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

I
at his residence, in Concord, N. II,
yesterday morning. His disease was
chronic inflammation of the stomach,
attended with droPsieaI effusion Of the
bowels.
HIS ANCESTRY.
Fraklin Pierce was born November
20, 1904, in llillsborough, N. II. His
father, Benjamin Pierce, was one of
the oalicst settlers in the town of
liillsborough, and by bis exertions
contri )utcd 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 aud Lexington reaching the
neighorhood Of Uillsborough 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.
it necessary, give up his life on the al.
tar Of his country All through tho
stormy period, the time that tried
mons 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 in 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 to a
close, but with the little means he had
and little, indeed. it was-hc took mp
his residence in a log hut which he
built on tract Of land in what is now
the town Of HillsbOrough Here he
married, but hls wife dying, leaving
him female child, he married again,
and by his second wife he had eight
children. lie worked steadily and en-.
ergetically, and among his neighbors
became a 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 allianoce be-
tween lawyers and legislators, it is
not the purpose here to inquire, but
certain il is that lawyers--good, bad
and inditlorent--as rule. have a
yearning for the honor or the profit,
either one or both, of political office,
and Franklin Pierce naturally enough,
from other causes, however, than any
that might have arisen from his con-
neciion with thelegal 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 honorcd
by the votes of his native town, elect.
ing him their representative to the
Legislature of the State. lie contin.
ued member for four Successive years,
the latter two being Speaker Of the
House, to which place be was elevated
by a largo majority Of votes.
In 1888 Mr.. Pierce sought higher
renown. He looked to the capitol OF
the nation, and among his countrys
Legislators there he felt he could labor
TO advantage His constituents sec
onded that desire, and he was elected
TO Congress. While in the House he
was 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 bis reasoning, he still was noted as
one of the most laborious, painstaking
memb bers in the whole assembly
When Frank Pierce was on commit
tee all felt satisfied that the lnbors o.
that committee would be attended to
This reputation sustained through
out his whole Congressional career
He was a warm admircr and staunct
r upholdcr Of Old Hickory. lie believ
ed in President Jackson, and during
the most stormy periods of the ole
mans administration piorco always
rendered him whatever aid was in hii
power. This led to confidence whicl
lasted during the lifetime of President
jackson and was warmly rociprocatcd
by Mr. Pierce.
While member of Congress he do
ivercG a foroiblo speech against th,
billaulhorizing the appropriations fol
the Military Academy Of West Point
In after years he saw the error h,
made in taking the view he did and
acknowledged The wisdom Of the acl
which upheld the school for the odu
cation Of the American soldier Or
the question Of slavery, while a mem
Der Of the House, be took bis position
firmly, conscientiously and resolutely
He believed the South was pledged Ger
I tain rights by the constitution, and
these he maintained by his voice and
!, by his votes. He continued as n mem
Der Of tho lower House for four years
~ TuE UNITED STATES SENATE.
In 1887 Mr.. Pierce, then scarcely
arrived at the lsgsl sge for the posi-
ton, was elected to the United State.
4 Senate. He look bis scat, the young
! est member in the Senate at the com
!, mencement Of tho Presidency Of Mar
: tin Van Buren. This was the period
whom the Senate was composed o.
such men as Henry Clay, Daniel
/, Webster, John c. Calhoun, Silas
4 Wright, Thomas H. Benton, and
. many other distinguished statesmen
4 who, though inferior in iutcllectua
ability to those named, still were mer
who invested with dignity and talent
y the exalted position they occupied
v This was the noontime of the Amori
i can Senate, and mover before or since
i has there been seen within the walt
Il Of the Senate chamber more able
a dignided or venerable array Of states
c men than those whom the Young Sen
B, ator encountered on the entrance M
q on his Senatorial cnroor His cnueufn