Daniel W. Pierce and Family (2024)

DANIEL W. PIERCE FAMILY.

Dear Bill:

I recently received a phone call from Jeff Wampler, 1007 Grand Street,Winfield, KS 67156, Phone (316) 221-1770, inquiring for information aboutan ancestor of his, Daniel W. Pierce. Mr. Wampler told me that he used tolive in Arkansas City before moving to Winfield. He promised to send mea letter relative to Mr. Pierce. I received it today. I was able to furnishhim some information relative to Pierce, but I did not have too much through1884 Winfield newspaper. MAW July 25, 2000

Mr. Wampler wrote the following: "Am not sure what paper this articlewas from, but believe it to be from the Winfield Courier, as it states theeditor of the Courier wrote it. Clipping belonged to Thelma Pierce Poteet,now in possession of her nephew, Don Faubion."

[I have taken the liberty of correcting spelling mistakes, etc. MAW]

DANIEL W. PIERCE.

The sudden and unexpected death of D. W. Pierce was a great shock toall his friends. And thus passed another of the men whose lives have beenindelibly stamped upon the history of Cowley County. No man was held inhigher esteem than Dan Pierce. Scrupulously honest, clear headed in judgment,able and patriotic, he was looked to for counsel and advice. For twelveyears he served the county on its board of County Commissioners with abilityand rare judgment. Many of the policies he inaugurated are still and alwayswill be applied to county affairs. It is with a deep feeling of sorrow andpersonal bereavements that the editor of the Courier writes these lines—forto him D. W. Pierce embodied all the best qualities of friendship, of characterand of loyalty to his county, his state, and his country.

Mr. Wampler also sent a copy of a letter from Mr. Sheldon.

Letter from W. H. Sheldon.

I received a copy of your letter with the sudden death of D. W. Pierce,who was a companion of many years, from childhood. Went to same schools,grew up as brothers. When of age we took a notion of the west; bought alight rig and started from Waterloo, Wisconsin, to Waterloo, Iowa. Weathergetting cold, we bent our way south through Des Moines, Iowa; Columbus,Nebraska; and on through to St. Mary’s Mission, Kansas, where we soldour rig to the Indian agent. This was winter of 1869. We wintered in Topekaand in spring took train to Emporia, then the last railroad station. Fromthere we hoofed it down the Cottonwood and Neosho River, landing on thewest bank of the Walnut river near where afterwards we took 320 acres, andto decide which should have choice, Dan threw up the chip and I took dryand drew the west 160, which I afterwards sold to Dan, the railroad cuttingmy 160 through cornerways, spoiling it for a farm of itself. At this timethe settlers were thick in numbers, some settling before the survey andwhen surveyed some two and three on one claim. Then came the contest. Theyall had cattle, but no money. Someone found that one might have some moneyand offered us a bonus of so much for thirty or sixty days, which figuredout 120 percent. We were not capitalists but we accommodated a few of them.The principal buildings at Winfield at this time were a two-story log tradingpost owned and run by Merris and Hunt, who offered to relinquish 320 acreswhere Winfield stands for $300. We remained until fall of 1870. Proved upon our land, went back to Wisconsin, heavier in experience but very muchlighter in weight, some 80 lbs. Sent a man by name of Walters fourteen mileswith yoke of Texas oxen for a two-gallon of stimulant to get us to the railroadstation, arrived home, and in 1872 I came to South Dakota. Dan stayed inWisconsin a few years, then took his family to Seeley, Cowley County, againand remained.

The news of his sudden death was a great shock to myself and family.One who has a friend like D. W. Pierce could always depend on the best fromhim, kind to all, ready to stretch forth to assist all distressed, strictlyreliable, true to his country, a Civil war veteran, an even disposition,a friend to all. If the world was made up of men like D. W. Pierce, it wouldbe very much better. Cowley County has lost a valued friend.

Regards to all his friends.

Respectfully yours,

W. H. Sheldon

Parker, S. D.

Dec. 29, 1919

I am puzzled about reference to "two-story log trading post ownedand run by Merris and Hunt." Was Sheldon referring to "old logstore" started by Manning and Baker?

Perhaps if you seek help from those interested in Cowley County history,we can find out more. I would like very much to assist Mr. Wampler, if thatis possible.

Attached are the pages containing the information I was able to findabout D. W. Pierce.

MAW

At first C. C. Pierce was the only Pierce I found in Winfield Courier.

Finally, Daniel W. Pierce began to appear...MAW July 11, 2000.

Kansas 1875 Census Ninnescah Township, CowleyCounty, March 1, 1875.

Name age sex color Place/birth Where from

D. W. Pierce 28 m w Vermont Wisconsin

Minerva Pierce 24 f w Wisconsin Wisconsin

Cora Pierce 2 f w Wisconsin Wisconsin

[FEBRUARY 1871] PAGE 208.

DANIEL W. PIERCE was president of the board of county commissioners ofCowley County. He was a resident of the county since February, 1871, livingin section 14, Ninnescah Township.

Daniel W. Pierce was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, January 21, 1847,a son of Willard A. Pierce.

Willard A. Pierce was a lifelong farmer, who in 1854 left Vermont andmoved to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he took up a farm near the villageof Waterloo. There he lived until his death, in 1868. He married Mary J.Northrop, who died in 1898, while residing with a son in the northern partof Kansas. They were the parents of seven children.

1. Alvira, who was the wife of T. W. Carter, of Jefferson County, Wisconsin.

2. Charles, who was a merchant at Boise City, Idaho.

3. Daniel W.

4. Ida, who was the wife of A. Thompson, employed by the Fisher-BowmanMining Company, of Boise City, Idaho.

5. Clara, who was the wife of A. A. Fisher, manager of the same company—Fisher-BowmanMining Company, Boise City, Idaho.

6. Albert, who was a farmer in the northern part of Kansas.

7. Abbie, who was the wife of A. Dewey, a retired farmer of Dane County,Wisconsin.

Mr. Pierce attended school at Waterloo, Wisconsin, and remained underthe parental roof until he attained the age of twenty-four years.

With William Sheldon, he drove through to Iowa, thence to Nebraska, andfinally to Kansas. In February, 1871, he took up his present home, althoughhe did not move upon it until 1873. In 1880 he bought 160 acres in the sectionwest of his home, and 80 acres in section 23, which were taken up by a Mr.Wells. The last named place contained an orchard and a small house, and50 acres of it had been broken, while the other farm contained no improvementswhatever. Mr. Pierce set about improving his farm and it became second tonone. The buildings were good and substantial, and the place had an appearancedenoting a thrifty and enterprising owner. His present home was completedin 1899, at a cost of $1700. He was a large producer of grain and feed,and raised large numbers of hogs and cattle.

Mr. Pierce formed a matrimonial alliance with Minerva Thompson, of DaneCounty, Wisconsin, a daughter of Harrison and Adeline Thompson. This unionresulted in the birth of the following children: Cora, who was the wifeof T. Stone, and died aged twenty-one years; Olive; Oscar; Herbert; andMary.

Mr. Pierce was a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting at the age of seventeenin Company H, 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery; he served one year, or untilthe end of the war.

Politically, Mr. Pierce was a Republican; he was elected to various townshipoffices. He served as township trustee; on the school board; and since 1896held the position as president of the board of county commissioners.

He was an active member of Lodge No. 408, I. O. O. F., of Udall, Kansas.Religiously, he favored the United Brethren Church.

Winfield Courier, December 17, 1874.

Dec. 12th, 1874.

The citizens of Ninnescah Township met pursuant to a call of the Trusteeto organize an aid society and elect a committee to cooperate with the CowleyCounty Relief Association in procuring aid for the needy.

The officers of the Ninnescah Aid Society are Pres., Dr. A. C. Capper;Vice Pres., D. W. Pierce; Sec., P. W. Smith; Treas., F. D. Davis. Committeeconsisting of T. Walker, A. D. Wood, and P. W. Smith.

The following resolutions were adopted, to-wit:

1st. Resolved, That this committee report immediately to the CowleyCounty Relief Committee at Winfield.

2nd. That this committee canvass the township within the next five daysto ascertain the exact number of destitute in the township.

3rd. That the proceedings of their meeting be furnished to the WinfieldCOURIER and Telegram for publication. P. W. SMITH, Sec.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1878.

Among the substantial citizens of Cowley County who have favored theCOURIER in the past few days by payments on subscription, are, D. S. Brown,W. H. Denning, W. W. Bush, D. Thompson, R. W. Anderson, George Walker, N.B. Sipe, B. Alexander, W. Christopher, J. J. Christopher, E. Wilson, L.Prickett, A. Booth, F. M. Savage, E. Pate, H. L. Barker, J. M. Harcourt,J. M. Rosson, A. D. Edwards, R. R. Longshore, J. F. Lacey, T. R. Carson,A. E. Silliman, R. White, W. H. Hartman, M. S. Troxel, Warren Wood, B. F.Saunders, J. J. Michener, C. R. Myles, J. H. Lee, W. A. Butterfield, J.H. Beckley, W. H. Gilliard, S. B. Littell, P. W. Crawford, W. H. Melville,D. W. Pierce, J. W. Haynes, J. Nixon,

A. J. Pickering, Joel Mason, Daniel Kempton, H. S. Brooking, P. Buckley,J. R. Scott, W. C. Briant, J. J. Johnson, S. Pennington, J. Shaw, R. Gilstrap,J. A. Goforth, S. W. Huff, L. Stout, and S. Cavanaugh. Thanks, gentlemen.

Note: Both C. C. Pierce and D. W. Pierce appear in next item...

[REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.]

Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.

The county central committee was chosen as follows.

Township Member P. O.

Beaver C. W. Roseberry Tannehill

Bolton J. D. Godfrey Arkansas City

Cedar James Utt Cedarvale

Cresswell C. R. Mitchell Arkansas City

Dexter H. C. McDorman Dexter

Harvey B. T. Smith Glen Grouse

Liberty Justus Fisher Winfield

Maple J. R. Moore Red Bud

Ninnescah Daniel Pierce Bushnell

Omnia A. S. Crow Baltimore

Otter C. R. Mills Cedarvale

Pleasant Valley C. C. Pierce Winfield

Richland D. C. Stephens Floral

Rock T. S. Green Rock

Sheridan H. C. Irwin Tisdale

Silver Creek A. P. Brooks Moscow

Silverdale B. C. French Silverdale

Spring Creek A. A. Wiley Maple City

Tisdale S. S. Moore Tisdale

Vernon J. B. Evans Winfield

Walnut S. E. Burger Winfield

Windsor Wright Martin Lazette

Winfield City W. O. Johnson Winfield

The convention adjourned with three cheers for the whole ticket.

[REPORT FROM HALL.]

Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880.

At a meeting of the council last week, it was decided by a unanimousvote of the board not to admit any saloons to our peaceful little city.

Public necessity demands a bridge over the Walnut river at Morton &Picket’s mills. Said mills are now ready for grinding both wheat andcorn.

Mr. Reader is erecting a large blacksmith and wagon shop on Johnson’saddition.

Mr. Henry Irvington is excavating the cellar for a business block onthe same addition.

Mr. James Hollister, of this township, recently gained ten pounds inone day. It was a boy.

Mr. R. F. Kimbrough of Goldore, took in this city Friday last. He declares"all bets off."

Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Martin, of Cowley, were in the city Sunday last, theguests of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hall.

Mr. James Rothrock, of Winfield Township, gave our town a friendly callon Sunday.

MARRIED: At the residence of D. W. Pierce, on Sunday last, by SquireG. L. Cole, Mr. Sherman Thompson and Miss Maggie Seehorn, all of this township.

Winfield Courier, November 3, 1881.

Cowley County, Kansas, November A. D. 1881 Term.

CIVIL DOCKET - THIRD DAY.

F. E. Lewis vs. D. W. Pierce, administrator, et. al.

[OLD SOLDIERS OF NINNESCAH TOWNSHIP.]

Winfield Courier, November 3, 1881.

SEELEY, KAS, Oct. 29, 1881.

We, the veterans and old soldiers of the late war, met at Seeley forthe purpose of organizing a company to attend the Regimental Drill at WinfieldNov. 12th, 1881. The following officers were elected.

Captain: A. A. Jackson.

1st Lieutenant: H. H. Martin.

2nd Lieutenant: G. S. Cole.

1st Sergeant: D. W. Pierce.

2nd Sergeant: Jeff Hammond.

3rd Sergeant: Henry Reidell.

4th Sergeant: H. H. Crick.

5th Sergeant: Jacob Wolgamott.

1st Corporal: J. A. Hood.

2nd Corporal: Will Ratliff.

3rd Corporal: L. B. Goodrich.

4th Corporal: Jim Hubbard.

5th Corporal: J. H. Roach.

A meeting was appointed for Saturday, Nov. 5th, at 2 o’clock p.m.,all the veterans in the township are cordially pressed to be present. WM.SENSENEY, Clerk.

Winfield Courier, January 19, 1882.

SEELY, KANSAS, January 13, 1882.

The Crooked Creek Library Association held their third annual meetingJanuary 4th. House called to order by the Secretary, Mr. D. W. Pierce, chosenChairman pro tem.

Treasurer’s report read and adopted, and Librarian’s reportread and approved.

Officers elected for the coming year: Mr. D. W. Pierce, President; Mr.George S. Cole, Vice President; Bert Copple, Secretary; Mr. S. A. Hood,Treasurer; Mrs. J. N. Hood, Librarian; Mr. Geo. B. Cole, P. J. Copple, andJacob Hopkins, Library Committee; and Albert Pierce, L. H. Senseny, andMr. T. Thompson, Trustees.

Adjourned to meet the first Wednesday after the first Monday in April.

BERT COPPLE, Secretary.

[PAPER HAD SEELY. THIS WAS THE EARLY SPELLING FOR "SEELEY."]

Winfield Courier, February 16, 1882.

COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES.

COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS.

OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK, WINFIELD, KANSAS, JANUARY 7, 1882.

Among other proceedings had by the Board the following claims were actedupon as follows.

NINNESCAH.

Geo. S. Cole, Judge: $3.90

H. H. Martin, Judge: $2.00

W. A. Wood, Judge: $2.00

D. W. Pierce, Clerk: $2.00

Benjamin F. Turner, Clerk: $2.00

Winfield Courier, August 10, 1882.

RECAP OF REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION, HELD AT THE OPERA HOUSE IN WINFIELD,SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1882, AT 10:00 A..M., CALLED TO ORDER BY D. A. MILLINGTON,CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE.

66th REPRESENTATIVE CONVENTION: N. M. Chaffey, chairman; W. B. Weimer,secretary.

Delegates—

Ninnescah: J. A. Hood, Wm. Crawford, D. W. Pierce.

NORMAL TEACHERS—GRADE C.

Seeley: Gertrude McKinley; Clara V. Pierce; Lilly Perrin.

Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.

COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES...COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS GIVEN BY J. S. HUNT,COUNTY CLERK OF COWLEY COUNTY, CLAIMS SUBMITTED.

AM SKIPPING DOLLAR AMOUNTS WHICH VARIED FROM ABOUT $4.00 TO $38.40 FORJURORS AND FROM $2.00 TO $20.00 FOR TALESMAN.

JUROR: D. W. Pierce

Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.

Coroner’s Inquest.

DIED. The Coroner was called suddenly Tuesday morning to hold an inqueston the body of Mrs. Rachel Ann Cunningham, who dropped dead in her housein Ninnescah Township, Monday evening. The following jury was summoned:A. A. Jackson, E. H. Jones, Jesse Isenogle, John A. Hood, James Rothrock,D. W. Pierce. The investigation was careful and searching and the followingfacts were elicited. During the evening Mrs. Cunningham was very much excitedand used abusive language toward her husband, who was trying to quiet her.About eight o’clock she went out doors and soon Mr. Cunningham heardsomeone moaning and heard a fall. He sent one of the children out to seewhat was the matter. The child returned and said her mother had fallen down.Mr. Cunningham then went out and found her lying on her face. He pickedher up, brought her into the house, tried with camphor and water to restoreher, and finding it was of no use, sent for the neighbors. A post mortemexamination was made by Dr. Emerson, who ascertained that her death hadbeen caused by heart disease, and the jury found a verdict in accordancetherewith. Mrs. Cunningham was about forty years old and leaves five children.

Winfield Courier, July 5, 1883.

D. W. Pierce brought in last Saturday some corn stalks raised near theArkansas in this county which are beginning to tassel and are ten feet highto the end of the tassel. He has 65 acres all nearly as good as the samplesbrought us, and as much more not quite so good.

Winfield Courier, October 18, 1883.

Recap: In matter of Estate of William Frier, Deceased. D. W. Pierce tobe Administrator of Estate. W. P. Hackney, Attorney for Administrator. Tobe considered first Monday of January, A. D., 1884; Friday, January 5; Friday,January 11.

Winfield Courier, January 17, 1884.

Commissioners Proceedings.

The viewers’ report on S. H. Harbour and D. W. Pierce county roadswere approved.

[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING.]

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

Commissioners’ Proceedings.

The Board of County Commissioners were in session last week, and groundout an unusual amount of business.

Hearing of application of Justice Hollister for damages in the D. W.Pierce Co. road was set for July 2^nd.

[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.]

Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.

THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

What was Done at its last Quarterly Session, Beginning July 7th.

A careful examination of the assessors’ enumeration of inhabitantsof the county was made and the Board found that the population of the countywas 26,137.

The J. A. Elliot, H. J. Sandfort, N. R. Penny, E. B. Stowe county roadpetitions were laid over to the October session of the Board.

Philo Kent was allowed $35 damages in J. B. Taylor county road.

The viewers’ report in H. Ireton county road was adopted and damagesawarded.

J. Hollister was allowed $35 damages in location of the D. W. Piercecounty road; also damages $35 allowed Solomon Schammahorn in W. S. Rigdoncounty road.

[JURY LIST.]

Winfield Courier, August 14, 1884.

The drawing of the petit jury resulted in the selection of the following.

Ninnescah. D. W. Pierce.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.

REPUBLICANS IN COUNCIL. THE TICKET COMPLETED.

The county convention met pursuant to call, and was called to order byD. A. Millington, chairman of county central committee. After the readingof the call by the secretary, E. A. Henthorn, of Silver Creek Township,was nominated for temporary chairman and E. G. Gray, of Creswell Township,for temporary secretary.

The report of the committee on credentials was then submitted, and thefollowing parties reported as entitled to seats in the convention.

NINNESCAH. H. H. Martin, G. S. Cole, D. W. Pierce.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.

D. W. Pierce and wife came down from Seeley and spent Saturday and Sundaywith J. S. Rothrock’s family. D. W. is one of Cowley’s oldestsettlers, coming to Kansas fifteen years ago, and located on the farm thathe now lives on. His farm contains 320 acres, all of which is in high stateof cultivation. He has made his farm just what it is and he has around himstock of all kinds. When the writer first knew him, he had one cow and shewas blind, and on the night of the 11th of June, 1878, she drowned in CrookedCreek, leaving him without a cow. He now has forty head of cows, fifteenor twenty young cattle, and is prosperous in all things.