What are somethings about Franklin Pierce's family life?

Answer 1

His childhood was pleasant enough. He had five brothers and three sisters. He was the second youngest. They lived in the back country but the house was on a main highway. His father was a general in the Revolutionary War , was a local personage and active in politics. He liked to tell war stories to his children and others who would listen. His father was strict but his mother was affectionate and easy-going. He was sent away to boarding school which he did not always enjoy but it provided a good education for its day.

After he grew up, before he married , his Dad was the governor for two terms and he became a representative the state legislature. He helped manage his Dad's campaign, He married Jane Means Appleton. She bore him three sons but all died young. The first died in two days. The second, Frank Robert. died at age four, two years after the third , Benjy, was born. Benjy was killed in a train wreck at age 11. So, Pierce's family was small and his family life was mostly sad after Benjy was killed. His wife never really recovered from her loss. He wrote regularly to one older sister .