My Genealogy Hound

I. T. Peirce, a well-to-do farmer of Knox County, was born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1813, and is the eldest of eight children (six of whom survive) of Nathaniel and Phoebe (Waterman) Peirce, natives of Virginia and New York State. They were married in Ohio, where the father came when a boy, and the mother when grown. They finally settled in Athens County, where they remained until 1846, moving then to Adams County, Ill., where they lived upon a farm until their respective deaths, in 1865 and 187-. Our subject received a common-school education during his youth, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-one, although he still lived at home. He farmed principally until he became twenty-four years of age, when he was married, in 1837, to Mary Selby, a native of Ohio, who gave birth to four children. This lady died March 23, 1851, in Adams County, Ill. In the spring of 1870 our subject moved to Knox County, Mo., and located upon a farm he had purchased in Sections 5, 6 and 7, Town 61 north, Range 12 west, where he has since resided. January 12, 1853, he was united in marriage a second time, this lady being Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Sarah Thomas, which union was blessed with three children. The living children of our subject are Barker, Mary (wife of Samuel McNulty), E. O. and Josephine (wife of George Strickler), by his first wife; and Franklin, Ira and Isaac T., by his second. Mr. Peirce now owns a fine farm of 560 acres, nearly all cleared and improved, which is all the result of his own hands. In connection with agriculture, he deals quite extensively in stock, and has 100 head of cattle upon his farm at present. He is a well-respected and worthy citizen, and enjoys the confidence of all who know him. Previous to the war he was a Democrat, but is now identified with the Republican party.