Evening journal., 1914-01-26
SUDDEN CALL
OF DEATH TO
j. j. PIERCE
Continued from First Pare.

iNontlnued from first iagc.)
day morning. In the afternoon, how
ever, he weakened, mis- heart not be-
ing strong enough to Withstand the
attack OF pleurisy and its effects.
J. Jackson Peirce was born in
Brandywine hundred 60 years ago
and was a young man when he came
to Wilmington to locate. He first
started a class in pcnmanshlp and
later taught penmanship for Samuel
Murphy, who conducted the Rugby
school in the Opera House building.
Shortly after taking up the position
with Mr. Murphy he started in the
real estate business, although con-
tlnuing to devote a portion of his
time to the penmanship class.
Az this time he became the instructor
of penmanship at Goldcy College being
one Of the original teachers at the bust
ness college, and he continued in the
real estate business while doing this
work. He always took keen inter
est in the development of the school
! Mr.. Peirce was known throughout the
state as a handwriting expert. and was
/ frequently called upon to testify in
court cases involving disputed letters
and written documents. 1t was seldom
that he ever failed TO give the correct
solution Of such cases.
! Mr. Pcirce was also known TO be one
I of the best and most reliable real es-
1 tate experts in the city and was frc-
lquently employed as advisor for con-
dcmnation commissions ana other bodies
seeking to place true value upon real
estate. The resident Judge. of this
county constantly called upon Mr.. Peirco
TO serve on condemnation commissions.
Mr.. Pcirce was ono of the original
lappointccs ON the Board of Public IT'LL
Iity Commissioners, Mayor Howell hav-
! my appointed him TO represent the First
/ Representative district when the act
authorizing the commission became ef-
fective in 1911. During the strip ticket
! litigation his counsel was valuable and
his fellow members held him in such
esteem that when William II. Vance re-
signed as president of the board last
| spring Mr. pcirce was elected - fill
the vacancy. notwithstanding the fact
that he was lifelong Democrat and
the majority of the members of the
board were Republicans, Mr.. Peirce while
an active Democrat was never q candi-
date Tor an elective office although he
was prominently mentioned for the
Democratic nomination for mayor last
year. The first public Office he ever
lhcld was when he was appointed to be
a member Of the Wilmington Charter
Commission bv Mayor }. Harvey Spru-
uncc in 1909. His intimate knowledge
of the property conditions in the city
enabled him TO do valuable work in
drafting the charter.
Mr.. Peircc was serving as president
of the Utilities Commission at tho time
of his death and a meeting of the com
mission which was scheduled for last
Friday was postponed ON account OF his
illness The members at that time,
however. had no idea of the critical ma
turc of their presidents illness. His
sudden death comes a. great shock
to them as well as his large circle Of
friends
President Peirce has been one OF
the most active members o, the
board in the movement to secure a
settlement of the strip ticket ques-
tion now pending between the utility
board and the Wilmington and Fhila-
delphia Traction Company, and at
all the meetings OF the board he iu
sisted that final disposition must be
made of this question. Under ths
statute governing tho hoard, Mayor
Howell will be required to appoint a
Democrat from the First Represen-
tative district to succeed Mr. Peircr
Tor years Mr., Peirce was in the
real estate business with his son. j
Bail Peirce. at No 6 West Seventh
street. A few years ago he moved
to No. Sl3 Shipley street. where the
business is still conducted.
MIR. Peirce married Mary Ann Pat
terson. of Chester county, Pa. There
were five children. of whom four are
: still living, J. Bail !. Frank. George
NJ. and Edward p Peirce He is sur.
vived by younger brother. J. Bay
ard Peirce. and three sisters. Mrs
Isabelle Talley. Mrs Emma l.. Tai
and Mrs. Ella *. Hubbard.
Mr.. Peirce was prominent in Ma
{ sonic circles. He was a member of
d Lafayette Lodge. No. IA. A. F. and A
{ NJ. of St Johns Chapter. No. 4, X
a. NJ, Of St Johns Commandery. No
l. X. T., and Of Lulu Temple. A. A.
r o y. N. s. He was also a member
OF the Tall Cedars Of Lebanon. III
was fond of cunning and with Johi
I NJ c. Rodney went on many trips {,
} the West and South.
I He will be buried on Wednesda,
5 afternoon at o'clock. following ser
> vices at his late home. II will be
I Masonic funeral and will be conduct
= ed by St Johns CommanderS
Knights Templar.