PIERCE, Gilruth

PIERCE, THOMPSON, WALDEN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/19/2014 at 04:52:54

Biography ~ G. Pierce

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 630-31:

G. PIERCE, one of the first settlers of Franklin Township, was born in Vinton County, Ohio, March 26, 1824, a son of WILLIAM and JANE (THOMPSON) PIERCE. His parents lived to an advanced age, being nearly 100 years old at the time of their death. They had a family of fourteen children - RICHARD, WILLIAM, MATHEW, JOHN S., JAMES, GILRUTH, THOMAS, SAMUEL, WESLEY, ELIZABETH, MARGARET, ISABELLE , JANE and SALLY ANN; of these, WILLIAM , MATHEW, JOHN S., THOMAS, ELIZABETH and JANE are deceased. GILRUTH PIERCE lived in his native county until manhood, and was there married, December 30, 1852, to Miss ELIZA A. WALDEN. Immediately after his marriage he accompanied his father-in-law to Iowa, and settled in Decatur County. Mr. WALDEN located on Long Creek, and Mr. PIERCE on section 7, Franklin Township, the site of his present residence . He bought 160 acres of land, which was wholly unimproved, as few white men had preceded him to the township, only three houses being in sight of his home. He went to work to improve his land, and also build a log cabin, and here he and his wife spent their early married life, and together toiled to make a home for their family and place themselves beyond the pale of want. He has added to his first purchase, until he now owns 240 acres of finely-cultivated land, a part of it being in Clarke County. He is a thrifty, energetic, farmer, and has one of the pleasantest homes in Franklin Township. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. PIERCE have a family of six children - JOSEPH BYRON, deceased; JOHN WILLIAM, CLARENCE FREEDOM, FRANK DOUGLAS, deceased; LOUELLA and ALBERT ELLESWORTH, deceased.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014