Pierce, Otto W. (1852-1904)

PIERCE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 13:34:55

Otto W. Pierce
Apr 22, 1852 - June 23, 1904

(From the 1891 Biographical History of the Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.254)
O.W. PIERCE, one of the enterprising and successful citizens of Washington Township, came to Iowa in 1870 first settling in Mills County. He was born in Windsor County, Vermont, April 22, 1852, son of Albert A., who was a native of New Hampshire, and a son of Alpheus PIERCE who was born in Vermont. The PIERCE family is of Puritan ancestry and one of the ancestors was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The mother of our subject was Mary (McCOLLOUGH) PIERCE, who was born in New Hampshire, a daughter of John McCOLLOUGH, a native of southwestern Scotland, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Albert A. PIERCE and wife made their home in New York until their death, the mother dying in 1873 at the age of about 38 years, and the father in North Carolina while there on business. He was a tanner and currier by trade but later in life was engaged in traveling solicitor. Politically he was a Republican, and in religion was a member of the Presbyterian Church. The mother was a member of the Episcopal Church. They were the parents of two children: O.W., our subject, and Etta, who died at the age of 26 years.

O.W. PIERCE was raised in Vermont until 13 years of age, when he went to New York City and remained five years. At the age of 18 he came west to Iowa. While in New York City, he was engaged as clerk in a wholesale house, and his education was received mostly by attending night school in that city. In 1870 he settled in Mills County, Anderson Township, Iowa, and was engaged in farming there until 1877 when he purchased 120 acres of wild land in Washington Township, Pottawattamie County, where he has since resided. He now owns 280 acres, 200 of which is in one body, and the remainder is located a half mile north of section 12 and all is under a good state of cultivation. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising and has some thoroughbred stock of the highest grades. Mr. PIERCE was married in Mills County, Iowa, in 1877 to Miss Frances M. WILSON, a native of that county and daughter of William B. and Ann (WATSON) WILSON. The parents now reside in Mills County, near Hastings. Mrs. PIERCE was a successful teacher before her marriage. They have had six children: Fred Wilson, Edith May, Arthur Winfield, Edna Jenny, Leonard Albert, and William C., who died when a babe. Mrs. PIERCE died February 15, 1889; she was an affectionate wife and mother, and her death was a great loss to the family and her friends. She was reared in and was for several years connected with the Methodist Church. Politically Mr. PIERCE is a Republican and has served as Township Clerk and Assessor with credit to himself and the best interests of the township.