Pearce, Aaron W. (1840-1925)

PEARCE

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 7/31/2008 at 16:31:08

Aaron W. Pearce
Sep 22, 1840 - Oct 10, 1925

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.103, Grove Twp.)
A. W. Pearce, farmer, P. O. Wheeler's Grove, born in Richland County, Ohio, September 22, 1840, son of Dennis C. and Mary (Pollock) Pearce; he, a farmer, born in Ohio, died in Scott County, Iowa, about August, 1854; she born in Ohio in 1811, is still living. They had nine children, seven of whom are living. Subject received a common-school education; commenced life as a farmer, renting a farm in Cedar County, Iowa, in 1866, and married Miss Agnes Bolton, September 11, 1866, who was born in Cedar County, Iowa, February 28, 1847, daughter of William H. and Sarah (Southern) Bolton; he, born in Virginia, died in Cedar County, this State, in 1863; she, born in North Carolina in 1810, is still living in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce have six children, viz.: Merrill E., born July 13, 1867; Mertie C., January 11, 1869; Estella K., October 29, 1872; Dessie I., February 23, 1877; Ethel G., August 24, 1879, and Laura J., July 15, 1881. Subject enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, on the 23d of September, 1861; discharged honorably, in Kentucky, July 15, 1865; participated in several severe engagements, such as the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg; taken prisoner at Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864; was in prison seven months and four days; in Andersonville one month; Charleston two or three days and in Sumter Prison, South Carolina, the balance of the time. He has served his township (Grove) as Clerk, School Director, etc.; is a member of the M. E. Church and moved with his parents from Ohio to McLean County, Ill.; lived there one year; moved to Cedar County, this State, and in 1869 he bought forty acres of land there, but sold out and went to Polk County, Neb., in 1873, where he took a homestead of 160 acres; in 1875, he sold out and came to this county, buying 120 acres of land at $10 per acre, but afterward sold forty acres at about $17.75 per acre, and now owns eighty acres valued at about $30 per acre, with a fine young orchard and about four acres of natural timber on the place.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.283)
AARON W. PEARCE is one of the well known citizens of Grove Township, having been a resident of Pottawattamie County since 1874. he was born in Richland County, Ohio, September 22 1840. His father, Dennis PEARCE, also a native of Ohio, was a son of Aaron PEARCE, who was of Irish extraction. In politics the PEARCES have been Whigs and Republicans; in religion they have been associated with the Christian church. Dennis PEARCE wedded Mary POLLOCK, a native of Richland County Ohio, by whom he had nine children, four sons and five daughters. Three of the daughters are deceased. Mrs George BOLTON and the subject of this sketch are the only ones living in Pottawattamie County. James H., a twin brother of Aaron , resides in Adair County Iowa.
In 1852 or 1853 the family moved form Ohio to Cedar County Iowa, and were early settlers in that section of the country. They had been there anly a year when the father died, leaving his widow and children to battle for life in a new country. The mother afterward married Mr. H. C. PAXON, who died in 1870. Aaron W. PEARCE received his education in Richland County Ohio, and in Cedar County, Iowa. During the late war, in answer to Lincoln's call for "3000,000 more" he enlisted, in September 1861, in Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry. He enlisted under Colonel William Hare of Muscatine, who was some time afterward succeeded by Colonel William Hall, of Davenport. Mr. PEARCE was a brave soldier, and with his regiment took an active part in many of the prominent engagements of the war. He was returned home on a veteran furlough, and after it expired he joined his regiment on the Tennessee River. He was afterward with Sherman before Atlanta. July 22 1864, he was made a prisoner and taken to Andersonville, marching a portion of the way and finishing the journey by rail, arriving at the prison in early August. A portion of the time Mr. PEARCE was at Andersonville there were 30,000 prisoners there in a field of only thirty acres. About one hundred dead soldiers were carried out of the stockade daily. Much has been said and written of the horrors of that prison, but the half has never been told, nor can it be realized by any save those who passed through the terrible ordeal of prison life. About the middle of September Mr. PEARCE was moved from Andersonville to Charleston, South Carolina, remaining there a short time. He was taken to Florence, South Carolina, where he was until February, when the near approach of Sherman's army made another move necessary, and, being placed on the cars, was started toward Wilmington, North Carolina, and on to Goldsboro, where with other prisoners he was paroled and returned toward Wilmington, passing into the Union lines near that place February26, 1865. Leaving Wilmington by steamer for Annapolis, Maryland they went to Baltimore, where he shed his prison rags and put on the blue again. He soon left for St. Louis, but was unable to travel, and was placed in the hospital at Grafton, West Virginia, remaining there one month. Then he again returned home on furlough, and rejoined his regiment the last day of the general review at Washington.
After the war he came back to Cedar County, where he resided for some time. In the spring of 1872, he removed to Polk County, Nebraska, and took up a soldiers' claim of 160 acres. After remaining there sixteen months he came to this county and located in Grove Township. At that time he settled on section 33, near where he now lives. He afterward traded with Thomas Conner for his present farm. It is in section 28 and contains 108 acres, forty of which are in timber. It is well adapted for stock and grain purposes, and is well supplied with all the necessary farm buildings. A good residence situated on a natural building site, surrounded by shade and ornamental trees, makes a comfortable and attractive home. September 11, 1866, Mr. PEARCE married Agnes BOLTON, a native of Cedar County Iowa, and a daughter of William and Sarah (SOUTHERN) BOLTON, natives of Virginia. Her grandfather, Henry BOLTON, was a native of Virginia and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. PEARCE was reared and educated in Cedar County. They have seven children, namely: Merrill Edson, Myrtie C., Estella Kate, Dessie Irene, Ethal Grace, Laura Jane, and Mary Ida. Miss Estella is a successful teacher in the schools of Pottawattamie County. Mr. and Mrs. PEARCE lost one child by death, Eva L, at the age of three years. In politics our subject is a republican. For the last ten years he has served as Township clerk. He has served as a member of the school board. He and his wife and three of their daughters are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. PEARCE is a man of integrity, and is highly respected by all who knew him.