The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-09

Ex-President Miiard Fillmore,


little moro than an historical "reminiscences to
many people, Its bearer reached and occupied
the highest place in our government, and when he
passed away from 1t he fell into obscurity almost
as dense as that which surrounded his early
years. When at times this obscurity was lifted,
and the ex-President OF the United States
again came into public view there was
evident and almost universal feeling OF
wonderMent that he should be living; and
even among those who had a continual knowledge
OF ex-Presldent Fillmore's life. he was regarded
simply, as q writer recently phrased the feeling,
go venerable link between the past and the pres
ent Of the Republic" What the causes were of
Mr. F1llmore's abrupt passage from the giaring
light OF public life into the obscurity Of iorgetful-
ness cannot be dwelt upon here 1t Is only re-
ferred to as q remarkable fact; whether the acts
OF his life iusti 1t or not Is left to be
settled at some other time than the pres
ent The moment OF mans death is scarcely
a at time to rehearse his faults. There fore
the demise or ex-President Fillmore, which oc-
Cured at BuffalO at ten minutes past eleven
O'Clock last night Will be sorrowed over as
heartily, and his many good qualities DETAILED with
as much earnestness and fidelity as If he had
always stood high in the public favor as when he
was the Chief Magistrate Of the Republic. At
eight O'Clock last evening, in reply to question
py MS pHySlCldu, rIiuloTc SAUL 'Iuc n0uflSn-
ment is paiatable." These were his last words.
His death was calm and without pain, notwith.
standing that during the week preceding final
dissolution he had suffered intensely.
MIR. FILIMORE's ANCESTRY
MiIlard Fillmore was born In Locke township,
Cayuga county, in this State the 7th OF January
1900. He had thus just passed the seventy fourth
anniversary OF his birthday. His ancestors were Of
the adventurous strong-hearted and tough
slnewed men who were the pioneers of our present
civilization. The earliest record OF them is found
IN the archives OF Essex county, Massachusetts,
which mention certain John Fillmore who was
the great great grandfather of the ex-presldent.
He was ''sayiOr," whose ship while on voyage
during Queen Anne's war, was captured by q
French frigate. He and his comrades OF the crew
were conveyed to Martinique and closely confined
While returning home, upon his release he died at
sea- His son, Miiiard's great grandfather, also
named John, became a sailor and met with like
hard late upon. the sea- lie was captured
nine months. Finally, with the AID OF two com.
panions, he Overpowered the pirates and brought
Fillmore was greatly celebrated and rewarded
with some OF the personal property OF Phillips the
pirate chief He abandoned the sea ana settled at
Franklin IN COnnectcut, where his son Nathaniel
was born. While mere youth Nathaniel, Obeying
the rowing nature OF his KIN, emigrated into Yer
mont then q Wilderness Having settled at Ben
nington he married aud reared family OF
SIX children. he was patriot, and fought under
Stark at the battle OF bennington. The ex-Presl-
dents Iather, Nathaniel, was then about SIX years
OF age, having been born in Bennington IN 1771.
He remembered the morn OF the fighting, and used
often TO tell OF 1t TO Miiiard when child Early IN
lite Nathaniel Fillmore moved into the region Of
Western New York, which then offered no invita-
determined mind. There were no inquiries at hand,
and the necessities OF lie had to be torn from
the embrace OF the forest Nathaniel was
accompanied to this virgin region OF Cayuga cOun-
ty by Ills bride, Phoebe Millard, the daughter Of
Dr. Abiathar Millard, OF Pttsfeld Mass. She could
have been no ordinary woman who would thus
venture into the wilderness.
MR.. FILIMORE's EARLY LIFE.
In this place the subject OF TINS notice was born,
but soon after his birth his father, having defect
i've title to the lands he occupied, was forced to
remove to Semprontus, now Niles, Ia the same
county to learn the trade of clothler. He did not
remain there long, but returned to his fathers
home to be apprenticed to wool comber. Four years
he served at this trade, working hard every day
and giving his nights to reading, MS appetite for
which was well served Dy the village library.
under the notice Of Judge Walter Wood, Of Ca
yuga, who Saw in him the promise OF bright
manhood. He advised Miiiard to study law. and
provided the youth with the means to follow out
his advice. He aided young Fillmore TO buy OUT
the remaining two Years Of his apprentice
MilIard read law and general literature, and at
times aided In surveying the large estate OF his
patron. In the fall Of 1921 he removed to Erie
county and In the spring OF the next year he en-
tered law office In Buffalo, maintaining himself,
as he had pre- vi0usly done, by teaching scnoo.
practice Of nis profession IN the village OF Aurora
where ne continued t0 resiue until 1851.
BEGINNING OF HIS PUBLIC CAREER. "~ -
T. Nh. FnlmOre's public career began In the year
1923; when he was elected to the General Assembly
The democratic party was then In the ascendancy,
aud Mr. Fillmore was wing and anti-Mason conse-
Quenuy he had little opportunity to show his
abilities at Albany; but he gained good deal OF
reputation by his Efforts to abolish imprisonment
for debt, and it was mainly through his efforts
this relic of larbartSm SWeQt in
the state Of New York. Mr.. Fillmore served three
terms in the Legislature, and was elected to Con-
gresS IN 1892 Up to this time hts success at the
Bar had not been equal to the legal and forensic
abilities he afterward displayed. But he continued
legislative and congressional life he would have
earlier attained that leading position at the Bar
which was aiterward accorded him.
MR. FILLMORE IN CONGRESS.
After his first term In Congress, TO which he was
elected in 1882 MIR. Fillmore was out OF that body
for term; but he was again chosen in 1885, and
he was twice reelected, making eight years OF SER
vice in the House. He was generally in minority,
auo, OF course, chairman OF no committee till 1s41,
when the Twenty seventh Congress assembled with
large wing majority. A great political revolution
had Just taken place. For the hrst time IN the HIS
wing President and a wing Congress- had been
chosen. This political revolution was owing to the
financial embarrassment OF the country and the
general prOsratlOn OF business. The chief duty of
the new administration was to save the national
Treasury from impending bankruptcy and to Sc
cure the revival OF credit the restoration of conh
dence and the recovery OF business. If this
work was to be accomplished at all it
could only be accomplished through Congress, the
most important member OF which IN all financial
emergencies Is the Chairman OF the Committee OF
Ways and Means. This position was gwen to Mr..
Fillmore, and he filed the place OF leader OF the
House with eminent ability and industry. He was
not q ready man and made no figure in debate, but
always knew what he wanted to say, said 1t in the
lewest words, and won the entire confidence OF the
House by evincing solid Judgment and business
talent. No leader Tor many years enjoyed more In.
nuence or made a House work better than Millard
Fillmore. The abors Of that stirring Congress were
exhausting, and Mr.. Fillmore declined another re-
election, going back to the Bar with alacrity ana
delight. Five years OF uninterrupted labor at his
procession now gave him competence and pre-
pared him Tor the dignifed repose OF the years
alter his final retirement from public life.
MR. FILLMORE ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT.
In l847 MIR. Fillmore was chosen Comptroller OF
this state and it while occupying this position
that he was nominated Tor the Vice Presidency on
the ticket with General Taylor. AS the contest Of
184O which brought him into distinguished prOmt-
hence before the country was the first Of the wing
tr1umphs, so the Presidential election of lS4S was
the last, and Mr. Fillmore became the last of the
wing Presidents by the subsequent death Of Presi-