USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware county, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 5
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In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah Childress, of Rutherford county, Tenn. His bride was altogether worthy of him-a lady of beauty and culture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a member of congress. The satisfaction which he gave to his constit- uents may be inferred from the fact, that for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was continued in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, only that he might accept the gubernatorial chair of Tennessee. In congress he was a laborious member, a frequent and popular speaker. He was always in his seat, always courteous; and whenever he spoke it was always to the point, and without any am- bitious rethorical display.
During five sessions of congress, Mr. Polk was speaker of the house. Strong passions were roused, and stormy scenes were witness- ed; but Mr. Polk performed his arduous duties
JAMES K. POLK.
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to a very general satisfaction, and a unani- mous vote of thanks to him was passed by the house as he withdrew on the 4th of March, 1839.
On the 14th of October, 1839, took the oath of office as governor of Tennessee at Nashville. In 1841, his term of office ex- pired, and he was again the candidate of the democratic party, but was defeated. On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugurated president of the United States. The verdict of the country in favor of the annexation of Texas exerted its influence upon congress; and the last act of the administration of President Tyler was to affix his signature to a joint res- olution of congress, passed on the 3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and left the country, declaring the act of the annexation to be an act hostile to Mexico.
In his message, President Polk urged that Texas should immediately, by act of congress, be received into the Union on the same foot- ing with the other states. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly two hundred miles further west, to the Rio G.ande, where he erected batteries which commanded the Mexican city of Matamo- ras, which was situated on the western banks.
The anticipated collision soon took place, and war was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first called one of "observation," then of " occupation," then of " invasion," was sent sent forward to Monte- rey. The feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, 1
were hopelessly and awfully slaughtered. It was by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administra- tion that the war was brought on.
" To the victors belong the spoils." Mex- ico was prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. We now consented to peace upon the condition that Mexico should sur- render to us, in addition to Texas, all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Califor- nia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of Texas, 800.000 square miles. This was an extent of territory equal to nine states of the size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen majestic states to be added to the Union. In the prosecution of this war, wc expended 20,000 lives and more than $100, - 000,000. Of this more than $15,000,000 were paid to Mexico.
On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk re- tired from office, having served one term. The next day was Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the capitol in the same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same evening, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to Ten- nessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, and his health was good. With an ample fortune, a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties of the dearest na- ture, it seemed as though long years of tran- quility and happiness were before him. But the cholera-the fearful scourge-was then sweeping up the valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, and died on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth year of his age.
ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth presi- dent of the United States, was born on the 24th of November, 1784, in Orange county, Va. His father, Colonel Taylor, was a Virginian of note, and
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a distinguished patriot and soldier of the Revo- lution. When Zachary was an infant, his father, with his wife and two children, emi- grated to Kentucky, where he settled, a few miles from Louisville. In this frontier home, young Zacnary could enjoy but few social and educational advantages. When six years of age he attended a common school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 'acter. He was strong, fearless and self-reli- ant, and manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight the Indians who were rav- aging the frontiers.
In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him the commission of lieutenant in the United States army; and he joined the troops which were stationed at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady from one of the first families of Maryland.
Immediately after the declaration of war with England, in 1812, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort Harrison, on the Wa- bash, about fifty miles above Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilderness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to Tippecanoe. It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, led by Tecumseh. Its garrison con- sisted of a broken company of infantry num- bering fifty men, many of whom were sick. Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily, and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their approach was first indicated by the murder of two soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor made every possi- ble preparation to meet the anticipated as- sault. On the 4th of September, a band of forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that in the morning their chief would come to have a talk with him. It was evident
that their object was merely to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept them at a distance. The sun went down; the savages disappeared, the garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before midnight the war-whoop burst from a thousand lips in the forest around, followed by the discharge of musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that defeat was not merely death, but in the case of capture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged torture. The savages succeeded in setting fire to one of the block- houses. Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. Taylor, for this gal- lant defense, was promoted to the rank of major by brevet.
Until the close of the war, Major Taylor was placed in such situations that he saw but little more of active service. He was sent far away into the depths of the wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox river, which empties into Green bay. Gradually he rose to the rank of colonel. In the Black-Hawk war, which resulted in the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col. Taylor took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in the defense of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in employments so obscure, that his name was unknown beyond the limits of his own imme- diate acquaintance. In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and retire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs, by treaty, had promised they should do. The services ren- dered here secured Col. Taylor the high ap- preciation of the government; and as a reward, he was elevated to the rank of brigadier-gen- eral by brevet; and soon after, in May, 1838,
Z. TAYLOR.
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was appointed to the chief command of the United States troops in Florida. After two years of such wearisome employment, Gen. Taylor obtained, at his own request, a change of command, and was stationed over the de- partment of the southwest. This field ein- braced Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters at Fort Jesup, in Louisiana, he removed his family to a plantation which he purchased near Baton Rouge. Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty imposed upon him.
In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in the nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista, in which he won signal victories over forces much larger than he commanded. His careless habits of dress and his unaffected simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, the sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready."
The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The whig party decided to take advantage of this wonderful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, uncul- tered, honest soldier as their candidate for the presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the announcement, and for a time would not listen to it; declaring that he was not at all qualified for such an office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, for forty years, he had not cast a vote.
Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine writer. His friends took possession of him, and prepared such few communica- tions as it was needful should be presented to the public. The popularity of the successful warrior swept the land. He was triumph- antly elected over two opposing candidates Gen. Cass and Ex-Pres. Martin Van Buren. Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good old man found himself in a very uncon- genial position, and was, at times, sorely per- plexed and harassed. His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably tended to has- ten his death. The pro-slavery party was pushing its claims with tireless energy, expedi- tions were fitting out to capture Cuba; Cali- fornia was pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found the political con- flicts in Washington to be far more trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or Indians.
In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor, after he had occupied the presidential chair but little over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness, of but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. His last words were: "I am not afraid to die. I am ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died universally respectsd and beloved.
Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful description of his character: "With a good store of common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been enlarged and re- freshed by reading, or much converse with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the consequence. The frontiers and small military posts had been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his rank, and quite bigoted in his igno- rance. His simplicity was child-like, and with innumerable prejudices, amusing and in- corrigible, well suited to the tender age.
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Thus, if a man, however respectable, chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an outside pocket -- in any such case, this critic held the offender to be a coxcomb (per- haps something worse), whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase, 'touch with a pair of tongs.'"
ILLARD FILLMORE, thirteenth president of the United States, was born at Summer Hill, Cayuga county, N. Y., on the 7th of Janu- ary, 1800. His father was a farmer, and, owing to misfortune, in humble circumstances. Of his mother, the daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been said that she possessed an intellect of very high order, united with much personal loveliness, sweetness of disposition, graceful manners and exquisite sensibilities. She died in 1831; having lived to see her son a young man of distinguished promise, though she was not per- mitted to witness the high dignity which he finally attained.
In consequence of the secluded home and limited means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender advantages for education in his early years. The sacred influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, and had laid the foundations of an upright character. When fourteen years of age his father sent him some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of Livingston county, to learn the trade of a clothier. Near the mill there was a small village, where some enterprising man had commenced the collection of a village library. This proved an inestimable blessing to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in reading. Soon every leisure moment was
occupied with books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate, and the selections which he made were continually more « levating and instructive. He read history, biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- kindled in his heart a desire to be something more than a mere worker with his hands; and he was becoming .. almost unknown to himself, a well informed, educated man.
The young clothier had now attained the age of nineteen years, and was of fine per- sonal appearance and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample pecuniary means and of benevolence --- Judge Walter Wood --- who was struck with the prepossessing appear- ance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaintance, and was so much impressed with his ability and attainments that he ad- vised him to abandon his trade and devote himself to the study of law. The young man replied, that he had no means of his own, no friends to help him, and that his previous edu- cation had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to take him into his own office, and to loan him such money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous offer was ac- cepted.
In 1823, when twenty-three years. of age. he was admitted to the court of common pleas. He then went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, his practice of course was limited, and there was no oppor- tunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame. Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great moral worth, and one capable of adorn- ing any station she might be called to fill -- Miss Abigail Powers.
His elevation of character, his untiring in- dustry, his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, gradually attracted attention;
MILLARD FILLMORE.
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and he was invited to enter into partnership under highly advantageous circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, he took his seat in the house of assembly, of the state of New York, as a representative from Erie county. Though he had never taken a very active part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with the whig party. The state was then democratic, and he fonnd him- self in a helpless minority in the legislature, still the testimony comes from all parties, that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very unusual degree, the respect of his asso- ciates.
In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in the United States congress He en- tered that troubled arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our national history. The great conflict respecting the national bank and the removal of the deposits was then raging.
His term of two years closed, and he re- turned to his profession, which he pursued with increasing reputation and success. After a lapse of two years he again became a candi- date for congress; was re-elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past experience as a repre- sentative gave him strength and confidence. The first term of service in congress to any man can be but little more than an introduction. He was now prepared for active duty. Fill- more was now a man of wide repute, and his popularity filled the state, and in the year 1847 he was elected comptroller of the state.
Fillmore had attained the age of forty- seven years. His labors at the bar, in the legislature, in congress and as comptroller, had given him very considerable fame. The whigs were casting about to find suitable can- didates for president and vice-president at the apdroaching election. Far away, on the waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough
old soldier, who had fought successful battles with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be proclaimed in trumpet-tones all over the land. But it was necessary to asso- ciate with him, on the same ticket, some man of reputation as a statesman. Under the in- fluence of these considerations, the names of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became the rallying cry of the whigs, as their candi- dates for president and vice-president. The whig ticket was signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, Gen. Taylor was inaugu- rated president, and Millard Fillmore vice- president, of the United States.
On the 9th of July, 1850, Pres. Taylor, but one year and four months after his inaugu- ration, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the constitution, vice-Pres. Fillmore thus be- came president. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which the illustrious Daniel Web- ster was secretary of state.
Fillmore had very serious difficulties to contend with, since the opposition had a ma- jority in both houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate the south; but the pro- slavery party in the south felt the inadequacy of all measures of transient conciliation. The population of the free states was so rapidly in- creasing over that of the slave states that it was inevitable that the power of the govern- ment should soon pass into the hands of the free states. The famous compromise meas- ures were adopted under Fillmore's administra- tion, and the Japan expedition was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Fillmore, having served one term, retired.
In 1856, Fillmore was nominated for the presidency by the "know nothing" party, but was beaten by Mr. Buchanan. After that Fillmore lived in retirement. During the ter- rible conflict of civil war, he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that his sympathies were rather with those who were endeavoring
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to overthrow our institutions. He lived to a ripe old age, and died in Buffalo, N. Y., March 8, 1874.
F RANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth president of the United States, was born in Hillsborough, N. H., November 23, 1804. Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, generous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the love of old and young. The boys on the play ground loved him. His teachers loved him. The neigh- bors looked upon him with pride and affection. He was by instinct a gentleman; always speak- ing kind words, doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact which taught him what was agreeable. Without developing any pre- cocity of genius, or any unnatural devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in body, in mind, in affections, a finely developed boy.
When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he entered Bowdoin college at Bruns- wick, Maine. He was one of the most popu- lar young men in the college. The purity of his moral character, the unvarying courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. There was something very peculiarly winning in his address, and it was evidently not in the slightest degree studied; it was the simple out- gushing of his own magnanimous and loving nature.
Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Erank- lin Pierce commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of the state, and a man of great private worth. The eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant political career into which Judge Woodbury was entering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the fascinating, yet perilous, path of po-
litical life. With all the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. Jackson for the presidency. He commenced the practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected to represent the town in the state legislature. Here he served for four years. The last two years he was chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote.
In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected a member of congress. Without tak- ing an active part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, a d ever rising in the estimation of those with whom he was associ- ated. In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, he was elected to the senate of the United States, taking 'his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced his administration. He was the youngest member in the senatc. In the year 1834 he married Miss Jane Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every station with which her husband was honored. Of the three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with their parents in the grave.
In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with grow- ing fame and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed Mr. Pierce at- torney-general of the United States; but the offer was declined in consequence of numer- ous professional engagements at home and the precarious state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also about the same time declined the nomi- nation for governor by the democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce to the army. Receiving the appointment of briga- dier-general, he embarked with a portion of his troops at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. He took an important part in this war, proving himself a brave and true soldier.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
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When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native state he was received enthusiastic- ally by the advocates of the Mexican war, and coldly by its opponents. He resumed the practice of his profession, very frequently tak- ing an active part in politiaal questions, giving his'cordial support to the pro-slavery wing of the democratic party. The compromise meas- ures met cordially with his approval; and he strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infamous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious sensibilities of the north. He thus became distinguished as a "northern man with southern principles." The strong partisans of slavery in the south consequently regarded him as a man whom they could safely trust in office to carry out their plans.
On the 12th of June, 1852, the democratic convention met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the presidency. For four days they continued in session, and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delega- tion brought forward his name. There were fourteen more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he received 282 votes, and all other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was the whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with great unanimity. Only four states-Vermont, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee-cast their electoral votes against him. Gen. Franklin Pierce was there- fore inaugurated president of the United States on the 4th of March, 1853.
His administration proved one of the most stormy our country had ever experienced. The controversy between slavery and freedom was then approaching its culminating point. It became evident that there was an * irrepress- ible conflict" between them, and that the nation could not long exist "half slave and
half free." President Pierce, during the whole of his administraiion, did everything he could to conciliate the south; but it was all in vain. The conflict every year grew more and more violent, and threats of the dissolution of the dissolution of the Union were borne to the north on every southern breeze.
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