The daughter of Rev. Jesse Appleton, D. D., President of Bowdoin
College—Reared in an atmosphere of cultivation—A gifted
child—Delicate and intensely sensitive—Mental qualities—Married
in 1834—Mr. Pierce a gifted man—Politics utterly distasteful to
Mrs. Pierce—A union of lasting happiness—A devoted
husband—Personal popularity of Mr. Pierce—A public position
undesired—A good wife, mother, and friend—Home at Concord—Mr.
Pierce resigns his seat in the Senate—Loss of two sons—Resumes
the practice of law—Tendered the position of Attorney-General—His
wife’s illness his reason for declining—An invalid most of the
time—Mr. Pierce enlists in the army—Goes to Mexico—Returns a
Brigadier-General—Absent from home nearly a year—A wife’s
anxiety—Left alone with an only son—Mr. Pierce nominated for the
Presidency—His election—Death of her only child—Killed on a
railroad train—A bright boy of thirteen—Husband, wife, and child
go down together—The search for the boy—Still in death—A sad
return home—Mistress of the White House under sad
circumstances—In feeble health and deep grief—Always present at
the public receptions—Presided at State dinners—Agreeable
memories of Mrs. Pierce in Washington—Her observance of the
Sabbath—The influence she exerted—Retirement of President
Pierce—Travels abroad—Six months in Madeira—A long sojourn in the
old world—Death of Mrs. Pierce in 1863—Kindly things said of
her—Death of Mr. Pierce in 1869 484