The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-04-09
PROF. PIERCE IS DEAD.
Former Superintendent of Leon
Schools Died at Mt. Ayr Last
Saturday from Paralysis.


ing when the news was received from
Mt. Ayr that Prof j. Nj. Pierce, had
been stricken with paralysis and there
was no hope for his recovery, his death
occurring Saturday night at II o'clock.
Prof. Pierce came to Leon in the fall
of 1908 to accept the superintendency
Of the Leon schools, and for four years
was at the head of our schools. A year
ago he announced that he would not be
an applicant for the position again and
accepted the superintendency of the
Mt. Ayr public schools. For several
weeks he had not been feeling we'll, and
had been advised by his physician that
he would have to give up school work,
having been complaining of severe
headaches. Last week the Mt. Ayr
schools had their spring vacation and
the first of the week Prof. Pierce and
his little daughter, Helen went to Hast
ings, Neb., to visit Mr.. Pjerces parents.
He returned home Saturday morning
and complained of terrible headache
while on the train and when the train
reached Mt. Ayr he was very sick and
was taken to his home in a bus. Soon
after reaching home he became un-
conscious, and passed away that night
at IL o'clock.
Prot. Pierce was born at Orion, ILL.,.
Oct. %, 1868. At an early age his par
ents removed to Kellogg, Iowa, where
he was brought up on farm. In early
manhood he decided to become pro-
fessional teacher and with that idea in
view attended Hazel Dell Academy at
Newton, Iowa. He taught a number of
rural schools and then entered the
Western Normal College at Shenandoah,
where he completed the shorthand and
typewriting course and also the COM
mercial course, and on Jan. %, 1891, re-
ceived the degree of A. B. He then Sc
cured good position with the Booth
Packing Co., at Omaha, and remained
one year. He was united in marriage
to Miss Cleora Wilson, at Atlantic,
Iowa, on September Is, 1890, and to this
union was born one daughter, Helen
Miller, now four years of age. In the
spring of 1891 Prof. Pierce returned to
Kellogg, where he began teaching and
continued in the work for five years,
when he entered the State Normal at
Cedar Falls. In the fall of 1896 he
graduated in the Latin course, and then
took charge OF the public schools at
Redfield, where he remained three
years. In 1908 he was elected as the
head of the Leon public schools, and
continued with them for four years,
during which Leon enjoyed one Of the
best public schools in the state, as he
was hard worker. In the spring Of
1907 he was elected superintendent of
the Mt. Ayr schools, which position he
held at the time of his death. -,
Prof. Pierce united with the Presby-
terian church at Cedar Falls in 1897,
and held his membership in the Leon
church at the time Of his death.
In addition to the wife and little
one sister and five brothers.
The funeral services we're held at Mt.
Ayr on Tuesday afternoon at the United
Presbyterian church, conducted by
Revs. ]. w. Birney and w. E. Haraway,
the pupils of the Mt. Ayr schools acting
as an honorary escort. In compliance
with proclamation by the mayor OF
Mt. Ayr, all business was suspended
during the funeral. Prof. Pierce was a
member of the Knights Of Pythias lodge
of Leon, and number Of the Knights
from this city attended the funeral, as
we'll as many of the graduates and
pupils of the public schools, and many
citizens, there being in the neighbor-
hood of forty from Leon present at the
funeral, and many floral ernblems were
sent from this city, where Prof. and
Mrs. Pierce enjoyed the friendship and
esteem of all our citizens.
Higyemains were taken to Des Moines
on Tutsday evening and placed in a re-
ceiving vault, Mrs. Pierce being unable
to determine on place for interment.