The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21
FILLMORE FAMILY EXTINCT.
Not One of the Late Presidents Rel
atives Survives

Buffalo Express.
The Fillmore family of Buffalo, has
passed out of existence, but the memory
of some of its members is among the
most cherished possessions OF the Oldest
citizens OF the Queen city.
Buffalo abounds in relics and other re-
minders of Willard Fillmore and his fam
lily. Two houses in the city are pointed
out to the youth as the mansions of the
former President, while on the walls or
the Historical Society's art gallery are
several paintings of the President ana
members of his family. In the office OF
the society is the old mahogany desk he
once used. In aother corner is the iron
cradle-like basket in which the usually
cautious Fillmore. accompany a daring
young woman of Batavia. was swung
>across Niagara's gorge on a cable. Many
homes in the city point with pride to
few books on the library shelves that
bear the autograps OF Millard Fillmore,
for the late Presidents much-loved books
were sold at auction. Other houses about
town boast of articles of furniture that
once occupied space In one or both of the
Fillmore mansions.
Among the most valued articles in the
collection of the Buffalo Historical Soci-
ETY. is a manuscript autobiography of the
late President. 1t was not unsealed until
after his death.
While the old dull-brown brick and
mastic building on Niagara Square is usu-
ally pointed out ais the Fillmore mansion,
less historic interest attaches to that than
to the more infrequently noticed house at
No. $50 Franklin Street. The latter is q
WIDE three-storied dark red frame struc-
ture on the west side of the street, half
way between Huron and Mohawk streets.
It was In this building that Fillmore had
his Buffalo home when President and he
also occupied 1t for long period before
he had that office and for several years
after he retired from the Presidency. 1t
was not as large structure those days
as 1t is now. 1t was two stories high
rHfhA lVnA iad AHra n
Cay the present occupant. having added
the French roof when the house came
into her possession thirty years ago. Dur
ing the eight years he was Representa-
tive in Congress Willard Fillmore enter
tanned many persons of national distinc-
ton in this house. Among them was
John Quincy Adams, the sixth President
of the United States.
The law firm of Fillmore, Haven & Hall
was one Of the best known in the State
in it's time. 1t did a very large business
and q profitable one, too. 1t was a much
sought place by students Of the law. All
the students liked Mr.. Fillmore. He had
had hard row to hoe in his own youth
and he always was especially interested
in helping young men. He had a clear,
lucid way of explaining the text of the
books that made the study more interest
ing. Mr.. Day relates an incident how,
one day when the latest student declined
to carry the mail to and from the post
office any more. Mr.. Fillmore himself
took some letters to the postoffice in
very quick time. Coming back from the
postoftioe he said to the students:
Boys, l don't think the steps have
been swept down for two weeks. They
are very dirty. Any lady coming up those
stairs would soil her dress. l wish one
of you would take the broom and sweep
them down.
But as the other students believed the
latest arrival should do the work, and
as that individual very sturdtly declined
to do so, Mr.. Fillmore hung up his dress
coat, put on his working gown, took
broom and swept the hall and the stairs
from top to bottom. The duty was per-
formed thoroughly. This work was done
at time when Mr.. Fillmore was at his
height as a lawyer and Travelled all over
the State in connection with law cases.
The beginning of Mr.. Fillmores for
tune was made up of Z per cent mort
cages. AS his law profits increased he
also invested in real estate. Besides the