New-York daily tribune., 1844-10-08
THE epRInGN Il
Won 'Ha 1.IOlHy JDuflaI.
NILLAED FILLMORE.
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~. .Lo .r,,. To-


well as those most favored By the gifts of birth
and fortune. Ours is u Government OF The Peo.
ME. and from the People, emphaticaiy, have
s,rung those who in the army or navy, on the
bench of Justice, or in the halls of ey;saton,
have shed the brightest lustre the pages Of our
countr, s history. So universally almost is this
tbe case that, when we find an instance 10 the
contrary, Of one bosn to fortune and enjoying
The advantage Of influential connections, rising
10 high place in the councils OF tie nation, the
exception deserves especial note 70; It's rarity.
No n,eri, therefore is claimed for MIILAED FILL.
MORE, on accouot Of the fact tina, from compare
tiysly humble parentage, ne has attained his
present eminent position. His history, however,
affords useful lesson as showing what may lie
accomplished in the face Of the greatest obstacles,
by intellect, aided and controlled by energy. per-
severance and strict integrity, in public and
private capacity.
Joay FILLMORE, the great grand further o.
MILLARD FILLmoRE, and The common anc siur
of all Of that name il the United States, was
born about the year l7O0 in one Of the New Eng.
land States, and feeling a strong propensity ior
sea fa,ing lifo, at the age of aboat g went on
board fishing vessel which sailed from Boston.
The vessel had been but few days out when il
was captured by a noted pirate ship, commanded
BY Captain Philips, and young FILLMORE was
kept as prisoner. He remained On board The
pirate ship nina months, enduring every hardship
which st-oDg constitution and firm spirit YVES
capable OF sustaining and, Though frequently
threatened with instant DEATH unloss he would
spn the Dir dtical articles Of the vessel nc steadily
refused until two others had been taken prisoners,
who also refusing to Join the crew, the threo
made an attack upon the pirates, and after
killing several, took the vessel and brought it
safe into Boston harbor. The narrative Of this
adventure has been for many years in print, and
details one of the most daring and successful
exploits on record. The surviving pirates were
tied and executed, and the heroic conduct of the
cap,ors was acknowledged by the British Gov
e-nment JOHN FnLMoRE afterwards settled II
what is called Franklin, in Connecticut, where
he died.
His sen, NATHANIEL FILLMORE. settled al an
early day in Bennington, Vermont, then called
The Hampshire Grants, WEsro he lived til his
teaih in 1914. He served in the French War,
Il
his devotion 10 his ccunuy's cause by g,ldnt.y
f,hGng ae Lieutenant p25er Stark, In the bat
lie of bennington.
NATHANIEL FILLMORE. his son ant faiher oF
MiLL.xD was aorn at Bennington, in u: End
early in lie removed 10 wha. is now called SUE
msr Hill, ir this (Cayugs) ,un,y. %neEe Nil
LARD Tus born, Jan. 7th, 1890 lie was Il far
mer and s1on aiisr lost I'll his property by bad
title to o.ie Of the :n,:ry o.s .,e 5sal purchase
Abou. tie year lS02 lie removed {, IN: i:wa q
Semc:pnus, now Niles, IN this county, art &C.
sized there Ill 1919, when he removed to Ene
county, where he still lives, cuitivatDI small
farm with his own hands. de was strong and
uniform supporter o: Jefferson, Madison and
Tompkins, and is nov true Whig.
The narrow means of his faihe. deprived MIL
LARD Of any advantages Of education beyond
what were sffsrded by tho imperfect and i'll
taught common schools CT the county. Bosks
were scarce and dear, ard az the age Of fifteen,
when more favored youths ere far advanced IN
4 their classical stutjies, or enjayiDg IN colleges
the benefit of well furnished libraries, young FIJI
MORE had read but little except his common
school books snd the Bible. At that period he
was sent into the then wilds OF Livingston couG-
~, to learn the clothier's trade. Ho remained
there about four months, and was then placed
with another person to pu-fue the same husine:s S
end wool cardirg in the town where his 'sthef
Lived. A small village library that was formed
there soon after, gave him The first means OF ac-
curing general knowledge through books. hc
improved the opro tunity thus offered; the appf-
tie grew by what 1t fed upon. The thirst for
Knowledge SOON became insaiiate, and every
leisure moment was spent IN reading Four
years were passed in this way, working at his
trade, and storing his mind, during such hours as
he could command, with the contents OF books
Of history, biography and travels. AT the age o'
nineteen he fortunately made an acquaintance
with the late WALTER WooD, Esq. whom many
will remember as one of the most estimabe cln.
zens OF this county Judge WOOD was d nan OF
wealth and great business capacity he had an
excellent law library, but did little professional
business. He soon SAW that under the rucc ex-
terror of the clothier's boy, were powers 'aa'
only REQUIRED sroper development 10 raise TIE
posss ssslr to high distinction and usefulness, ano
advised him TO quit his trade and stncy law. In
rsn,v IN the OBJ. ction of a lack OF education,
means and friends to aid him N Q course of pro-
fe,s;onsl study, Judge w. kindly offered to give
him MACE lii his ofhce, 10 advance money TO
defrsv his expenses, and wait until success III bG-
s;ress should furnish TIC means of repayment.
Tne offer was accepted. TIE apprentice boy
bough, his time; entered the oihce OF !noEe
Woop, and for more than two years sppLeo h'"'-
felf closely 10 business and study. lie read law
and general literature, and studied and Prsctsed
surveying. ,I:
Fearing he should incur too large debt to h, \.
henefac,or, he taught school lor shree montns n
the wear. and ACQUIRED the means OF partially
supporting himself. In the fall Of 1921 he re
moved TO The county of Erie. and the mex, spring
entered law off in Buffalo. There he sus,
tanned hir.sclf by teaching school, and @ continued
his legal studies until the spring ST 1873. when
he was admitted to the Common Pleas, and COM
msneed prac:ise in the village of Aurora, where
he remained until 1880, when he again removed
to Buff4Io, and has continued to reside there
ever since.
His first entrance into public life was IN Jan
ua,y, 1929, when he took his seat as member
Of the Assembly from Erie county, 10 "h!ch
ofice he was reelected the two following years
The SO called democratic party in those three
sessions. as for many years before and after, held
Triumphant sway in both houses OF ,he Lsgisla-