Some of Jones’ letters have been saved by the family and passed down through the years. In a letter to his uncle Stephen Abrams dated Aug. 23, 1840, not only was he interested in the election in Ohio but also his home state. He knew that Indiana and Kentucky had already elected Whigs as governors and as a majority in their legislatures.
He writes; “There has been a great falling off from the party calling themselves Democrats. The sub-treasury bill does not take very well here. We shall have a very warm election this fall for the parties are nearly equally divided. Corwin is up for Whig governor and Shannon for reelection … . Both of these men have been traveling the state stump speaking — this being the practice with all men that offer themselves for office … .”
A Whig, Thomas Corwin took office Dec. 16, 1840, as the governor of Ohio. He easily defeated the incumbent, Wilson Shannon, who was Democratic. Two years later Wilson Shannon was re-elected. During the 1840 campaign, Shannon had help from Vice President Dick Johnson. When Jones wrote his letter, Shannon and Johnson were in Middletown and were to go to a big meeting in Hamilton the next day.
He also had some remarks about the presidential election. What set the stage for the election was a colossal financial crisis then gripping the nation. After eight years of Andrew Jackson as president, his vice-president, Martin Van Buren, was elected in 1836. The following year the country was rocked by the Panic of 1837. Van Buren was ineffective in handling the crisis, giving the Whigs the opportunity to challenge his re-election. William Henry Harrison and his running mate, John Tyler, became the Whig candidates.
Jones tells that Harrison had been in Middletown. “He made a speech of nearly two hours long that would have done honor to Henry Clay or any other man. I had seen the old man several times before but had not heard him make a speech. The General is not as infirm as some of the papers would like to make out. He had traveled 30 miles and made one speech of an hour and a half before he reached this place. He has an eye like a hawk and a very strong voice. He spoke in the open street to more than 3000 people and was plainly heard by all.”
He went on to add, “There is more excitement at present on politics than was ever known in these parts.” On Aug. 22, 1840, the Democrats held a debate in Dayton that drew 12,000 people, including 300 from Middletown. He predicted that double that number would attend the Whig’s meeting on Sept. 10. Jones realized that the events would be a big political boost for Harrison.
So what happened in Dayton on that day? The Whigs planned on holding a meeting in honor of Perry’s victory on Lake Erie, which took place 27 years earlier on Sept. 10, and Harrison’s campaign managers saw this event as an opportunity to cinch the vote of the Northwest Territory. They planned to concentrate their efforts in one grand and glorious political rally. Naturally, Harrison was to appear in person.
For weeks the people of Dayton were engaged in decorating for the big occasion. People poured into Dayton two days before the rally. Dayton was congested with wagons, carriages and riders on horseback. Twelve canal boats, each filled to capacity arrived. Early in the morning, it was announced that Harrison was at the home of Jonathan Harshman, five miles east of town, and the march to Dayton would began at 7 a.m. This parade was very long. Afterward came many speeches. Estimates of the number of people in Dayton range upwards from 75,000 people.
Gen. William Henry Harrison and his running mate, John Tyler, won the election with almost 53 percent of the popular vote and almost 80 percent of the electoral vote. Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address ever on March 4, 1841. Because of being outside in cold weather, he contracted pneumonia and died in the White House one month later.
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