Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-06-29
DoIitifaI.
WILLARD FILLMORE.

The New York Mirror claims Mr.. Fillmore
as a New Yorker-perhaps truly. 1t
says:
Willard Fillmore is a native of this State.
He was born in Cayuga county, at a place
called Summer Hill, on the 9TH day of Jan
uary 1900. His father, Nathaniel Fillmore,
was born in Burlington, Vermont, in l77I
he emigrated in early life to the Western
part of New York, then wilderness, and
in 1919 purchased farm in Erie county,
which he still cultivates. The educational
advantages enjoyed by young Fillmore were
very slender; the Bible and such books as
were used in the very Common Schools then
existing, were the limits of his literary pur-
suits until the age of fifteen, when he was
apprenticed to the wool-carding business in
Livingston county. He was afterwards pla-
ced with person in the same business in
the town where his father resided, and pas
sed four years at the trade, devouring, in
the meanwhile, the contents of small viii
lage library At the age of 10 fortune
threw in his way Il benevolent man, who
had the penetration to discover the youths
good parts and the kindness to place him
i'll position to cultivate them. This gen
teman was the late Walter Wood-a man
whose name should be held in reverence by
all who have known what it is to struggle
with adversely and gather knowledge in the
thorn-beset waysides of early poverty
Judge Wood, for this benevolent gentleman
was lawyer, possessed ofa good library and
handsome fortune. Heprevaled upon young
Fillmore to quit the trade of wool carding
and to take to the study of law, that being
looked upon as the only profession which
can qualify a man for high station. sad
fact, but one that cannot be denied. The
clothiers apprentice purchased the remain
der of his time, and studied law and survey
ing in the office of his benefactor until he
was 81 During this time he partly suppor-
ted himself by teaching school. In 1921 he
removed to Erie county, and entered law
yer's office in Buffalo, where he pursued his
legal studies and taught school for his sup
port, until 1923, when he was admitted to
practice in the Court of Common Pleas
From this time his course has been onward
He first commenced practising in his pro-
fession in the village of Aurora, in Cayuga
county, but returned 10 Buffalo in 1880,
where he still resides. In 1929 he was cleo
was reelected the two succeeding wears. 1t
was during his membership in the State Lee
gislature that the laws for the Imprisonment
for debt were partially abolished, and was
in great degree owing to the activity, elo-
quence and indefatigable zeal with which
he advocated the removal of these villanous
relics of an age of superstition and weak
ness that the friends of humanity succeed
ed in partially wiping the foul blot from our
still sufficiently barbarous code of laws. A
person reared in the manner in which Mil
lard Fillmore has been, could have no SYM
patty with laws which made poverty a
crime.
In 1882 Mr.. Fillmore was elected to Con-
gress, and again in 1889, when he distin-
guished himself by his report on the New
Jersey election case. He was reelected to
the next Congress by largely increased
r majority, and was placed at the head of the
Committee of Ways and Means, in which
post he gained great distinction by his en-
r ergy, aptness and industry with which he
advocated them. A the close of this Con-
gress he declined a reelection, and resum-
ed the practice of his profession at the bar.
In 1874 he was nominated by the Wings for
Governor of the State in opposition to Slas
Wright, but was unsuccessful. Last year
he was elected Comptroller ofthe State, and
has filled that Office with honor to himself
and profit to the people. He is now the
,, candidate of the Wing party for the Vice
Presidency of the United States, and being
a man of the people, is worthy in all re-
spects to preside over the representatives Of
the people.
Mr. Fillmore is in his 10th year, fine
i looking man, with asanguine temperament,
= a tall commanding presence, and a grave
but good natured countenance. He is an
. excellent specimen of genuine northern
= Yankee, as old Rough and Ready is of the
southern breed