The Newtown bee., 1893-03-31
South Britain.
THE LATE JOHN PIERCE,
Who Died at His Home at South Britain, Feb- ruary 24, 1S93.-Appreciativ Tribute by Rev s. M. Keeler of Jeffersonville. Ct.

Who Died at His Home at South Britain, Feb-
 ruary 24, 1s93.-Appreciative Tribute by Rev
 s. M. Keeler of Jeffersonville. Ct.
 The late MT Pierce was born near the spot on which he died, May 3l, 1889. and had therefore almost completed his 54th year. He descended from a stall wart English stock. Tradition says that the pleasant valley, called Pierce's Hollow, was designedly passed by, as the Indians directed the early sestlers, who came up the Housatonic river, across the country to the north toward the site of Woodbury. Be this as it may, the first John Pierce had wise view of a home, when he located his dwelling on the western side of this secluded valley
 THE ANCESTORS NAME, JOHN, has descended to the ninth of the same name, and MT Pierce left son, and a grandson bearing his name.
 He was also not only happy in the place of his birth; but his father left him, as an only son, with handsome property for those days. And he was also blessed with a mother of rare good sense, and sterling character, who was the guide of his youth. He also found companion of English stock, who prov ed an energetic, thrifty housekeeper, and also a prudent, Christian wife, and a faithful mother.
 These two, laboring diligently togeth- CT, not only increased the patrimony of the father, but also have brought up to mans estate four manly sons, and a daughter entering womanhood. These are, with one exception, members of the church of Christ and active members of society.
 MIR PIERCE WAS EAGER
 for the education of his children, patron izing the academy at Woodbury, until a select school was begun in his own con- munity.
 | He also early became member of the Congregational church in the parish of South Britain, the western part of South bury, and was thence forward a faithful member of it till his death, which occur. red February 24, 1893. He was man, who was loyal to his convictions of duty, who compared what he heard preached with the word of God, and, who, when he had accepted anything as true, was | loyal to that truth under all circum- stances.
 1 When aroused by injustice or wicked ness he knew how to condemn sin in Ian. guage. that made the evil doers quail and shrink from before him.
 1 Such man was honored in his own town, holding various offices in it, such as member of the town committee. and TREASURER OF THE TOWN FOR YEARS He twice served as member of the State Legislature, and might have beer | chosen senator and county commissioner if he had been willing to accept these offices. Had he been qualified by an ed. ucation as lawyer, probably few men would have risen higher iu the common wealth than he. He was possessed of a power of putting things forcibly, clear ly, and emphatically, witnessed often in church meetings, town meetings, and notably at the 250th anniversary of the settlement of the town of Stratford a few years since.
 | ONE FEATURE WAS PECULIARLY HIS: certain judicial feature of his mind, by which he would turn a matter over in his mind, look at both sides fairly, and then decide with almost unerring truth fulness which of the two sides was most wise, prudent, and necessary to be ac- cepted, believed and put into practice. And this led to another result of such judicial fairness; he was not hasty in his | judgment; he did not run to a new view of truth or duty; he looked through a matter or man, and what he judged to be right view of either was commonly found by others to be true.
 l Such man