For a long period of fifty-six years Andrew Pierce has now been a resident of Cedar county and with its agricultural development and improvement he was actively identified for many years, but has now laid aside all labor and is living retired in Tipton. A native of Ohio, he was born about twelve miles south of Mansfield, in Richland county, July 7,1834, his parents being Dennis C. and Mary (Pollock) Pierce, also natives of the Buckeye state. At an early day the family came to Iowa and the father died near Le Claire about forty years ago, having contracted cholera while away from home hunting horses. The mother’s death occurred near Carson in Pottawattamie county when nearly ninety years of age.
In their family were eight children, of whom Andrew is the eldest. Elizabeth, the second in order of birth, married George Williams and is now deceased. Hannah M. is the widow of George Bolton, of Pottawattamie county, Iowa. James and Aaron are twins. The latter, who is a resident of Woodbine, Harrison county, Iowa, served in the Civil war as a member of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry and for eight months was confined in Andersonville prison. James died about a year ago at Stuart, Iowa. Sarah J., deceased, was the wife of Andy Bolton. Ann is the wife of Alfred Long, of Tiffin, Iowa. Dennis K., of Polk county, Nebraska, completes the family.
In the state of his nativity Andrew Pierce spent the first nineteen years of his life and on leaving there in 1853 removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where the following year was passed. It was in 1854 that he accompanied the family on their removal to Tipton, Iowa, and he has since been a resident of Cedar county. His father died in the summer of 1855 and, being the oldest of the family, he had to assist his mother in caring for the children. Up to the time of the Civil war he engaged in farming, working for others by the month for some time.
Feeling that his country needed his services Mr. Pierce enlisted August 8, 1862, at Tipton, becoming a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and after three years spent at the front was honorably discharged at Davenport, May 4, 1865, at which time he was serving as orderly sergeant. He had received, however, a second lieutenant’s commission, but owing to a lack of men, was not mustered in as such. He received a gunshot wound in the right hip at Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864, and was in the hospital when he received his discharge. Being home on recruiting service one winter, he missed one engagement in which his company took part, but participated in all others, being wounded at the last battle in which they took part. He was in the Vicksburg campaign and accompanied Banks to New Orleans and on the Red River expedition. He was also with Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley and was always found at his post of duty.
Returning home, Mr. Pierce resumed farming on York Prairie and continued to engage in that pursuit until two years ago, when he retired from active life and removed to Tipton. In his farming operations he met with excellent success, becoming the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fairfield township, but on his removal to Tipton disposed of half of that property and purchased his present home on the east side of Court Square. He was an energetic and progressive farmer and in his business affairs was always upright and honorable.
It was on the 3d of July, 1865, that Mr. Pierce was united in marriage to Miss Julia M. Lyle, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, August 25, 1846, but was only three years of age when brought to Cedar county, Iowa, by her parents, John C. and Clarissa (Brealey) Lyle. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Ohio and both are now deceased. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are as follows: Jessie May, who died in infancy; Franklin, who is living two miles and a half west of Tipton; Charles K., whose home is near Springdale; Bessie R., at home; William, who lives on his father’s farm five miles northeast of Tipton; Clarissa B., the wife of Bruce Hagerty, of Tipton; and William and one other who died in infancy.
In his political affiliations Mr. Pierce is an ardent republican, having always supported that party since he attained his majority. Religiously he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is an honored member of William Beaver Post, No. 110, G. A. R. During his long residence in this county he has made a host of warm friends and wherever known is held in the highest esteem.
