The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-03-12
OBITUARY.
Death Of Ex-Presidsnt Fillmore.

Ex. President Millard Fillmore dice
at his residence in Buffalo, Sunda,
night, Sth inst, aged "a years, 2 month,
and day.
Millerd Fillmore was born at Locke
now Summsrville, Cayuge county, N
Y, January 7, 1900. His father, Ma
thaniel Fillmore, was Of English de.
scent, and followed the occupation of a
farmer. He removed to Erie county in
1919, and cultivated small farm. ~
At an early age Millard was sent to
Livingston county to learn the clothier's
trade, aud passed four years in dressing
cloth. During this time he improved
every spare hour to supply the defects
of his early education.
In 1919, he made the acquaintance Of
the late Judge Wood, of Cayuga county,
and entered his Office for the purpose Of
studying law. In order to do this he
had to pay $50 for one years time
which he owed his employers. To raise
this sum he devoted his spare time to
teaching school.
BY working from four in the morning
until late at night be accomplished the
desired result, paid his debt, and had
Sc left for expenses for one whole year.
lis board cost him nothing.
In 1929 be was elected to represent
the county of Erie in the State Assem-
bly,. Being member of the old Wing
party, which was AZ that time in the mi
nority, lac had little opportunity of dis
tipguishing himself. His humanity aud
love of justice, however, led him to take
an active part in the movement for
a5olishing Imprisonment for debt in this
State.
In 1882 he was elected on the anti.
jackson ticket to Congress, serving one
term. In 1886 he was again chosen as
a Wing, and also in 1888, and 1910.
lie was again nominated in 1912, but
Peremptorily declined. While in Con.
gress he declared himself opposed to the
annexation Of Texas so long as slaves
we're held therein, and in favor of Con.
gress exercising all constitutional powers
to abolish the slave trade between
States and the slave trade in the Dis
,rict of Columbia.
In 1889, at the opening Of the twenty
sixth Congress, he took part in the celc-
brated "broad seal" contest on the right
to tie seats of FIVE Of the six members
from New Jersey, and was one of the
Committee on Elections making a mi
nority report On the subject. In 1S49
he vas elected Vice President of the
United States and became President
July 10, 1850, on the death Of General
Taylor, and that year signed the Fugi-
tive Slave law and the accompanying
bills known US the "Compromise Meas
urea" In 1851 he put in force the
Neutrality laws against the Lopez fill
busters, removing the Collector of New
Orleans, by whose connivance the Pam
pero escaped from that port.
Iu 1852, his wife, formerly Miss
Abigail Powers, daughter Of the Rev.
Lemuel Powers, died. leaving him two
children, son and daughter, the latter
Of whom died in 1854. In 1855 and
1856 he visited Europe, where he was
received with the most fattering atten-
tons. The same year he was nominated
10y the Americans for the Presidency,
but received only the vote of Mary lard
in the Electoral College.
February 10, 1858, he married Mrs.
Caroline Mcintosh, daughter OF the late
Chas. Carmichael, of M,rristown, n,
j =, and has ever since lived in quiet re-
tiremept at Buffalo, devoting hiastll to
the Historic Society, of which he was
first President, aud in whose affairs he
had taken great interest.