Hiram Pierce (1911)

PIERCE, BRYAN, SCOTT

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 12/16/2010 at 23:35:40

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
March 9, 1911

Seventy Years in the Ministry

Many of our readers in the southwest part of the county will recall the memory of Rev. Hiram Pierce, who for a number of years was pastor of the Bethsaida Church in Grand River township.

Rev. Pierce passed to his reward at the home of his son, E. J. Pierce of Danville, Indiana on Feb. 18th last, aged 92 years, 9 months an 16 days. He not only lived to an extreme old age, but his life was one full of activity and remarkable in many respects.

The following brief sketch of his life has been handed us by one of his former neighbors an parishioners in this county.

He was born in Quaker faith in North Caroline May 2, 1818, converted at the age of 19, and ordained in the ministry at the age of 21. He was a carpenter by trade and during his ministry, built three churches, one of which he donated to its members.

In 1836, he was married to Martha Bryan and to them were born seven children, six sons and one daughter. They are, James, who was killed in the war of the rebellion. E. J. of Danville, Ind., Reuben of Indianapolis, Ind., John of Creston, Thomas E. and William of Elgin, Illinois and Mrs. Cynthia Scott of Omaha. Of direct descendants there are living today 6 children, 19 grand children, 15 great-grand children and two great-great-grandchildren.

Rev. Pierce came to Iowa in an early day. His wife died in 1872 and is buried in the Moon cemetery in this county. He served in the war of the rebellion and 70 years of his life were spent in the ministry.

Note: Rev. Hiram Pierce was also known as Rev. Hiram Pearce.