The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-11-23
The REMAINS OF PlINY
JEROME PIERCE LAID At
REST LAST SUNDAY.

uo luuoldi VI lluy oclouio AioASc,
ex- chief of police, who was called from
among the living at an early hour last
| Thursday morning, was held Sunday
afternoon at 2 o'clock from st. James
church of which the deceased had been
member and vestryman for many
years. Rev. Rogers Of Grafton Hall
of1iciated. The Masons had charge of
the ceremonies at the grave. The
police force also attended in body,
and a very large concourse of citizens,
including city officials. paid n final trib-
ute to the departed by their presence at
1t funeral.
| Tn, immediate cause of MIR. Pierce's
death was severe attack of hemorrhage
which he suffered on the afternoon
before his demise. The hemorrhage
resulted from cancer, from which dread
disease he had suffered for about three
years, during which time he experienced
several sieges of illness; but he was able
to continue in the office of chief of police
and to discharge the duties thereof in
most efficient manner. until little over
two months'ag when on account of
rapidly failing health, frequent hem
orrhages, accompanied by much pain, he
was forced to resign the Office he had so
ably, faithfully and efficiently filled for
eight years.
! p j. Pierce was born in the state of
New York September q, lS31-seventy-
four years one month and nineteen days
before the day on which he responded
to the final summons.
About the time when he had reached
his prime, the decedent Was married at
Branch to Miss Mary Sheldon Of that
place. Two children were born to the
couple, whose union was most happy
one, -one of the children, Pearl, having
preceded her father in the passage to the
Great Hence Besides the wife, one son,
Stanley j., one brother Monroe of
Clarks Mills, and two sisters, Mrs.
Miranda Klingheiser of the town of
Manitowoc Rapids and Mrs. Mary Bailey
of Little Rapids, Wis. survive to mourn
Mr.. Pierces departure
The decedent had been resident of
the county since the year 1888 when he
was boy of six. His father, Pliny
Pierce, was one of the earliest pioneers
in this section of the county Leaving
his family, consisting of his wife and
(at that time) two sons, Jerome and
Alonzo, at Waddington, N Y, the elder
Mr. Pierce, together with few other
pioneerhom seekers, came to the Rapids
in the year 1887 AS far as Green Bay
they had made the journey by boat via
the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes;
and the distance from Green Bay to the
present town of Manitowoc Rapids they
footed through the virgin, primeval
forest They began small settlement
at the Rapids where Mr.. Conroe had
built mill short time before their
arrival A few of the home seekers had
become disheartened and had turned
back before reaching their originally
intended destination. Others became
discouraged later and returned to New
York state But Pliny Pierce had the
the successful pioneer. He at once set
about building home, and in the early
summer of 1888 he returned to New
York state and brought his family to
his new home in the western wilderre ess.
In 1889 the county of Manitowoc was
organized, and the first election was
held in the Pierce home, Rapids being
the original county seat of Manitowoc
county.
A few years later the first school was
established at Rapids; and young Jerome
was one of the first pupils to attend that
school, Though the teaching as well
as the school house, was quite primitive,
Jerome managed to acquire a good
elementary education before he was out
of his teens While still very young
mau, he engaged in various enterprises
In February, 1859, the Manitowoc and
| hdpltlS L lduh WbS
lied and incorporated for 10000, and
Jerome Pierce was one of the incur-
porators This company built the road
way known as the South River road.
Young Pierce was also associated with
his father in the business of running II
mill He was the third postmaster at
Rapids. He also held the Office of justice
of the piece for a series of years.
When the county seat was removed
to Manitowoc, Mr.. Pierce removed to
the village of Manitowoc and secured
employment as clerk in the store Of b.
Jones & Company. He was bright,
industrious young man, and his cheer.
ful, jovial disposition caused him to be
very popular with the young people of
the village.
For a series of years he served as con
stable and later rs village and city
marshal He was always looked up to
rs being faithful, efficient officer. He