PIERCE, Benjamin D. 1804 - 1896

PIERCE, COPPOCK, PEIRCE

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 1/21/2005 at 03:21:46

"Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, April 1, 1896
Page 2, Column 2

Death of Benjamin D. PIERCE.

Died, in the city of Fairfield, on the twenty-sixth day of March, 1896, Benjamin PIERCE, who was born in Grayson county, Virginia, September 25, 1804. In 1809 he, with his father’s family, moved to Miami county, Ohio, at that time a wilderness, where in 1827 he was married to Rachel COPPOCK, who preceded him to the grave about six years. They moved to Wayne county, Indiana, and in 1841 moved to Henry county, Iowa, then moved to Jasper county, Iowa, and about 1856 came to Fairfield, where they resided until their deaths. They had no children of their own, but many an orphan and homeless child found with them friends, home, comfort and education.

"Uncle Benny PIERCE," as he was affectionately called by his acquaintances, was raised among, and most of his relatives belonged to, the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers. He abhorred oppression or injustice, and was an early and continued opponent to human slavery, and at an early day, in the state of Iowa, he was frequently threatened with personal violence and in danger of injury because of his fearless denunciation of the evils of slavery; but his zeal never flagged until the institution was wiped from the nation. In his religious views he was not what would be called an orthodox Christian by the churchmen of the day. He believed there was more merit in proper action than in unavailing theory. He was a just man. Who can be more?

R.

~~~~

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, April 1, 1896
Page 3, Column 4

Death of Two Nonagenarians.

The past week has seen the death of two nonagenarian residents of Fairfield -- Benjamin D. PIERCE and Capt. Alvin Turner. Both these men had lived on adjoining blocks in this city for almost a third of a century. While they were of wholly different types of human nature, there was much similarity in their lives as the public knows them, and it is somewhat of a coincidence that death's summons should come to them on so nearly the same day.

Mr. PEIRCE (sic - PIERCE, throughout) died Thursday night. For ten years past, perhaps, he had been frail in body and feeble in mind, and it seemed scarcely possible that his days could be lengthened as they were. Mr. PEIRCE was born in Grayson county, Virginia, September 25th, 1804, and was descended from one of three brothers who came from England with the original colony which accompanied William Penn to the new world. The family removed to Miama (sic - Miami) county, Ohio, later, and there, August 30th, 1827, young PEIRCE was married to Rachel COPPOCK, with whom he lived for sixty-three years. The wife died in this city April 20, 1890. No children were born to them, but under their roof there was ever a home for the orphan and the friendless. After a residence of several years in Ohio and in Wayne county, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. PEIRCE came to Iowa in 1841. Their home was for a time in Henry county, and afterwards in Jasper, but in 1856 they removed to this city. A member of the Society of Friends by birth, Mr. PEIRCE was opposed to slavery in all its forms, and early in life became an ardent abolitionist. He entered the work with all his heart and with all his strength, and he gave freely of his means and of his time for the freedom of the slave and the amelioration of his condition. During all the years of his earlier residence in this state he was an agent of the "underground railroad," by means of which the unfortunate blacks were sent from the plantations of the south to places of safety in the north, and it is said that his home has sheltered scores of these poor fugitives from bondage. Even after the days of freedom this good man remained a warm and steadfast friend of the oppressed colored race, and his home was ever open to its members. Mr. PEIRCE was a man of radical views and was always ready to defend them. He was honest and conscientious in his discharge of all the duties of life, and no one knew him but to admire him for those sterling qualities which made his manhood so noble. Funeral services were held over his remains at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. S. COPPOCK, where he died, Friday afternoon. In accordance with the dead man's wishes Mr. Robt. F. Ratcliff made a brief address, and the body was then taken to the cemetery for interment. Mr. and Mrs. COPPOCK desire to thank the friends who rendered so many services during Mr. PEIRCE's illness.

Note: Article continues but with regard to Alvin Turner, and is therefore omitted. Benjamin is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, IA, with his wife Rachel, in Lot Old.P.290.

The first of these obituaries was transcribed by Deborah Brownfield-Stanley, but in an abbreviated form. In August, 2012, the obituary was transcribed in its entirety and the second one added by the Obituary Board Admin.