as objectionable as that of Vincennes."  Its location far from the political arena and the lack of easy travel had created a haven for criminals.  Vincennes had a "notoriety for scenes of drunken brawls and Indian fights."  A few days before the appointment, Harrison, in a letter to a friend in the territory, commented that he would not accept the position of governor even if it were offered.  However, his friends were able to persuade him to reconsider.  They promised that the remote post would not eliminate him from consideration if some better appointment surfaced.  On May 13, 1800, President John Adams appointed Harrison as governor of the Indiana Territory.
     Other appointments included John Gibson as the territory's secretary and William Clark, Henry Vanderburgh, and John Griffin as judges. 
     The population of the Indiana Territory was estimated at 6,550.  Much of that population was centered around the Vincennes area.  The city boasted 714 residents with an additional 819 in the nearby area.  The second center of population was around Clark's Grant where more than 900 settlers had made their homes.
     Harrison arrived in the territory on Jan. 10, 1801, and immediately began as  governor.  Within two days he met with the judges in legislative session and within two weeks the group passed seven new laws and adopted three resolutions.  Harrison would not stand for the lawlessness that had existed.
     He would make Vincennes his home. During 1802 he purchased 300 acres of land and began building his residence .  Grouseland, a Federal style mansion was completed in 1804.   His family joined him in this loving home. During the construction  he lived in the new home of Francis Vigo, occupying only the front room, though offered the whole house.  (Grouseland still stands in Vincennes. It is operated by the Francis Vigo Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution, visitors are welcome.)
     On March 1, 1803, Ohio became a state.  The remaining portions of the Northwest Territory were added to the Indiana Territory.     The Territory continued to grow.  On Oct. 1, 1804, that part of the Louisiana Purchase lying above the 33rd parallel was added to Gov. Harrison's responsibilities.  Because of this addition,  more land was  governed from Vincennes than any other U.S. city except for Washington, D.C.  On July 4, 1805, exactly five years to the day after the creation of the Indiana Territory, America's westward advance was continued through the establishment of the Louisiana Territory.
     Much of Harrison's time was focused upon the Indian population of the territory.  Though many new treaties were signed and Indians continually gave up rights to their lands the ever increasing number of new settlers created tensions which would eventually result in hostilities.
     Gov. Harrison met several times with Shawnee chief Tecumseh.  These meetings took place on the grounds of Grouseland in Vincennes.  During 181,1 relations strained to the point that Harrison thought it necessary to march  his army to Prophet's Town. Tecumseh and his brother, The Profit, had established this town near present-day Lafayette.  Though Harrison planned a peaceful conference, the Indians attacked the American camp on Nov. 7 at 4:30 a.m.  The American's victory at Tippicanoe signaled the end of Tecumseh's power.     In 1812 Harrison was named Commander-in-chief of the Army in the Northwest, he sent his family to the North Bend farm, which from then on was the family home.
   Following his military service during the War of 1812, Harrison was ready to do battle upon the field of politics.  He became a member of congress from Ohio, later a U.S. Senator, and even minister to Columbia.  Harrison lost his bid for the presidency during the 1836 election to Martin Van Buren, the same man he would defeat during the subsequent presidential election of 1840.  Harrison's image as a rugged frontiersman along with the slogan, "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," helped him gain the nation's highest elected office.  He would not hold it for long.
     During a cold and damp inaugural day, Harrison caught cold.  He died of pneumonia exactly one month after his inauguration.   He has the unfortunate distinctions of having served the shortest term along with being the first president to die while serving in office.
     Harrison opened the west.  Not to just hunters, trappers, and explorers but, to families.  Families that would own the land, would raise crops, would prosper, and would influence a growing United States of America.