Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-12
Ex.Presidcnt Willard Fillmore.

At a little past II o'clock on the
evening of March 8, Millard Fill
more, ex-President Of the United
States. died at his residence in Buff
falo. He was stricken with paraly-
sis few days ago.
Willard Fillmore was born In
Locke, (now Summer HilD Cayuga
county, n. Y, January 7, 1900. His
father was a farmer. Central New
York was then tout west" and the
Fillmore Cabin was four miles from
any neighbor. His education was
meagre in the extreme, extending
only to reading, writing, and the
simplest elements of arithmetic. At
1t years of age he was apprenticed
to learn the fuller's trade. For five
wears he was employed in dressing
cloth and carding wool, with oecas-
ional labor on his fathers farm. AT
the age of 10 he began the study Of
law. He began the practice IN
Aurora, Erie county, ~. Y. He
soon after removed to, Buffalo. AS,
a lawyer, Mr.. Fillmore sustained an
honorable place.. but never ranked
among the great lights and powers
of the profession. His political
career began in 1928 as a State leg
islator.. In 1882 he entered Con-
gress as an anti-Jackson man. At
the formal organization OF the Wig
party he became a member of 1t,
and although the party has been
defunct about twenty years, it would
hardly be an eXaggeration to say
that Willard Fillmore lived and died
. Wig. He served six years in
Congress. He declined to,bea cam
didate for reelection to Congress.
III the National Wig Convention
which nominated Clay and Freling-
huesen, in 1884,, Ma. fillmore's
name was presented by the New
York. delegation for the Vice Presi-
dency. The choice falling on the
favorite of New, Jersey, he was soon
after placed in nomination for the
Governorship OF the State. His oP-
ponent was Silas Wright, who was
elected. In lS47 Mr.. Fillmore was
the Wig candidate for Comptroller.
He was elected. 1t is worthy Of note
that he reconamended in his report,
January /, 1s49, national banking,
with the bonds of the United States
Government for the basis of c,rren-
ey. His suggestion awaited the ex-
igency of war and the genius OF Sal
mon p. Chase to be carried out.
The National Wig Convention
which met in June, 1913, placed
Zachary Taylor az the head Of the
ticket and Millard Fillmore at his
side. The latter presided accept
ably oyer the IT,. s. Senate until
July 8, 1860 when the death OF
President Taylor made him Chief
Executive of tina ,nation,
The Wig party had two wings at
the time Willard Fillmore entered
upon the duties of the Presidency
one pro-slavery and the other anti
slavery, the immediate occasion OF
the division being te,admit Califor-
MIA as free State. Finally Califor-
MIA was admitted as free State and
the Fugative Slave law Che most
infamous act ever placed upon the
statute books of the nati0n) was
passed. Willard Fillmore signed it
That sign manual linked his inmt
with an infam% and doomed TIL,
Wig party. The organization EN-
tered the Presidential contest o
OF 1862 a wreck. President Fill
more sought denomination, but h,
was defeated The death warrant
OF the party which he signed IL
siguing the Fugitive Slave bill wa:
also his own death warrant, polite.
ally. In 1856 he did Indeed run fol
the Presidency on the American
ticket. but Maryland alone gave
him its ELECTORAL college vote. Dur
ing the war he was as nearly passive
as possible. His Cabinet numbered
among its members, Daniel Web
ster, Edward Everett, Thomas Cor.
win aud John J. Crittenden. As a
private citizen President Fillmore
was without reproaoh. He was
best beloved by those who, knew
him best.
The famine in Lldia has at length
commenced in, downright earnest.