Blackford County Biography Ref. Page

BRUCE L. PIERCE. This enterprising young merchant of Jonesboro represents the younger generation of a family which became established in this community during the early days, and is the son of the late Edward N. Pierce, who recently died after a career of twenty-five years, which made him one of the most successful men of Grant county. The grocer store operated by Bruce Pierce was established and its trade largely built up by his father, and it is easily one of the best stores of its kind in the entire county, only one other larger so far as known. Its present location is at the corner of Main and Fifth streets. The business was begun by Edward N. Pierce in 1888 at what was then known as the "Blue Front." The beginning of that business began shortly after the marriage of Mr. Pierce and he and his wife had just one hundred dollars in capital. They started out with a bakery and small restaurant, to which afterwards was added a stock of groceries. It is said that the late Mr. Pierce spent all his nights in baking, and in the day time helped about the restaurant. Only a few hours every morning were spent in sleep, and as he kept this up for some years until his business was established on a substantial basis, it proved undoubtedly permanently injurious to his health. The bread and other products of the Pierce ovens had a great popularity and were bought and consumed by residents all about Jonesboro in a radius of ten miles. In 1890 Edward Pierce, in partnership with his father-in-law, Joel Koppeck, built the Pierce & Koppeck Block, two stories high, of brick, and one of the best buildings in the town. After the building was completed, Mr. Pierce and Mr. Koppeck started a general merchandise store in partnership. In a few years Mr. Pierce had finished paying out on his store building, and a few years later Cyrus L. Koppeck, a son of the elder Koppeck, became his partner. In 1900 the younger Koppeck employed one of the storerooms for a meat market, and Mr. Pierce then became sole proprietor of the grocery end of the business. In 1907 Bruce Pierce became associated with his father, being given a third interest, and in 1912 acquired half of the business, and for the past five years has been the active manager of the store. Since his father's death on July 19, 1913, the mother has continued to retain the other half interest, but Mr. Bruce Pierce is the active and responsible manager. In the display of his merchandise and its storage he uses the basement, ground floor and second floor, and also uses one floor in the adjoining building, the original Koppeck part of the block. As a grocery establishment, this is now the oldest under one continuous management in the county, and their selection and extent of stock and facilities of trade, it is not excelled by any other establishment in the county.

Edward N. Pierce, whose death removed so prominent a business man from Jonesboro, was a noteworthy character, and a man whose experiences and accomplishments in life were much out of the common-place routine of most men. He was born in a log cabin on Main street in Jonesboro, December 19, 1855. He was a son of Dr. Levi and______(Ensminger) Pierce, both of whom died when he was a young boy, so that he had to make his own way in the world. His father was born in Virginia, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, while the mother was chiefly of Irish stock. Dr. Pierce was educated in Virginia, and prepared for his profession, was married there, and in the latter part of the forties settled at Jonesboro. There his first wife died, when Edward was a child, and the doctor took a second wife. Dr. Pierce died at Jonesboro when nearly eighty years of age, and for many years had played the part of the old-time country doctor, a man whose kindly and ready counsel and professional skill were ever at the service of his patrons, no matter where they lived, and no matter what obstacles were interposed between the doctor and patient.

Edward N. Pierce having left home about the time of the Civil war found employment at first with a Mr. Charles Ink, in the country, and worked for his board and clothes and ten dollars in cash for one entire year. Somewhat later he changed employers, and Samuel Mart took him into his home and accorded him such treatment as is seldom read of except in old-fashioned sea-tales, when the cabin boys and sailors before the mast were treated with the utmost brutality and severity by their superiors. Edward Pierce was by no means lacking in spirit, and finally revolted from his master, running away, first into the state of Virginia, and finally wandered about the country until he was in the southwestern and western states, and there began a long career of a cowboy. At one time he worked on a ranch owned by an Indian, and was in Missouri during the reign of the noted criminals, the James boys and the Ford gang. He had more or less of a personal acquaintance with these noted characters of the frontier, and his life as a cowboy brought him in contact with all the phases of western life, which has been written in books and familiarly depicted on canvas and on the stage. At the time of Mr. Pierce's death, the following anecdote was published as one which Mr. Pierce particularly enjoyed telling as a joke at his own expense: "One evening he rode seventeen miles to call on a young lady. While returning home late at night, through a wild lonesome country, his horse suddenly stopped and refused to go on. In looking around Mr. Pierce saw through the darkness what appeared to be a man on horseback. In the darkness only his white shirt bosom was visible. Mr. Pierce asked what he wanted and received no answer. After calling to the unknown several times and getting no reply he shouted that if he did not get out of the way he would shoot a hole through him. As the stranger did not budge, he pulled his revolver, and fired, then galloped home. The next day an advertisement appeared offering a reward of one hundred dollars for information regarding the person who shot the full-blooded mule with a spot of white on his forehead. Mr. Pierce had killed the mule.''

Mr. Pierce was about twenty-nine or thirty years of age when he finally abandoned the west, and returned to his old home in Jonesboro. Here he found that his father and his step-mother had both died, but he determined to make Jonesboro the scene of his permanent business career. When some years previously he had run away from his old tormentor, Samuel Mart, it was with the indignant comment that some day he would return and visit a just retribution for his cruel treatment. When he got back to Grant county he kept his word, and punished his old employer until the latter begged for mercy which was granted largely on account of his then advanced years. In 1888 Edward N. Pierce was married in Gas City to Miss Rachael Crockett. She was born, reared and educated in Grant county, and is still living, her home being on West Sixth street in Jonesboro, and she is now forty-eight years of age. As a young woman she taught school in this county. Her parents were Joel H. and Nancy (Pemberton) Crockett, who are still living in Jonesboro, which has been their home since before the Civil war. Joel Crockett was a veteran of the Union army, was a business man many years, and also held the office of justice of the peace. In politics the Pierces and the Crocketts were on both sides, the Crocketts having always been Republicans, while Edward N. Pierce was for many years a Democrat, until McKinley was candidate in 1896, and thereafter voted the Republican ticket. He was also a Blue Lodge Mason, belongs to the Subordinate and Encampment Degree of Odd Fellowship, and was prominent and popular both outside and inside fraternal ranks. The children of the late Mr. Pierce and wife are two sons, Wayne C., who was born in December, 1892, was educated in the Jonesboro high school and the Marion Business College later became associated with his father in the grocery trade, and was one of the partners in the large establishment at Jonesboro until his death on July 5, 1913, only a few days before the death of his father. He was married in October, 1912, to Miss Jessie Freeman, of Winnemac, Indiana. Since her husband's death, she has lived in Marion and is engaged in the business college in that city.

Bruce L. Pierce was born February 22, 1890, was educated in the Jonesboro high school, and attended the Marion Normal and Business College until the ill health of his father made it advisable for him to leave school and return home and assist in the store. He is one of the popular and prominent younger set of business men in Grant county and is well upholding the reputation of a good old name in Jonesboro.

On January 1, 1909, he married Miss Olive K. Schriber, who was born in West Virginia, November 29, 1888, was reared and educated in Jonesboro, and is the mother of two children: Virginia M., born November 7, 1909, and Linn E., born January 12, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are members of the Presbyterian church, he has membership on the town board, is a Republican in politics, and is a member of Jonesboro Lodge No. 109, A. F. & A. M.

"BLACKFORD AND GRANT COUNTIES INDIANA, A CHRONICLE OF THEIR PEOPLE PAST AND PRESENT WITH FAMILY LINEAGE AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS"; Complied Under the Editorial Supervision of BENJAMIN G. SHINN; vol. II ; THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY; CHICAGO AND NEW YORK; 1914
Submitted by:Peggy Karol and Karen Overholt

JOHN H. LAWSON. Among the prominent citizens of Grant county, Indiana, is John H. Lawson, the well known farmer of Sims township. He owns a large and prosperous farm and is also an owner of a fine real estate property at 811 Fifth street, Marion, Indiana. Mr. Lawson is of fine old Kentucky stock, although himself a native of Indiana, and he has been a farmer all of his life. He is highly respected throughout the township and is a man of considerable influence.

John H. Lawson was born in Rush county, Indiana, on the 27th of December, 1846, a son of Theodore and Rebecca (Pickerell) Lawson, both of whom were born and reared in the state of Kentucky. They were married in Rush county, Indiana, and in 1850 came to Grant county to live. Here Theodore Lawson entered land in Richland township and he lived there until during the later years of his life, after the death of his wife, when he made his home with his son, John, with whom he lived until he passed away. Theodore and Rebecca Lawson became the parents of four children, three of whom are now living, as follows: Elizabeth, who is the wife of David P. Draper, of Pleasant township; E. F. Lawson, who married Helena Mower and lives in Sweetser, Indiana; John H., and Frances J., who was the wife of Christian Shaffer.

John H. Lawson was reared in Richland township, attending the public schools of this township until he was fifteen years old. He did not receive a very thorough education for the schools in these early days were very crude and the life of the son of a backwoods farmer was filled to the brim with the many tasks that fell to the lot of a boy. After he became a man he continued along the lines for which he had been trained and became a farmer. He now owns 151 20/100 acres of land and is a general farmer and stock raiser. He also owns property on Fifth street in Marion. All of this he has gained through his own labor with the exception of about $1,400, his share of his father's estate.

Mr. Lawson has always been a member of the Democratic party, but he has never cared to hold office. His only fraternal allegiance is with the Knights of Pythias, his affiliations being with Swayzee lodge, No. 451.

Mr. Lawson was married to Miss Sarah Canady in 1872, and seven children were born of this union, two of whom are now living, namely: Emma, who is a graduate of the common schools and the wife of James Fear, of Marion, Indiana, and Ada, who married Charles Carver, of Kokomo, Indiana. Sarah Lawson, Mr. Lawson's first wife, died in 1905, and Mr. Lawson married Miss Mollie Sullivan in 1907. Mrs. Mollie Lawson was born in Wyandotte county, Ohio, and did not come to Grant county until after her marriage. She was educated in a Roman Catholic school at Cleveland, Ohio. The Lawson farm is located on section one, of Sims township, one mile east and four miles north of Swayzee, Indiana.

ELI ALLEN. In writing of the life and career of Eli Allen it is fitting and proper that mention should be made of such others of his family as have in recent generations, in the direct line, added their share to the development and upbuilding of the communities wherein they have lived. The first of the name to come to Indiana, was Hugh Allen, the great-grandfather of Eli Allen, and he came here in 1815 from Blount county, Tennessee. Hugh Allen moved to Tennessee from North Carolina prior to the birth of William Allen the grandfather of Eli Allen. It is not now known where Hugh Allen first settled in Indiana, but he moved from place to place until about the year 1831 or 1832, when he lived in Wayne county, and he probably came to Grant county in 1833.

The family in North Carolina was one of the old Quaker ones, and they brought to their new home the faith of their fathers, in which many of the later generations have continued. But few facts relative to the early life of the first of the Grant County AlIens are available at this writing, but it is known that in 1811 William Allen was born in Blount county, Tennessee, and at the age of 20 or 21 he married Sarah Simons in Wayne county, Indiana, and they then came to Grant county perhaps in the year 1833; they entered on an 80 acre tract of land four miles northeast of what is now the Soldiers' Home. Residing there for a number of years when they sold their farm and bought another three miles directly east of the Soldiers' Home and it was at this place that James Allen, the father of Eli Allen was born, and when he (James Allen) was four years old, William Allen sold this farm and moved to Jackson township, Miami county, Indiana, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He was 74 years old when he died, and his wife had preceded him almost thirteen years prior to the date of his passing, being then about sixty years old. They were a fine old couple, claiming a host of stanch friends in the county of their adoption, and they had twelve children. James Allen, who became the father of Eli Allen of this review, was the eighth child in this goodly family.

James Allen was born in Center township, Grant county, in July, 1847. He was yet a small boy when the family moved to Miami county and bought a farm of fifty acres, and he grew up on that place. When he came of age, he returned to Grant county and was married in Back Creek Friends' church to Mary Elliott, a native daughter of the county and the daughter of Exum and Ruth (Thomas) Elliott, Quakers of Grant county, Indiana, Exum Elliott being reared on what is now the Soldiers' Home, and Ruth Thomas being reared on an adjoining farm.

Exum and Ruth Elliott were united in marriage in the Mississinewa Friends' church, Grant county, and she died here in the full bloom of her young womanhood, being not more than twenty-three at the time of her passing. She left two daughters, one of them now the widow of James Allen, and Olive being the second one, who married Ancel Wilsey, now living in Texas. Both daughters are yet living.

Following the death of his young wife, Exum Elliott married Hannah Morris, and she died one year later without issue. A third time did Mr. Elliott marry, Huldah Knight becoming his wife, and they lived for years on the farm owned by Eli Allen of this review. Exum Elliott died in 1892 at the age of sixty-seven, having survived his third wife by six years. He was a devout Quaker all his life, and each of his wives were likewise stanch adherents of the faith.

After the marriage of James and Mary (Elliott) Allen, they lived intermittently in Grant, Miami and Tipton counties. In the latter named county they owned a tile mill and when they moved from Tipton county they took up their abode in Grant county. Here Mr. Allen spent his closing years of life on a Mill township farm, death claiming him on December 18, 1885. He was a birthright Quaker firm in his convictions, and a stanch Republican until the birth of the Prohibition party, when he turned his allegiance to that as the political organization best expressing his ideals. His widow, who yet survives him, makes her home with their son, Eli Allen, and despite advancing years, she is yet alert and active. She was born in 1847 and is a birthright Quaker, as was her husband. She became the mother of seven children, briefly named here as follows: Eli, of this brief family sketch; Ruth, who died at the age of sixteen months; Sarah, the wife of David Pearson, now living in Oregon in the vicinity of Salem, and the mother of Cecil, Gerald and Ernest. The two children next in order of birth died in infancy, and they were followed by Lucy, who died at the age of twenty-four. Nora is the wife of Elbert Douglas, and lives in Miami county, Indiana. They have three children,�Bernard, Elden and Willidene.

Eli Allen was born on the old homestead that is now a part of his farm, on June 3, 1871. He was reared in Miami county and in Tipton county to the age of about eleven years, then came with the family to Grant county and settled in Mill township on the place which is now his own property. His present farm consists of 105 acres, practically all of it subject to the plow, the few acres not under cultivation being covered with a growth of native timber. Fine farm buildings and a commodious dwelling house add much to the place, and Mr. Allen has a fine herd of Jersey cattle that are a source of pardonable pride with him. He is also considered one of the most successful men of the township, and has a secure position among the substantial and enterprising men here resident.

In 1897 Mr. Allen was married to Miss Idella Pearson, born in Miami county, Ohio, on February 20, 1873. She came to Grant county in girlhood and settled with her parents in Mill township. She is the daughter of John and Prudence (Pemberton) Pearson, both native Ohioans. The father died in Mill township at the early age of forty- six in 1877, and five years after that event his widow and children moved to Marshall county, Iowa, where she married Ruphas Chadwick. He died there some years later, without issue, and his widow moved to Salem, Oregon, where she now lives at the age of seventy-seven.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen have four children. John J., the eldest, is now in his freshman year at Fairmount Academy. B. Verlou is attending school in the home community, as are also Orville E. and Ruth. All four of the children are birthright Friends, and the parents are also members of the Friends church. Mr. Allen is a Prohibitionist of sturdy conviction, and is of the most excellent standing in his community.

OLIVER S. DAVIS. Prominent among the most estimable and prosperous farming men of Center township and one who has performed a worthy work in advancing the development of the rural districts, a work which was begun by his parents over a half century ago, Oliver S. Davis is a Grant county citizen whose career cannot fail to add a measure of completeness to the biographical contents of this publication. A native son of the county, all his busy life has been spent within its borders, and he is widely known as the proprietor of Walnut Grove Farm and as a breeder of thoroughbred Holstein Friesian cattle.

Oliver S. Davis was born in Liberty township, Grant county, Indiana, November 9, 1851, and is a son of George and Charlotte (Baldwin) Davis. His father, a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, accompanied his parents to Wayne county, Indiana, when he was eight years old, while the mother was three months old when her parents left North Carolina, where she was born, and settled in Wayne county. Both parents were therefore reared in the latter locality, and were married there December 15, 1841. About seven years after their marriage they moved to Grant county, and arriving in the wilderness of woods and on August 12, 1848, began their residence in a log cabin home. Though for some years they lived with pioneer simplicity and in the midst of a crude and primitive environment, they enjoyed a happy, contented and industrious life. Their home was in the midst of the woods, and for days at a time the howling of the wolves among the trees was ever present. The location which they had first chosen in Liberty township, with constantly growing and increasing improvements and comforts, continued to be the abiding place of the family until the parents finished their earthly pilgrimage. The father died on July 23, 1901, aged eighty-three years, two months and eleven days, and his loved and faithful wife had preceded him on December 6, 1882, aged fifty-nine years, six months and twenty-five days. They were active, sturdy people, and their rugged out-door life doubtless contributed to their length of days, and they enjoyed a splendid measure of health and strength unto the last. Both were members of the Friends church, and the life they led exemplified the simplicity and beauty of their faith. They became the parents of ten children, five of whom are living at this writing, as follows: William F. Davis, of Fairmount, Indiana; Oliver S., of Marion, Indiana; Nathan F., also of Fairmount; Catherine, the wife of E. R. Neal, of Liberty township; and Joseph E., of Liberty township.

Oliver S. Davis was reared in Liberty township and as a boy attended the district schools. He shared in the strenuous work of clearing up the farm where his father had settled, and as the years went by he devoted much of his time to the development of the place. He continued to be his father's assistant until he married, when he rented a forty-acre tract and worked it for one year, and then bought it outright. Since then his prosperity has been on the steady increase, and from time to time he has acquired other lands sufficient to bring his holdings up to ninety-one acres, with an interest in a place of ninety acres in Pleasant township.

Mr. Davis is a practical and business like farmer, and in many ways has demonstrated his capacity as a successful agriculturist. In the breeding of Holstein Friesian cattle he has accomplished considerable in the way of raising the standard for dairy cows in this district, some of his herd being of pure blood, while others are of high grade, and he has found that the best stock pays better dividends than the inferior cattle which some years ago ruled as the favorite among general farmers. The leader of his herd is a registered Holstein bull, said to be one of the best of its breed in Grant county. The success of Mr. Davis has from time to time been measured in terms of practical additions to his farming plant and his home. In 1897 he built a fine barn, and in the following year constructed the comfortable frame residence in which he and his family reside. These improvements were followed in 1899 by the erection of a substantial tenant house on the farm, and in 1905 he erected another residence. His most recent improvement was the building in 1911 of a thousand dollar dairy barn on the farm in Pleasant township.

As a member of the State Grange, Mr. Davis has long been active in Grange affairs, and through that organization has done munch to advance community welfare. He is Republican in politics, but gives only the attention of a good citizen to such matters. He and his family follow the example set by the earlier members and adhere to the Friends church.

On March 14, 1872, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Evangeline Jay, who was born in Mill township, daughter of Denny and Annie (Coggshall) Jay. Mr. Davis and wife have three living children: Herman L., a graduate of the local schools, married Rosamond Cary, and their seven children are Gail, Miriam Marie, George Russell, Anna J., Homer E., Herbert Paul, and Arthur M.; Melvin, the second son, died August 5, 1880; Harvey W., is the third of the family; and Ida F., the fourth, makes her home with her parents. Herman L. and Harvey W. Davis attended the Marion Normal Institute. Ida F. Davis graduated from the common schools.

The Davis family, through their long association with this community, occupy a high place in the esteem and regard of the best people in the county.

WILLIAM H. ANDERSON. For a quarter of a century the late William H. Anderson was a resident and active business man of Marion. His was from every point of view a successful career, and his death on July 19, 1913, was a distinct loss to the business, civic and social welfare of the city. For a number of years Mr. Anderson had been vice president of the Grant Trust Company, and was recognized as a man of unusual business ability, with the judgment and energy to carry out all his plans. Both for what he did and for what he was William H. Anderson will long be remembered in this community.

William H. Anderson was born at Logansport, Indiana, where the family were pioneer settlers on the third of January, 1851, and was sixty-three years of age at his death. His parents were Peter and Margaret (Wright) Anderson, the former a native of the state of Maryland, and the latter born at Greencastle, Indiana. Peter Anderson came to Logansport in 1829, was one of the pioneer merchants of that city, and lived there until his death in 1868. His widow died there in 1884.

Mr. Anderson grew up at Logansport, had a public school education, and early in his career engaged in the livery business. That was his vocation until 1888, in which year he established his home at Marion and engaged in the electric light and heating business. His interests increased and he prospered steadily, and in 1902 he gave up his management of most of his other affairs and became connected with the Grant Trust & Savings Company. His service with that company was continuous from 1902 until his death, and since 1905 he has been vice president. The late Mr. Anderson was active in affairs of a social and religious nature. He was treasurer of the Presbyterian church. His interest in affairs made him a member of the Masonic Order, in which he had taken thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite, and he was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics, while supporting the Republican party with considerable regularity, he never found time to accept any of the more conspicuous political honors.

Mr. Anderson was married in 1899, on the nineteenth of July, to Miss Nettie Cameron. Mrs. Anderson was born and reared in Marion, a daughter of Thomas Cameron, one of the well known residents of this county. Mrs. Anderson has no children, and now resides alone in her residence at 918 W. Fourth street.

Deb Murray