Little Known First Ladies: The Harrisons Quiz

Answer: Farmer's College

Caroline met Benjamin at Farmer's College in Cincinnati, Ohio where her father John was a professor. John had originally taught at the University of Miami where he was an exemplary professor but was fired when he challenged the college's position on slavery. Benjamin was one of Caroline's father's students and the two fell instantly in love.

He even transferred to the Miami when Caroline began attending school there. She majored in music and became a music teacher after she earned her degree.

Answer: Dancing

Benjamin was a somewhat shy young man and Caroline sought to loosen him up by taking him dancing. Caroline's father was a Presbyterian minister who frowned upon dancing as an amoral activity. Caroline would often sneak away from her parents to go dancing.

Her father disapproved of this but he never stopped her from going once he discovered Caroline's secret. He also approved of Benjamin as a suitor and did not want to risk harming his daughter's relationship.

Answer: The Civil War

Ironically, the Harrisons' separation caused by Benjamin serving in the Civil War actually brought husband and wife closer. Prior to the war, the couple had two children, Russell and Mary, and third who was born stillborn in 1861. Their marriage was loving but also difficult. Benjamin was never around much and Caroline was often in poor health and stressed from raising two children more or less by herself. Benjamin served in the Civil War and planned much of the Union's military strategy in the Midwest area.

His being away from Caroline and his family even more than ever made him realize that he wanted to work less when he returned. He wrote letters to Caroline expressing such thoughts and kept his promises when he returned.

Answer: True

Caroline was seen as more grandmotherly than the much younger and more attractive Frances Cleveland, her predecessor who was very popular (akin to Jackie Kennedy). The public largely ignored Caroline and found her dull. This may have been because Caroline was frequently ill and did not make many public appearances. Caroline was especially less popular among women who preferred the charismatic Frances. Presidential and first lady historians, including the National First Ladies Library, claim this is somewhat ironic because Caroline was far more active in women's rights organization than Mrs. Cleveland. Caroline supported women's suffrage and once hosted charity fundraisers for medical schools then would withhold the money until the schools admitted women.

She also helped found the Daughters of the American Revolution. However, the public perception of Mrs. Harrison was that she was an old-fashioned, stodgy woman with no interests.

Answer: Christmas tree

The traditional of displaying and decorating Christmas trees in America did not become popular until Caroline Harrison was the first lady. The first White House Christmas tree was displayed by Caroline in 1889 and the lighting of the White House tree has been one of the most popular events of the Christmas season in Washington ever since.

In addition, Caroline extensively renovated the White House and revamped its management style. She was the first first lady to hire vermin exterminators to rid the White House of rats, insects and other pests that lived there. She improved the electrical system of the building but was not a fan of electricity herself. According to her daughter Mary, Caroline was afraid to touch electrical switches. She failed to have the White House living areas expanded, however. When the Harrisons moved in, they brought with a large group of extended family and the living space was not large enough for everyone.

Answer: China

Caroline Harrison started the tradition of first ladies picking out the White House china sets. Prior to becoming first lady, Caroline befriended a member of her church, a Polish man named Paul Putzki who painted china. He taught Caroline the art and the two of them taught china painting classes out of the White House. Since Caroline, it is considered a duty of the incoming first lady to select a new china pattern. Past presidential china are displayed in a china cabinet that Caroline ordered.

Her china pattern that she designed had the U.S. Coat of Arms, 44 stars (one for each state at the time) and corn (for the Harrisons' home state of Indiana) went unused because it was not delivered until after Caroline died in 1892.

Answer: Tuberculosis

Caroline had been in ill health for some time. In the previous years, she contracted a strong case of pneumonia and suffered a severe fall, both of which she barely recovered from. When she contracted tuberculosis in 1891, there was no treatment for her other than rest. Changing her locations to places with more suitable air failed to heal her and she died in the White House on October 25, 1892. Her family noted that she seemed prepared to die but fell into a depression anyway.

Benjamin Harrison lost his reelection campaign about two weeks later, and Mary took over the official White House duties typically reserved for the first lady for the short remainder of her father's term.

Answer: General Electric

James McKee, soon after moving out of the White House, helped found General Electric. McKee worked closely with Charles Coffin who would later merge his company with Thomas Edison's to form General Electric. Caroline Harrison was afraid of electricity but her daughter Mary was able to convince her mother to improve the meager electrical system of the White House. James played a key role in this and he hoped that if he could improve the White House's electrical system would help him expand electricity to the homes of everyday people.

Answer: He married her mother's niece

In 1896, Benjamin Harrison married Mary Dimmick. This Mary was his wife's much younger niece and was actually younger than both of Benjamin's children. Mary McKee and her brother Russell strongly disapproved of the marriage and refused to speak to their father ever again. The president may have also been having an affair with Dimmick while his wife was still alive. Mary McKee noted in her writings that her mother believed was this case.

It is not known if Russell kept his promise (although it is believed he did) but Mary did not speak to her father again. When her father was ill and dying in 1901, Mary did make an attempt to travel to Indianapolis to see him one last time but the former president died before she arrived.

Answer: He fell into a deep depression

Mary McKee died in 1930 and her husband James fell into a deep depression that he never really recovered from. He was forced to move in with his daughter also named Mary. James was left more or less helpless. Although he lived for 14 years after his wife died, James never really got over his wife's death and missed her every day. Mary had been his caretaker because of his ill health and when she died, he rarely went anywhere.

His health continued to decline over the next decade and he committed suicide via shotgun at the age of 84.