Pierce, Joseph Adams 1861-1927

PIERCE, RICKER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/1/2012 at 18:24:37

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Jan. 25, 1927

DEATH CALLS J.A. PIERCE
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Respected Citizen of Grinnell Passes in Monticello After Brief Illness.
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FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD MONDAY
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Mr. Pierce Was a Good Business Man, A Good Friend, A Good Citizen.
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Word of the death of J.A. Pierce, who passed away at 4:30 Friday afternoon in the hospital at Monticello, came as a distinct shock to his many Grinnell friends, few of whom had known of his illness.

Mr. Pierce was on one of his regular trips on the road and was taken ill with flu at Monticello last weekend. He requested that no one be notified of his illness, expecting an early recovery, but pneumonia developed and he was unable to rally. He was aged 65 years, 4 months and 4 days.

His death removes one of the respected citizens of Grinnell; a man who stood high in business, church and personal relations; a friendly man who will be greatly mourned by many friends.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the Congregational church. The music, in charge of Mr. Pierce's brother, Professor G.L. Pierce, director of the Grinnell School of Music, was especially beautiful and impressive. The services were conducted by Rev. E.F. Bosworth. The exercises included an organ prelude by Miss Sarah MacDonald, of the School of Music faculty, a selection, Andante Cantabile, by Tschaikowsky, played by the Grinnell string quartet, the obituary and sermon by Rev. Mr. Bosworth, a selection, arranged by W.B. Olds, formerly of the Grinnell School of Music, "Crossing the Bar," by a male quartet from the college, a prayer by Mr. Bosworth and the organ postlude by Miss MacDonald. Burial was in Hazelwood.

Pall bearers were Rev. N.W. Wehrhan, G.B. Critchett, Professor H.W Norris, R.B. Work, Dr. H.B. Brock and I.S Bailey.

Joseph Adams Pierce, son of Horatio F. and Katherine C. Pierce, was born Sept. 17th, 1861, on a farm in Black Hawk county, Iowa. When he was very young, the family moved to Monticello. Upon the completion of his high school work, Mr. Pierce entered Grinnell college although eye trouble developed which prevented the carrying out of his plan to become a teacher.

He was married August 25, 1884, to Ella Mabel Ricker of Grinnell, and to them were born two sons, Herman Sturtevant Pierce, now of Los Angeles, and Ralph Edward Pierce of Sorento, Ill.

Mr. Pierce's entire life was spent in business in Iowa. For the last eight years he has been a resident of Grinnell. He was an active Christian worker during his entire life. For many years he was a Deacon in the Cedar Rapids Congregational Church and later served several years as Superintendent of the Sunday School and Elder in the Presbyterian Church at Greenfield.