The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-06-23
BI BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF GONEKNpk ny
sAMiE PIERCE, THE FATHER, AND GENEhah
FKiskIIS PIERCE, THE sen.
nioGR tpnlcAL sxErcnor coerr>os rr.J.MIy rfE"c

TtfI FATHER OF GENERAL FRANKLIN f'Eht
lis eariy Ge--He enters tie grmy Of tie Rtr- -
ofntion-Hc becomes Captatu-R emorrs 10
.fe'c Hampshire--fs appointed Brigade .Hc.
jor-Sheufcf HhsborougA Counfg-Ltecicd
Represen' atiue--C observation-disclosures
Retires .from pnbiic life Dies at HlIs5o-
rouch-fHs Character-H Monument.
BENJAMIN Pierce, the father Of General
Franklin Pierce, the democratic candidate Tor
President Of the United S'atcs, was born at
Chelmsford, town Lowell, in the COM
Of Massachusetts,, in 1851 and,
he was the son Of farmer, his early lie WIS
devoted to agriculture, He was descended
from respectable Irish family, who originally
en- grated along with many other irish ems
grants from Londonderry, 10 the n 1r. Of Ire
land, aud settled in New Londonderry, IN New
IIampshirc On the memorable nineteenth OF
April, l?15, the revolu' ionary committee 81 Bos-
ton mt out couri RS in every direction, and one
Of these messengers came up 70 the door oil tbe
farm house while young Pierce, then only e'gh-
teen wears Of age, ploughing III his iather
field and having delivered brief fuess1ge,
Ia stoned on to arouse the country 10 action ~
was the news Of the battle Of Lexington which
the stranger was commissioned TO proci1Im, ana
which Ike trumpets voice, reused all the
inhabitants or the land. Young Pierce left the
plough and, shouldering his muskct, proceeded
foot towards Lexington, where lie iouhd, on
his arrival, that the troops had faen back upon
Boston and he proceeded to Boston, and, on
sting as a private soldier in the army OF Inc
revolution, was assigned TO the regiment con-
,nandcd by Col Brooks. IL the battle OF Bun
ker Hill, which occurred on the 18th OF June
f flowing, Pierce took part, and from that ume
to the close Of the revolution he continued IN the
service of the country, and followed the fortune
of his regiment, fighting when it was called INTO
action, and attracting the notice and winning
the commentator of his superior officers Tor ms
gaantry and good conduct, by which means he
rose gradually to the command OF a company.
so that, at the disbandng Of the revolutionary
4 army, in I7S4, he held the rank of captain. The
leaders of the revolution had been driven BY
necessity TO the issuing Of paper money; and
in that currency, already depreciating, the
troops were paid off. Pierce was amongst the
sufferers and when he set out to return to his
native village, he found the Continental money
which he had received from Congress so far
/ deprec;ated that the whole amount in his pos
session, the arrears of his pay for eight years of
service. would not suffice tor the purchase ola
farm.
i He was obliged like many other officers OF
the revolutions to 90 into the wilderness, where
lands were cheap and begin the cultivation OF
wild land. He removed to the State of New
borough; and having made clearing, erected
rude habtatlon, telling the trees with his axe,
and procuring food for sustenance with his gun
In that town his son, Franklin Pierce was born
and theres lived until he removed to Concord,
. the capital of the State, where he now resides
! In the autumn of 1886, General John Sullivan,
who was then President of New Hampshire,
: and whose grandson John Subway is now At
torney General of that Sta'e, determined to
form The militia Of the county of Hill. brough in
to a brigade, and having sought out BenJainrs
Pierce, commissioned him brigade major ;
: and he being veteran soldier, immediately
took the necessary steps for the perfect organi
, cation ard discipline Of the several regiments.
lie had already served eight years in the regu-
lar army, and he continued for twenty one
years in the militia, leaving it finally in the sta.
Y ton Of brigat'i general. Gen. Miller and Gen.
Jahn Me Neil, (who was son-in-law OF
! Benjamin Pierce.) both Of whom served with
: 81 much distinction in the war of 1872, and
: the latter Of whom recently deceased at the ci-
c ty of Washington both belonged, when they
= were young men, to the militia regiment COM
e nanded by the father OF the democratic nomi
i nee and it is said that several other valuable
), officers who have distinguished themselves
c have heen proud TO declare that they received
t, their first lessons of military discipline from
II Gen Benjamin Pierce, in the militia of Hills
borough.
: From 1889 to 1902, he was a representative
i OF the people in the legislature of the State !;
G and in 1868 was first elected a member of the
/ governors council, where he continued six
$. years, five of which were passed in the coun-
lr ell ofthe celebrated governor, John Langdon.
| This brings us to the year 1899 Soon after
o that time he was appointed sheriff of the county
l. of Hillsborough, which Office he held TIL 1873.
In tia: year, at the June session of the legis-
lature, change was made in the judiciary
: system of the State, which resulted in abolish
ing the Offices Of the exis ing judges, and gave
It to the dominant party an opportunity TO Apo nj
r their successors on the bench The name OF
IS the highest court in the Stae-which had been
. styled The superior court of judicature-was,
&c by the new law, changed TO the supreme judi
cial court hrther Livermore chief justice Of Il e
IS former co was retained as anasociate justice
e in the new one. jeremiah Smith of Exc .er,
IA who had resigned his scat on the bench to &C
9 cep the office Of governor, was again appointed
n chief Justice. The remaining seat was filled
l. by Caleb Ellis, of Claremont, young but dis
d tinguisIed member of the bar The nominal
# change in the courts was made, The republican
% party contended, for the sole oorpose OF get
l. ing rid Of tile old court, and unconstitutlo-
ID mai. A warm controversy ensued, and botn
l. courts sat and claimed right to administer the
lie law during which time the public business
10 was thrown into confusion by the jures and
lie witnesses sometimes obeying the summons
r to attend one court and sometimes the other
n In consequence of the confusion resulting from,
d this usettlcd state of things, Governor John
It Gilman, then chief magistrate of the State con-
If vened the Legislature on the 9th day o.! Octob
y er, scT cral weeks earlier than the day to which
Il had been adjourned. At an carly period OF
j. this session, Josiah Butler, sheriff Of the county
!. of Rockingham, ard Benjamin Pierce, sheriff
v of Hillsborough, were removed by address
d Pierce, however, was elected four years sue
s cessvely to the governors council, and ultima
tcly again appointed sheriff of HillsborougI,
county While holding that office an event oc-
CURED which strongly marked his character,
and erected for him enduring monument il,
the hearts OF the people 1t was the year
e 1918, the time when the enormous abus 4
e of the creditor over the debtor were exciting
l. the attention of the people and calling forth
y execra'ions from the philanthrophic and liberal
y everywhere. In some Instances the father Of Il
poor family was for years immured in dunge-
on for the amount ofthe prison charges, and his
). family meanwhile were reduced to pauperism
= and beggary. No age, condition was exempt
= The poor and dccayed veteran, whose best years
= had been spent in the service of his country
u was often confined with feons. and year rolled
= on after year, leaving him in hopeless mprison
= ncnt. In Amherst jail there were three aged
y prisoners, Of whom had groaned in confine-
: appointed sheriff, he gave the pris ners MOTTO
= that they were to be released, and appointed a
= day for their deIiverance, the Goth of November
!, 1SlS-tlie grateful TO the prisoners that il
!, was to occur just at the coming of winter.
= The Inhabitants thought the occasion worshy'
- of public demonstrations !; and when they had
assembled together a. the prison 10 witness tie
re release, the sheriff, Benjamin Pierce, having
Q opened The prison door, thus addressed the
J. three prisoners
:. "Moses Brewer, lsaac Lawrence, and George
= Lancy; By the return made me by Israel w.
!, Kelley, esq my predecessor in the Office OF
sheriff for the county ofIiillsborough, it appears
. that you, Moses Brewer, was committed, De-
cember 3D. 1914; and you, Isaac Lawrence,
. w7s committed, December q, 1915; and you,
= George Lancy. July 2, 1871.
, "My unfortunate fellow. citizens: The feel
!, ings excited by view of your situation are
II nexpressbe. That those heads silvered By
" nd hard Shin aud tIaS, biobbup