Joseph Pierce

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: ANDERSON, DESHAZIER, LANHAM, PIERCE, WEEKS

JOSEPH PIERCE, a native of Bullitt County, Ky., is now a highly respected resident of Harwood Township, in possession of a good farm embracing 120 acres of land in a thorough state of cultivation. He was in early life trained to habits of industry, and his property has been accumulated solely through his own exertions.

Our subject was born Jan. 1, 1821, and was the third child of John and Matilda (WEEKS) PIERCE, natives of the Old Dominion. His father followed farming all his life and spent his days in the State which gave him birth. Joseph remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, and then going into Washington county, Ky., engaged as a farm laborer for a year. He then took a contract to make 16,000 rails at thirty-seven and one-half cents per hundred. After the completion of this, he followed teaming one winter and in the spring began laying his plans for the establishment of a home and domestic ties. On the 14th of December, 1842, he was married to Miss Margaret M. LANHAM, who was a native of his own State, and the second child of John and Ellen LANHAM, also natives of the Blue Grass State.

Our subject and his wife soon after their marriage, located on a farm in Marion County, Ky., which they occupied for five years following. Mr. Pierce then determined upon a removal to the West, and coming into Greene County, Ill., purchased a farm of 150 acres east of Kane. He occupied this for a period of fifteen years, in the meantime redeeming the land from its original condition and building up a good homestead. In 1864, however, receiving a good offer to sell, he disposed of his property and returned to his native State, where he purchased 113 acres of improved land in Washington County. He remained there five years, but there was a charm about the prairies of Illinois which led him westward once more. Coming to this county he purchased eighty acres on section 16, in Harwood Township, to which he soon afterward added forty acres, making 120, which constitutes his present homestead. He also owns 100 acres in section 20.

Mr. Pierce has been fairly prospered in his labors, but himself and his wife have met with severe affliction in the loss of seven of the ten children who came to brighten their home and which they had hoped would all remain with them until their labors on earth had ceased. Those whom they laid away in sorrow and with tears were, Margaret M., John Henry, Cedonia, William Edward, Matilda Jane, Harriett Ann and Franklin. Of those living Angeline became the wife of William DESHAZIER, a prosperous farmer of Harwood Township, owning a homestead near his father-in-law, and they have one child, Jessie; Elvina is the wife of Charles ANDERSON, who occupies a portion of the home farm; they have three children—Ellen G., Margaret M., and Josephine. Joseph is the youngest son and is at home with his parents.

Mr. Pierce devotes his entire attention to the raising of grain. He is Democratic in politics but takes no active part otherwise then depositing his vote as a dutiful citizen on election day. He has frequently served his township as Road Commissioner and his district as School Director, but has never aspired to political offices. He has in all respects built up a record as an honest man and a good citizen, and in return is rewarded with the sincere respect and esteem of his neighbors. Mrs. Pierce is a member of the Catholic Church at Rantoul. A lithographic view of the pleasant home of Mr. Pierce is shown elsewhere in this work.