Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-10-20
DEATH OF FRANKLIN PIERCE.

| President Of the United States, died
at his residence, ia Concord, N. IL,
yesterday morning His disease was
chronic inflammation Of the stomach,
attended with dropsical efiusion of the
bowels
HIS ANCESTRY.
Fraklin Pierce was born November
23, 1904, in Iiilsborough, N. II. His
father, Benjamin Pierce, was one of
the ealicst settlers in the town of
Hillsborough, and by his exertions
contri )uted much TO its prosperity.
During the Revolutionary war he
fought his way TO distinction, under
going all the hardships that the pa.
triots of those days were compelled to
suffer in their struggles TO redeem
their native country and secure for
her the princeless boon of liberty. On
the intelligence Of the bloodshed at
Concord and Lexington reaching the
neighorhood of llillsborough Benla
min Pierce, then only boy, forsook
tho plough in the field, and, providing
himself with his uncle's gun and
quantity Of ammunition. he left Tor the
fight, TO strike blow for freedom, or,
if necessary, give up his life on the al.
tar Of his country All through tho
stormy period, the time that tried
mems souls, we find the father of the
future President, for seven long and
drcary years, serving with the army
Of the Revolution, until he was at last
disbandcd 10 1884 at West Point, when
the calm Of peace was about to bless
the efforts OF the heroic patriots who
fought for the freedom Of their native
land. 1t is scarcely necessary to men.
tion that the Revolutionary soldier
was possessed Of very little means
when the struggle was brought 10 a
close, but with the little means he had !;
and little, indeed, it was-hc took up
his residence in log hut which he
built on a tract of land in what is now
the town of HlillsbOrough Here he
married, but his wife dying, leaving
him female child, he married again,
and by his second wife ho had eight
children. lie worked steadily and en-.
ergctically, and among bis neighbors
became man Of some mark. In 1889
he was elected to the Legislature, and
this position he continued to occupy
for thirteen successive years, and was
afterwards Governor Of the State.
ENTRANCE INTO POLITICAL LIFE.
Whatever may be the alliancce be.
tween lawyers and Legislators, it is
not the purpose here to inquire, but
certain il is that lawyers-good, bad
and indiflerent--as rule. have a
yearning for the honor or tho profit,
either ono or both, of political Office,
and Franklin Pierce naturally enough,
from other causes, however, than any
that might have arisen from his con
nection with tholegal profession sought
distinction in the forum. His father
was elected Governor of New Hamp-
shire in 1927, and two years later
Franklin Pierce himself was honorod
by the votes Of his native town, elect.
ing him their representative to the
Legislature of the State lie contn.
ucd member for four successive years,
the latter two being Speaker of the
House, to which place he was elevated
by a large majority of votes.
In 1888 Mr.. Pierce sought higher
renown- He looked to the capitol of
the nation, and among his conntry's
legislators there he felt he could labor
to advantage. His constituents sec
onded that desire, and be was elected
TO Congress. While in the House he
was n patient observer Of the progress
of events, and although for the time he
attracted no marked attention by the
brilliancy OF his oratory or the depth
Of his reasoning, he still was noted as
one Of the most laborious, painstaking
mem bcrs in the whole assembly.
When Frank Pierce was on commit
tee all felt satisfied that the labors of
that committee would be attended to
This reputation he sustained through
out his whole Congressional career.
He was q warm admirer and stnunch
upholdcr of Old Hickory. lie believ-
cd in President Jackson, and during
the most stormy periods of the old
mans administration piorco always
rendered him whatever aid was in his
power. This led TO a confidence which
lasted during the lifetime of President
Jackson and was warmly rociprocatcd
by Mr.. Pierce.
While member of Congress he de.
livereG a iorciblc speech against the
billauthorizing the appropriations for
the Military Academy Of West Point
In aller years he saw tho error he
made in taking the view he did and
acknowledged ;he wisdom of the act
which upheld the school for the cdu.
cation Of the American soldier. On
the question of slavery, while a NOM
Der Of the House, he took his position
firmly, conscientiously and resolutely.
He believed the cSouth was pledged cor
tain rights by the constitution, and
these he maintained by his voice and
by his votes. He continued as Nom.
Der Of tho lower House for four years.
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
In 1887 Mr.. Pierce, then scarcely
arrived at the legal age for the posi-
ton, was elected to the United States
Senate He took his seat, the young.
est member in the Senate at the com.
mcncement OF tho Presidency of Mar
tin Van Burcn. This was The period
when tho Senate was composed Of
such mon as Henry Clay, Daniel
Webster, John c. Calhoun, Silas
Wright, Thomas H. Benton, and
many other distinguished statesmen
who, though inferior in intellectual
ability to those named. still we're men
who invested with dignity and talent
the exalted position they occupied.
This was the nooniime of the Ameri
can Senate, and never before or since
has there been seen within the walls
Of the Senate chamber moro able,
dignitied or venerable array OF states
men than those whom the young SEN
ator encountered on the entrance up
IN ifa Capufn.,.l ....,a.. N T.. r.r.u...