The St. Louis Republic., 1900-12-30
Rhode Island Yankee Who Be-
came the Most Famous
Cattle Owner in the
Southwest.
WELL KNOWN IN ST. LOUIS.
Some of His Peculiar Qualities
illustrated in Stories
Told by St. Louis
Men.
REPrBJC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Dallas. Tex, Dec 2e-The body of "Shang-
ghai" Pierce who was the richest cattle
man and the most picturesque character in
the latter-day history Of Texas, was buried
this afternoon at o'clock on the banks of
the Trespalacius. stream which runs
through his ranch. at Pierce Junction, Whar-
ton County.
1t was on this ranch that Mr.. Pierce had
lived for thirty years: it was there that he
died last Wednesday morning, and 1t is there
that his bones shall rest.
"A. H: Pierce was the way in which
the name Of this man, famous in the cat
tie-raisers' world. appeared on many deeds
and other legal documents. But his friends,
and the people of Texas generally, knew
him as shanghai or. even more gener-
ally, as shank" This sobriquet followed
him from Rhode Island to Texas. He was
long, angular, awkward youth. and sug-
sested to his schoolboy associates strong
resemblance to young Shanghai rooster.
So they called him Shanghai" and
shanghai he was to the end Of his life,
except that his most intimate friends alb
breviated the nickname. in later years, to
Shang," which, in turn, became "Shank."
Mr.. Pierce was rich. He owned at least
10000 head Of cattle. whose market value
is, approximately. s., 100000. He owned 10000
acres OF land, most of it suitable for graz
ing his immense herds, but some of it used
for rice-growing. He owned also many
farms, large and small. which are leased out
for cultivation. He was the company in
the big banking-hou Of Weekes, Mccarthy
&s Co. Of Galveston. He had large and small
sums loaned out at good rates Of interest.
And he had considerable cash on deposit
with various banks.
All OF this he made in Texas and in the
cattle business He lived unostentadously,
but in decided comfort. He was great
traveller, and was known in all parts of
a of
rope. He never forsot face. a kindness or
an enemy. He began as a poor boy. with
grit, an Unborn frugaiity, and the clothes
he wore as his stock in trade. He never
"fickered on a note or on his word. He
never quailed in the face of danger. And
he rarely refused to loan money to a friend.
Mr.. Pierce was giant, physically and
mentally. but a rugged giant, rather than
a graceful one, I'm both respects. He was
feet 4 inches tall. and weighed perhaps
go pounds. He was agile, energetic. whole
sou1ed. and the possessor of a megaphonic
voice, which generally shouted kindly
greeting. but which could at times thunder
In anger.
Mr.. Pierce was born in Rhode Island on
June .. 1884 He was one of ten children,
and as his parents were not in good iinan
cial circumstances. he was sent, when 10
years old. to live with uncle in Virginia.
This uncle was a strict man, of the Puri-
tantcal sort, and the nephew soon tired of
his new home. Glowing reports of life in
Texas came to him and he struck out.
Il will not come back here until 1 can
bring 100000 with me-
Two years ago he went back home, and
with him he took certified checks and cash
to the amount OF Sl0o,0D.
The young Down-east Yankee did not i'm
mediately begin the accumul lation of the
fortune which enabled him thus easily to
keep his word. When he first went TO
Texas, he found work a farm 1t was
hard work. and there was much ''cattle
punching" and riding after stray steers
even then. The life suited him. but an in
taken this position caused him to give up
the Job. Colonel John y. Simpson, now of
Kansas City and Dallas. who cowboyed
with Shanghai" to-day related this story
OF "Shanghaf's early life in Texas, as re-
lated by the hero of the story:
1T seems he landed in the Lower Colorado
River region fiat broke w. b. Grimes, a
famous Texas character before the war
owned nearly all the land in that region.
He hired the gawky New England youth 10
work on his plantation and ranch lands As
Shanghai put 1T, he paid him Sl5 a month
and worked him with the niggers'
'Grimes was a hard taskmaster and treat
ed his slaves better than he did Shanghai
and the latter determined to get even If HI,
lived long enough. In later years the even
lng-up came by Shanghai being able TO
purchase approximately all the lands for
iLeriy owned by Grimes and on which he
himself had worked with the slaves
Shan2haf told of how Grimes one day
nad big. strong slave breaking an un-
clcus The slave was pitched from the back
ot the animal Just as Mrs. Grimes came 10
the door OF the family home She called OUT
to her husband: '"'
on. don't make the niggers break the
o3Sncno! We own the niggers and they