Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-14
Willard Fillmore.

4LAhoIu II
THE PEOPLES CANDIDATE,
Is a native of the State of New York.
His great grandfather, John Fillmore, was
born in 1902, in Massachusetts. At the
age of nineteen, he left Boston in fishing
vessel, which was in a few days captured
by noted pirate, Capt. Phillips; and
young Fillmore was taken prisoner. He
was repeatedly threatened with instant
death, if he did not sign the piratical arti-
Giles of the ship. This he bravely refused
to do, until two of his companions were
also taken prisoners, when the three COM
bined in an attack on the pirates, killed
several of them, captured the ship, and
brought it to Boston. The remaining pi-
rates were tried and executed Nathaniel
Fillmore, the grandfather of Willard, set
tied in Vermont, where he died in 1914
He was a soldier in the French war, and
was true patriot and wing of the Revo-
luton. In the battle of Bennington, he
distinguished himself for his skill and gal
lantry as lieutenant under the command
of General Stark. His son. Nathaniel,
and father of MiIlard, was born in Yer
mont, but removed to New York at an
early day, and in 1919 settled in Erie
county, where he cultivated a small farm
with his own hands The mother of Mil
lard was born in Pittsfeld, Mass. She was
woman Of strong native sense, of elevat-
edpiety, humane Sympathies, and handsome
PERSONAL which qualities united to make
her admired and influential in social life.
Young Fillmore's father was a man Of
narrow circumstances, and unable to afford
his son the advantages of an ordinary ed
ucation, except such as was afforded by
the very imperfect common schools of that
day Though giving marks of unusual
promise young Millard's early training was
thus neglected, except that Of his morals
which were always made the object of the
tenderest care. At the age of fourteen,
he was familiar with his Bible being I'M
able to procure other books than this and
such others as were taught in the first
classes Of q common school. At this age
most boys in favored circumstances are far
advanced in theahigher branches of educa-
ton. Being too poor to continue at school,
his father sent him into the interior of the
country, and bound him to the trade of
clothier. He remained there about four
months, when he was placed with person
in the village of his father, to learn the
business of clothier and woolcarder To
this necessity he submitted with becoming
meekness, but with determination to rise
one day above his condition He obtained
access to a small village library, and devo-
ted such hours as he could steal from GUS
tomary sleep, to the acquisition of knowl
edge and preparation for the higher du-
ties of life He followed the life Of the
poor apprentice for four long years, during
which, by dint of unsparing application at
such moments as he could command, he
acquired respectable knowledge of his
tory, biography and kindred subjects. At
the age of nineteen he formed the acquain-
lance of Judge Walter Wood, who was
struck with the signs of budding great
ness in his manner, conversation and ap-
pearance Judge Wood urged him to
study law, took him into his Office, and adj
vanced money enough to enable him to
complete his professional studies. Being
an apprentice, he was compelled to buy his
unexpired time from his principal Fear
ing that he should tax bis benefactor too
heavily, be taught school three months in
the year, and thus betrayed large part Of
his expenses by his own labor. In 1922
he entered an office in Buffalo. He con-
tinued TO teach ard to study at intervals,
till the Spring of 1928, when he was ad-
mitted to the bar. In 1926, he was mar
ried to AbTail Powers, daughter of the
Rev. Lemuel Powers, by whom be has two
children, a son and daughter.
Mr.. Fillmore entered public life in 1929,
when he took his seat in the Assembly, as
a member from Erie county, to which body
he was reelected the two following years.
BY force Of his talent, industry and integ-
rity, he soon acquired a powerful influence
il the Legislature of New York. He made
il Q point to investigate every question
suggested for the action of the Assembly.
Such was the universal confidence in him,
that It was a common saying among the
members, eff Fillmore says il is right, l
will vote for it." The most important
measure passed passed during his term of
service was a bill to abolish IMPRISONMENT
FOR DEBT. This bill was partly drafted by
him, and be was its ablest and most zeal.
Gus advocate.
he was elected TO Congress in 1882. al
which time the National Legislature con.