Caroline Lavinia Scott was born on October 1, 1832. Caroline was an accomplished musician and graduated from the Oxford Female Institute with a music degree. Her father, John W. Scott, was a Presbyterian minister and also a professor of chemistry and physics at Farmer's College. Harrison was a student at the college at that time and was introduced to Caroline by her father. Harrison courted and then married Caroline on October 20, 1853, in Oxford, Ohio. Together they had two children: Russell Benjamin and Mary Scott.

Active First Lady

Caroline was very involved as the president's wife. Using money granted from Congress, she performed major renovations in the White House including adding new floors, plumbing, and bathrooms.

The Harrisons were the first family to have electricity installed in the White House. Legend has it that after Harrison got an electrical shock while switching off a light, he and his wife were afraid to touch the light switches. In fact, they would sometimes even go to bed with the lights on.

Artistically talented, Caroline painted the White House china. She had the first Christmas tree put up inside the White House. Politically, she was also a huge proponent of increasing women's rights. She also served as the first president-general of the Daughters of the American Revolution while her husband was president. Tragically, she came down with tuberculosis in 1892 and died in the White House only four months before the end of her husband's term in office.

Second Marriage

Four years after Caroline's death, Harrison married Mary Scott Lord Dimmick. She was the niece of Harrison's first wife and had in fact spent some time at the White House with the president and the first lady before her death. At the time of their marriage, Harrison was sixty-two and Mary was thirty-seven. His children by his first marriage would not attend the wedding. Together they had one daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in 1897. Harrison died five years after their marriage but Mary lived until 1948.