Pierce, Herbert Burdick

PIERCE, BURDICK, WRIGHT, EASTMAN

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 11:24:39

PIERCE, HERBERT BURDICK

H.B. Pierce, one of the more prominent citizens of Rock Rapids, Iowa, was born in Sterling, Illinois, October 12, 1858, a son of Reuben J. and Roena (Burdick) Pierce. The father was born in Oswego, New York, July 5, 1827, and for many years was engaged as a carpenter, but has been for the past twenty years a dealer in books and stationery at Ida Grove, Iowa. Free and liberal handed, he has never accumulated any great sum of money, but is of a character respected and beloved by all who know him. His father was killed by a premature discharge of an anvil used in celebrating Independence day at Fulton, New York, July 4, 1831. His maternal grandfather, Sherman, was a private in the American army during the War of 1812, His wife, the mother of H.B., was born in Madison county, New York, June 23, 1833. She was the daughter of Thomas Burdick, who was born in Brookfield, New York, in 1801, and Polly Wright, who was born in 1797. Her grandfather, Smith Wright, was born in England in 1758, and he was enrolled as a member of the Colonia Militia during the Revolution at Woodbridge, New Jersey. He was one of the pioneers in central New York, clearing a farm in 1815 in Oswego county.

Herbert B. Pierce received his earlier education very largely at his mother's knee, and when seven years of age he accompanied his parents in their removal to Clarence, Cedar county, Iowa. This was in 1865, and here he attended the public schools for nine years, graduating from the Clarence high school. He remembers gratefully the instruction he received from William T. Stubbs, formerly of Maine, and now residing at Foxcroft, Maine, one of the most noted teachers of the day. Mr. Pierce attended Simpson College, at Indianola, in 1876-7, intending to take a thorough normal course training, but after three terms attendance, he was compelled to quit school by severe illness. After traveling for a time as a salesman on the road he became principal of the schools in Ida Grove, where he demonstrated signal ability as a teacher, but ill health again drove him from the school room, and he spent the summer of 1881 in New York. That year he was on the Republican ticket for county superintendent of schools, of Ida county, Iowa, but was beaten by the narrow margin of two votes. He was made deputy recorder and held the position for a year, and was admitted to the Carroll county bar September 28, 1882. He opened an office in Rock Rapids October 12, 1882, for the beginning of his professional career, and was associated with the firm of Buxton, Clark & Company, he being the junior member of the firm. A year later Mr. Buxton retired, and the firm was continued as Clark & Pierce. In 1885 Mr. Clark retired and was succeeded by V.G. Coe, of Clarence, Iowa, the firm continuing under the name of Pierce & Coe. In 1891 Mr. Coe withdrew, and Mr. Pierce has since conducted his business under his own name, building up a large patronage, especially in loans and real estate.

On October 31, 1883, Mr. Pierce was married to Miss Ida L. Eastman, of Clarence. She had been his class in the high school from 1870 to 1874. She is a lady of superior attainments, and has been of much assistance to her husband. Her father, Joseph E. Eastman, who was a wagon maker, died in 1897; her mother is a resident of Rock Rapids. To this union have come two children: Homer Jay, and Ralph Edwin. Mrs. Pierce has artistic ability of a high grade and has achieved notable success as a decorator of china.

Mr. Pierce is an active and public spirited citizen, taking part in many movements for the public good, and belonging to several orders and fraternities, by which he is brought in close touch with his community. In Masonic circles he has attained high standing and is enrolled at Rock Rapids in the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. He is also a member of Paliadium, Lodge No. 91, Knights of Pythias, where he has passed through the various official chairs, and has been representative to the grand lodge. He is a member of Rock Rapids, Lodge, No. 480, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In church matters he is an enthusiastic Methodist, and has served on the official board for the last twenty years. For thirty-five years he has been a member of the church, and he has seen his local church grow from small beginnings until in 1896 it was able to erect a magnificent structure, costing $15,000, he being a member of the building committee. In Sunday School and Epworth league work he is very active and is known as a close student of the Bible, having had charge of one Bible class for over twenty-one years.

Mr. Pierce is a staunch Republican, and in 1885 was elected a member of the county board of supervisors, and the same year was the Republican candidate for circuit judge, on the part of the Lyon county Republicans. The district convention, however, named D.D. McCallum, of Sibley. He is a member of the board of education of Rock Rapids, and president of the board of trustees of the city library. In 1888 he was elected justice of the peace, a position he held for six years. Mr. Pierce was very efficient in securing its fine system of water works for Rock Rapids, and for four years was its superintendent. He is the owner of farms comprising some eleven hundred acres of the best land in Lyon county, and is also the proprietor of some fine farms in Brookings county, South Dakota and elsewhere. He has seen Lyon county land advance from six to seventy dollars in value, and has loaned over one and a half million dollars on Lyon county farms without losing a dollar or being compelled to resort to foreclosure in a single case. A portrait of Mr. Pierce will be found on another page.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson