Connecticut western news., 1915-11-25
DANIEL L. PIERCE DIES
Canaan's Oldest Native Resident Passes
 On, Aged o2 Years.

On, Aged 92 Years.
 After brief illness Mir. Daniel L. Peirce. Canaan's grand old man" and oldest native citizen, died Sunday morn tug at o'clock. About two weeks ago he contracted slight cold, which super induced symptoms of other ailments '. that woula have been Jess serious ill the case of a younger man; but the ad- s'vanced age of the patient and conse-- uuent enervation of his functional powers, in spite of the surprising resist ance of splendid constitution, rem derel his case hopeless, almost from the first, and.for several days before the end came, the inevitable was looked for mo. mentarily. Members of the family living out of town were summoned some days before be breathed his last, and all were present when he died.
 MT. Peirce came of sturdy New Eng land stock and inherited the rugged constitution of his paternal ancestry. Had he lived forty days longer, he would have celebrated the ninety second anniversary of his birth His great grandfather, Amos Peirce, who settled in Canaan in 1744, died at the age of 92, the father of twelve children. His grandfather, Amos, Jr., was the father of ten children. His father, William Peirce, died in 1864, aged TT, the father of five children, of whom Daniel l.. was the youngest, being born January l, 1924. His mother. Polly Loveland Pierce, died in 1855. His brothers were Amos, who died in 1885, Rev William G., died 1887: his sisters, Mrs Mary Peirce Elton, died 1888, and Laura, died 1855.
 Deceased was born in the house built by his father in 1918, at the four corners on the Clayton road. now owned and occupied by Hiram Miller, where all his children, except the eldest, Mrs. Clarence Vroman, were born, the fam fly for time having occupied resi- dence a short distance farther east. He acquired his education in the pub lie school in that district, and for a time attended a select school in Canaan Valley. He was married June 5, 1850, to Miss Ann Eliza Rood, daughter of Dorrance Rood, of Avon, Conn, who bore him seven children, of whom six survive. The 5Oth anniversary of their marriage in June, 1900, was celebrated in becoming and felicitous manner. Mrs. Peirce died September l9 1902.
 His early avocation was that of farm CT, but while still a young man he be- came interested in the lime burning industry, and in 1869 he moved to the village of Canaan and erected the first residence on Main street that was built west of the "Camp- Ross bridge" be- tween the old George Gillette farm house. lon the site of the present Dr. Camp residence and the Jacob Scham- erhorn house around the corner That thoroughfare has since become one of the finest residential streets in the town. ......e.
 Shortly afterward, in company with John Grace, MT. Peirce, who was the pioneer lime burner to operate modern kilns, built the first kiln of the group now owned by the New England Lime Company, on the north end of Ben- nett's hill. MT. Grace was accident ally killed in the lime quarry, and MT. Peirce took as partner the late Edmund D. Lawrence, under the firm name of Peirce 6 Lawrence. The business grew to large proportions, and the late D. l.. Freeman was taken into the firm, which was finally merged into the extensive New England Company, and MT. Peiroe retired from active business some years ago, and enjoyed life of more or less busy leisure until his death.
 He never ceased to take lively in- terest in the progress of his town nor in public matters affecting the state and nation. Twice he was chosen to represent the town in the lower house of the general assembly-in 1861 and in 1890. In politics he was independent, though of late years his affiliations were generally with the democratic party. He was an omniverous reader and deep thinker, with d rare faculty for expressing his opinions clearly, and courage to express them plainly; and any expression of his views was listened to with respect. His mental faculties remained practically unimpaired to the day of his death, and his memory was remarkable. He delighted especially to indulge in reminiscence of days long gone by, and his mind was a veritable storehouse of local history and local 
 keen and his native wit irresistible In spite of his years his heart was ever young and he found his rarest delight in the society of young people. He was devoted husband and father, a helpful friend, an upright citizen and Christian gentleman, whose departure is mourned by the whole community.
 He was the first member raised by Housatonic Lodge, F. and A. M., hav- ing joined December 24, 1869, and be- longed to the Congregational church in East Canaan until Pilgrim church was organized, when he affiliated with that society, and was a regular attendant. His surviving children are Mrs. Ellen Peirce Vroman, of Brookfeld; Misses Minnie E., Mary E., Alice L., Burton A. and Robert D. Peirce, all of Can aan. a-..