Andrew B. Pierce, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Andrew B. Pierce
ANDREW B. PIERCE.
Perhaps there is no name more familiar, or more favorably known to the people of Porter County, Indiana, than the one above mentioned. This is not alone due to the fact that the one to whom it belongs has been a resident of the county for about three score years, but the name has been very intimately associated with the moral, social, intellectual and financial growth of the county. In fact, the name of Andrew B. Pierce is to Porter County and Valparaiso what an heirloom is to a proud and deserving family. Mr. Pierce was born in Otsego County, New York, April 9, 1830, to Warner and Adelia (Beeman) Pierce, who were born in Otsego County, New York, and Connecticut, respectively. They resided in New York until after four children had been born to them, after which they resided for two years on the Maumee turnpike in Michigan. They then removed to LaPorte County and settled in the village of Door. From that place the family came to Porter County two years later (1834), and here Mr. Pierce took up a claim on Morgan Prairie and at once erected a double log house with a good cellar underneath, an excellent mansion for that day. At the time of their removal to Indiana there were many Indians in the neighborhood but they were generally kindly disposed and very seldom troublesome. The children born to them are as follows: Melissa, who died when about twenty-five years old; Alansing married Mary Winslow by whom he had seven children, and was killed by lightning when about thirty-five years old, while standing in the doorway of his home; Lucy Ann; Andrew B.; Florinda; Nettie; Avaline and Adelia who died quite young; and Cordelia, who died at about the age of twenty years, the wife of Edwin Canada. At the early age of fifteen years Andrew B. Pierce took up the burden of life by practically taking his father's place in the family, as the head of the house died at the early age of forty-five years. He remained with and assisted his mother until he was about twenty-eight years of age, and was then married to Mary E. Johnston, a daughter of Judge Jesse Johnston, whose son William was Judge of the Common Pleas Court and is now one of the prominent lawyers of Valparaiso. To Andrew Pierce and his wife the following children were born: Angeline and Alfonsine (twins), both of whom died in infancy; Leroy; William; Lena; John, who died at the age of seventeen at Colorado Springs, Colorado; Jessie, and an infant boy who died very young. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce resided on the home farm until their children had reached maturity and the place is now occupied by their son William, who married Mary Finland, and their five children: Genevra, Gracie, Arthur, Harry, and Blanchie. Leroy Pierce married Cartha E. Jones; they have no family. She is the daughter of John P. Jones, who enlisted in the Federal army during the Rebellion, fought bravely in defence of the old flag and finally died in the service of his country. The Jones family is well known as one the earliest and most respected in Porter County. Mr. Pierce was left a widower on the 28th of August, 1888, his wife having reached the age of fifty years. Very soon after this sad event Mr. Pierce moved to Valparaiso, to the home which they had been fitting up for their future occupancy on East Main Street, but in 1891 he erected another house at 103 East Main Street, in which he is now living. He is now living with his second wife, Ella Clark, formerly the daughter of Andrew and Sibbie A. (Robinson) Clark. Owing to the fact that he had early to begin the burdens and duties of life, his educational advantages were limited, but in later years he acquired a good degree of learning from extensive and varied reading. Mr. Pierce is a Baptist, as were his parents before him, and also adheres to the same political faith as did his ancestors and is a Democrat. He is highly esteemed by all and his walk through life has been a strictly honorable and upright one.
Source: Goodspeed Brothers. 1894. Pictorial and Biographical Record of La Porte, Porter, Lake and Starke Counties, Indiana. Chicago, Illinois: Goodspeed Brothers. 569 p.
Page(s) in Source: 186-188
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook