The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-10-14
Ex-pRrsIDENT PIERCE.

The death of Ex-President Pierce
took place at Concord, New Hamp-
shire, on the morning of the 8th inst.
Including Tyler and Fillmore, he
was the fourteenth President of the
United States. He was born in the
town of Hillsboro', n. H., in 1904
His father, General Pierce, served first
in the ranks and afterwards as an Off
Ger, throughout the revolutionary war,
and in 1927, at the ripe age of sixty
nine, was elected Governor of New
Hampshire and afterwards reelected
to the same office in 1929. His son,
the subject of this brief memoir, grad
uated at Bowdoin College in 1924 with
marked distinction, and, entering the
law office of Judge Woodbury., at
Portsmouth, soon afterwards removed
to Northampton, Mass, where he
spent two years pursuing his prepar-
atory studies in the law school there
and in the Office of Judge Parker at
Amherst, and in 1927 he was admit
ted to the bar. His entry was any
thing but brilliant. 1t is recorded Of
him, in fact, that his first case was a
marked failure. But he was not dis
couraged, and remarked to friend: !:
Il will try nine hundred and ninety
nine cases, if clients will continue to
trust me, and if fail, as / have to-
day, will try the thOusandth. / shall
live to argue cases in this court house
in manner that will mortify neither
myself nor my friends" Nor was
he disappointed. But his attention
was soon turned to politics. He
and his father were active suppOr-
| ters of Gen. Jackson, and in 1929
| the son was elected to the State
Legislature from his native town of
II illsboro', and was re elected for four
successive years, serving as Speaker the
last two.
In 1888 he was elected to Congress,
and again elected for a second term.
His record there was not particularly
brilliant, although he was known as
one of the most faithful and IaboriOus
members, the leading measures of
| Jackson's brilliant administration find
| ing in him warm and ardent advo-
cate. In 1887 he was chosen United
| States Senator and took his seat in
that body as its youngest member at
/ the beginning Of the administration of
Mr.. Van Buren. Such men as Clay,
Calhoun, Webster, Benton, Woodbury.
and Wright occupied seats in the Sen
ate then. But in defense OF democrat
ic ideas on all questions affecting the
finances, the tariff, National Banking,
&C., running through the contest OF
1910 and the election of Harrison, Mr.,
| Pierce was looked upon by the democ-
racy as among their ablest men.
In 1916 President Polk rendered him
the appointment of Attorney General,
which he refused, alleging that public
| life was not suited TO his taste.
On the breaking out of the Mexican
war he enrolled himself as private
1 soldier in a Massachusetts regiment
and soon afterwards received a Colo.
nel's commission from President Polk
who, in 1847, raised him to the rank
of Brigadier General. He was in most
of the battles fought between Vera
Cruz and the city of Mexico. On the
restoration Of peace he returned home
and resumed the practice of the law
| Ia 1850 he was elected a member of the
Convention to feyise the Constitution
of New Hampshire, and In 1852, after
thirty five ballotings, was nominated