The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-11
SKETCH OF THE LIFE
NJ ] 4 i a r . FIJI Z M q II II
THE THiRTEENTa PRESIDENT
OF THE
u II / II f ID ST A ES.

lChiefy from the American Revew1
II is TIE peculiar beast of country, that its
highest honors and digoites the legitimate OBJ
jests of ambition to the humbest in the Ian as we'll
as those most favored by the gifts of birth and
tune Ours Is government of the people and from
the people, emphatcally, have sprung those who
in the army or navy the bench Of justice OF in the
halls Of legislation have shed the brightest lusre on
the page OF countrys history. SO universally al
most is this case that when find an 60 the
contrary of born a fortune and enjo wing the
advantage Of influential connections rising high
place the councils the nation the exception de-
especial note for its rarity No merit therefore
is claimed for Mlard Fillmore account of the fact
that from eompai atiyey humble parentage he has
tained his present eminent position. His history how
ever, affords useful lesson, showing what may be
acc mplshed in the iaceof the greatest obstacles by
intellect aided and controlled by energy
and strict integ iy, In public aud private capacity
John FILLMORE, the gtatgrandfather OF Willard
Fnmoresand The common ancestor Of all Of that
IN the United States was bora about the l70o in
one of the New England states and feeling strong
nineteen went board . nsbing vessel which sailed
FIR m Boston The vessel had been but fe days out
when it was captured by no.ed pirate ship, CON-
man ded by Captain Phillips, and young Fillmore
kspt as prisoner lie remained on board the pirate
ship nine months. enduring every hardship which
strong constitution and firm spirit capable of sss-
tanning and though frequently threatened with in
slant death unless he would sign the pratical articles
of the vessel he steadily refused until tive others had
been txen prisoners who also refusing to Join the
the three made attack upon the pirates and
after killing several took the vessel and brought n safe
into Boston harbor The narrative Of this adventure
has been for many years in print and details
most daring ana iuccessful exploits on record The
heroic conduct Of the captors ackno~le by
the British government. John Fillmore Afterwards
settled in a place called Franklin, in Connecticut,
His son Mcdaniel Fulmore. settled at sn early day
in Bennington. Vermont, teen called Hampshire
Grants, where he lived till h's death, in 1914 lie
served In the French war, aud y whg OF the
revolution proving his devotion to his couutrys cause
by CALAMITY fighting as lieutenant under Stark, In
Nathaniel Fillmore his ron and father of Mulard
was born at BENNINGTON IN aud early 10 life re-
moved 20 what IL now called Summer lIill, eayuga
county, where Ma.d was born, January 9Th, 1900
He a and soon after lost all his property by
bad title TO Of the military lots he haa purchased
Adult the year 1902 lac removed TO the town Of sempro-
uius now Niles In the same county and resided there
until 1919 when he removed TO Erie county whore he
still lives eultvating small farm with his hands.
He was strong aud uniform supporter OF Jefrers on
Masison and Tompkins. and is now true wbig.
The narrow means OF his iather deprived Willard Of
any advantages Of education hey nd what afford
ed by the imperfect and htaught common schools Of
the county. Books scarce and dear and nj the
age Of ffteeu. when more favored youths far nd
vanccd In their classical studies enjoying In colleges
the beront Of wei, furnished libraries young Fillmore
had read hut little except his common school books
and the Bible. AZ that period he was sent into the
then wds Of Livingston county, tolearn the cothiers
trade lie remained there about four months, and
then placed with another person 60 pursue the
wool carding In the TOW where his father
lived. small village library, that was formed there
after him the frst Of acquiring gene
raj knowledge through books lie improved the oppor-
tunity thus offered the appetite grew by what It fed
upon The thirst Tor knowledge soon became ins1tiate
aud every leisure moment was spent IN reading -Four
and storing his mind during such hours a. he could
command with The contents 81 books Of history bio
graphy and travels At the age II nineteen, h fortu-
natcly made on acqusintance with the late Walter
Wood Es1 whom many VIII remember a. one Of che
moot Cstimatle citizens Of Cayuga county Judge
Wood was a man Of wealth and great business apac-
w. be bad excellent law library but aid little pro.
iessional business lie soon that under The rude
exterior OF the clothiers 10y were powers that only
required proper Development 20 raise the possessnr 10
his distinction aud usefulness and advised him to
quit his trad, aud study law In reply the objection
Of lack o. education means aud Gienls 10 mir, I'm
q Of professional study, Judge kindly offer.
ed 20 give him place In his Office advance money
TO dcfray his expenses abi wait until success in bust
should furnish the means q repayment The
oncr was accepted. Toe apprentice boy bought nj
time entered the offcc 81 Judge Wood, aud for more
than two years applied ms Il closely to b. and
study lie resd Law and general literature AMI studied
Fearing be should IN, ~ too large a debt to his tene.
factor he tauf ht school three months in year.
self Ia the fan a Is . tercmovcd !. the ,cunty r
Erie End the next sps 'g entered law Office in Bui
falc.
There ne sustained himself By tsachinr q "A con.
tnued his legal studies Untn the spring OF 1879 when
be was admit 20 the Common Pleas, ard Jeidg too
dhdtnt OF his then untried powcrs 20 enter Into
pctticn With lie cider mcmbers OF the bar Ina BuGslo
he removed to Aurora IN that county. where ne
mensCd The practice Il law. In 1876 be married
Go Abigail Powers. the youngest child OF The Rev.
L,muel Powers. deceased. by whom he has two chill
dren. n son aud a daughter She g. lady Of Great
worth modest and unobrusivc IN her department. aud
highly este emed for her many vrtu,a.
In 1897 Mr. Fillmore was admitted as attorney,
aud IN 1899 a counsellor Of the Supreme Court -
Previous 10 this time bis practice bad been very limit
Cd bot his application judicial studies had been
slant and and j. not Co be doubted that dur
ing these fw years ~ comparative secusi'n. he
quired that Feueral knowleiee of the fundamental
principle = the law which has mainly contributed Ia
aiter me 20 give him ecT atcd rank among the mcm
bers ~ that hb rel profession Tieega acquire neuts
end skll a. an odvocle attracted the attention of
me professional brethren ia Buffalo ADD H. Offered
bignly advantageous connection Nith an older
her q We bar in that city which he accepted, and 70
moved there tn he spring of 1850 IN which place he
continued 70 reside until his election as COMPTROLLER
ard removed 90 Albany last winter
lis FIRST fnirance int public LIE was in January,