Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1874 — EX-PRESIDENT FILLMORE. [ARTICLE]

EX-PRESIDENT FILLMORE.

Ex-President Millard Fillmore died at bis home in Buffalo, N. Y., last Saturday night, after an illness of several day 9. He was born in Cayuga, county, N. Y January 7th, 1800. His early education was limited, and he never saw a grammar or geography until nineteen years old, At fourteen years old he was apprenticed to learn the fuller’s trade, and for five years sue -seeding he was engaged in that -employment, altcruatid with <work on his lather’s farm. A portion of each wfs spent in Attending the district school. Two .years before bis apprenticeship expired, he decided to 6tndy law and bought himself offfrom his employer and began to read law iu the office of Walter Wood. At twenty-one jhe went to Bullalc w here he eon-

1' " , "" nr " n tinued his law studies —supporting himself by teaching .school in the day— reading morning and night, In the spring of 1823 he was admitted to the Erie county bar, and commenced the practice of his profession at Aurora. In 1828 he married and moved to Buffalo, where he practiced until 1547, when he was elected Comptroller of State, and retired Iroln the pro tension. His political career commenced at the age of twenty eight, when he was elected to. the State Legislature by the Anti-Masonic party; he served three terms, until the spring of 1831. In 1832 he was elected to Congress on the Anti-Jackson ticket. In 1836 he was re-elected by the Whigs, was returned in 1838 and again in 1840; was unanimously nominated bv the Whigs in 1842, but declined to run. While in Congress he was conspicuous for his labors in opposition to slavery. He retired from Congress in 1843,"and was nominated for Governor of New York the following year, but was defeated by Silas Wright. In -4-&A8 he Vice Presiden t on the ticket with General Taylcr. July 9th, 1850, President Taylor died and Mr. Fillmore succeeded him as President. In 1355 he visited Europe, where he remained until 1856, and was at Rome when lie received the news of his nomination for the Presidency by the American party, which he accepted, but was defeated by Mr. Buchanan. Since then he has continued to live at Buffalo.