New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-09
OBITUARY.
RX-PREsIDENT FRANKLIN PIERCE


morning.
ExPresident Pierce from the revolutionary stock
Of New Hampshire He was born at Hisborough, in that
state on the 23d Of November 1904 Old HllsbOrough
County has produced of the most prominent men Of
the nation, among WHOM are Gen. Stark tho hero OF
Bennington Daniel Webster. Levi Woodbury. jeremiah
Smith, the eminent jurist and many others His father.
Gen. Benjamin Pierce OF the earliest settlers Of
the town lad Of &c. he blowing in the field when
he heard the news Of the bloodshed at Lexington and
Concord and leaving the pow in the furrow ho took his
uncs gun and equipments and hurried to the scene He
participated in the battle OF Bunker Hill, and did not
leave the army till 1884 His FIRST wife, Elizabeth Andrews
died within year after their union, leaving daughter
who married Gen. John Mcneil In 1889 Gen. Pierce
married An Kendrick, by whom he had eight children
Franklin being the sixth While acting as agent In ex-
ploring tract Of wild land, the General purchased 30
acres In what ia called the town Of Marlborough,
and as the country filled up he was chosen Brigade
Major OF the militia Of the county During the admins
traton OF President Adams he offered an important
command In the army which TO be levied to oppose
the French. He, however, would not accept. Demo
cratic In his politics he elected to the State Legisla
ture 1882 holding the position for IS consecutive years
He was also elected Governor in 1877 and 1929 He died
at the age OF 81, in 1889.
FRANKLIN was sent TO the academies at Hancock and
Francestown entering at the latter place the family OF
Peter Woodbury. In 1920, at the ago OF TO- he entered
Bowdon College at Brunswick Me- one year earlier than
his friend and biographer, Nathaniel Hawthorne His
class q small one, but composed or young men
intent on serious and useful OF study and was
led by present Professor Stowe Pierce is described
as careful scholar, vvacious and mrthful and very
popular among his fellow-stuents During ono oil his
Winter vacations he taught a country school,
Leaving college in 1924. he returned 20 Hsborough
but choosing law his profession he soon entered tue
office OF Judge Woodbury., at Portsmouth Moving
ha mt laaf
years OF his preparatory studies in the Law School
there and in the Office of Judge Parker ut Amherst and
In 1877 was admitted to the bar His entry was not
brilliant In fact his first case was marked failure
He was, however, by no means discouraged, and re-
marked to friend -" will try nine hundred and ninety
nine cases IL clients will continue to trust me- and II
fail as have to-day, will try the thousandth. shall
live to argue in this court house In manner
that will mortify neither myself nor my friends"
Politics however now attracted his attention. and his
coveted distinction a lawyer was soon forgotten He
had been brought up In Democratic family ana by
father whose opinions always defined with perfect
clearness Together they supported Andrew Jackson,
and together they gored in what they considered the
splendor Of his Administration In 1879 Franklin was
elected to the state Legislature from the town OF Hills
borough He remained there four years the two Last
acting as Speaker.
In 1888 he was elected to Congress, where he re-
mained for four years His record there was not par
ticularly brilliant He worked faithfully as a member
OF the judiciary and other committees always advocat
ing the measures proposed by President Jackson He
sustained Jacksons opposition TO the improvement
system opposed the establishment OF Military Academy
at West Point and sided with the proSavery element in
every measure He took his seat in che United States
Senate at the beginning OF the Administration OF Mr.
Van Buren,. 1887. the youngest member OF that body
He saw that time for distinction was yet to come
Such men as Clay, Webster Calhoun, Benton, Wood
bury and sas Wright occupied every avenue to reputs-
ton and occupied attention bf all hearers Pierce
spoke little working committees and famliariZng
himself with the affairs which demanded his attention,
and soon came 10 looked upon authority the sub
iects revolutionary pensions aud the defense OF the
country.
In islO MI Van defeated; and. for the nrs
time in twelve years the administration taken
from the hands OF the Democrats who had used II
cusvey and transferred the Wings An extra session
OF Congress WAS called by President Harrison, who did
not live 10 see It assemble and an effort was Ia be
made 10 overthrow OF the acts IN regard to Ma
tonal Banking the Tariff, etc, which had been the
especial favorites OF the Democracy During this time
Mt Pierce was looked upon by the Democrats ~ their
strongest defender, and some Of his speeches on the
questions Of the day are among his most eloquent II not
his most logical. efforts
political life is not necessarily pecunarly success
full one and Mr.. Pierce. who had III 1884 married n
daughter OF the Rev. DIR. Appleton. e1President or
Bowdoin College found family growing up hronhd MN
with very little provision made FOR their future support
He therefore, IN lsI1 gave up his seat the senate ana
removed again 10 Concord. Although he entered tne
senate without reputation lawyer he returned 10
md most remuneratlve practice awaiting MN; n
writer OF the day says " II rs conyinchg prp9 OF hs
eminent powers that he at once placed hnseI, IN tho
very nrst rank az bar so distinguished Tor hDlny AS
other man whom 1t has been my fortune to meet. he
makes himself teH by one VINO tries case
his opponent consciousness OF the necessity OF deadly
struggle From the beginning to the end OF the rla OF
case nothing with him IS neglected when can py any
possibility honorably coDduce to success HIS manner Is
always respectful and deferentia to The Court capyat
ing to The jury ana calculated 70 g tpe
tors" ChiefJustice Of New Hampshire wrote: The
eoquence OF Mr. Pierce Is Of character not 10 be easily
He understands men, thelr passions ana the
feelings His language always attracts me nearer
graceful and manly carriage bespeakng him NJ once the
gentleman ana the true man. manner warmed 10y tho
arant glow OF an earnest belief an enuncauoh ringing
Distinct, and impressive beyond that OF most men,
command OF brilliant and expressive language
and an accurate taste together with sagacous and 10
stincve insight into the points oil his case are the secrets
In is@ President Polk offered him the position Of At
torney General OF the United States. lie declined II,
however giving "a ms reasons, that pnDho ne never
suited his and that he onged for the quiet and In
dependence of the private citizen that he could not ar
ran re ms business 10 leave and that Mrs Perces health
demanded quiet and private life Previous 10 TINS he de-
clined nomination to the u s. SENATE From iSai to
ls47 he accepted public office, refusing the nomination
for Governor but taking an active interest III the pohtcs
OF the State.
Mr. Pierce had said in his letter to President Polk
that nothing except the voice OF his country IN time OF
war would call him from his seclusion. When the he1i
can war broke in 1S47, he enrolled himself the hrst
volunteer OF company raised In Concord and soon re-
ceiyed the coloncy OF the 9th Regiment In March no
was commissioned Brigader General, his brigade con-
ssng OF regiments from the extreme North the extreme
West and the extreme South. Hawthorne, who saw him
lust previous his departure from New York, says:
intensely occupied bis appointment .feetng
on leaving bis Affairs well Ab the prep
military p.rson demanded by the expedition The
ports waiting receive the troops He In
The with the oeos Of his command abont him.
mingled friends whom be leave behind The s'rosi
point the crisis for be had already hidden his family sse
the truth dangerous Vas the psta before
him regretted that bis life 70 have the opportunity
which his youth at least be bad considered
the struggling for He looked 90 to be soldier that
va, merely bis good conduct which
tain b. aswa but bis good fortune 10 the b ana