Piercy, J. W.

PIERCY, SCOTT, BARNARD

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/19/2019 at 13:03:42

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 475-76:

"J. W. PIERCY, one of the old pioneers of Decatur County, and a successful farmer of Bloomington Township, living on section 20, was born in Morgan County, Illinois, February 22, 1837, a son of Nathan and Elizabeth (Scott) Piercy, the father born in Botetourt County, Virginia, and the mother in Wayne County, Kentucky. To his parents were born twelve children -- Zelah R., William P., Martha A., Charles W., Elizabeth J., James W., Nathan M., John H., Thomas B., Newton C., Sarah F. and one unnamed. James W., the subject of this sketch, was reared in his native county till attending the age of seventeen yeas, his early life being spent on the home farm and in attending the common schools. In the fall of 1853 he came with his father's family to Iowa, and spent the following winter in Wapello County. In April, 1854, he came to Decatur County, the family locating in New Buda, his father entering land at that time in New Buda and Fayette townships. J. W. Piercy was united in marriage April 8, 1858, to Miss Amelia Ann Barnard, who was born in Parke County, Indiana, a daughter of Owen and Mary (Heddy) Barnard. Her father was a member of the Third Indiana Infantry during the Mexican war, and died in the service, at Mexico City. Mrs. Piercy came with her brother, William Barnard, to Decatur County in the year 1856. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Piercy, six are living -- Amelia F., Maley W., Charles R., Mary E., Carrie E. and Laura E. Jenette C. died when about eighteen years of age; Louisa Jane died, aged four months, and Willie died in early infancy. In 1858 Mr. Piercy located on section 15, Bloomington Township, living there one year, when he removed to Mercer County, Missouri, and one year later located in Coffee County, Kansas. After spending one year in Coffee County he returned to Bloomington Township, Decatur County, and lived one year, on section 32. August 22, 1862, he enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, in Company K, and was in the fifteen-days' running fight known as the battle of Oldtown, Alabama. In October, 1863, he was injured on the cars, from which he has never fully recovered. He was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, June 15, 1865, when he returned to Decatur County, and located in Decatur Township, where he lived for one year, after which he lived in Bloomington Township for two years. In 1869 he removed to Osage County, Kansas, where he took up a claim of 160 acres, on which he lived eight months, when he sold his land and returned to Decatur Township, Decatur County, Iowa. He soon settled in Eden Township, where he made his home for seven years, engaged in the marble business, when he sold out and removed to Bloomington Township and the following three years made his home on section15. He then bought eighty acres of his present farm, which is located a half mile northeast of Tuskeego. His land is highly cultivated and in his farming and stock-raising he is meeting with fair success. He has a fine grove of maples of three acres, which is a popular resort for picnic parties. He has a fine orchard on his land and an abundance of small fruits. Mr. Piercy is an active member of the Missionary Baptist church, of which he is deacon, and clerk of East Grand River Association. He has served as township assessor in Bloomington Township two terms, and while living in Eden Township held the office of assessor and justice of the peace. He is now serving his second term as justice of the peace of Bloomington Township, and his decisions are always wise and just. Mr. Piercy's father died in 1870. His mother died October 8, 1886, at the age of eighty-three years, two months and eight days."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)