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C. WILLIAM PEARCE.
A member of a well known family of Poweshiek county, C. William Pearce is now living retired at Grinnell, having
reached the age of seventy two years. He has been a resident of this county for sixty three years and ranks among
the pioneers of a section that is now one of the most productive and prosperous parts of the state. He was born
in Bartholomew county, Indiana, November 22, 1839, and is a son of Peter S. and Margaret (Prosser) Pearce, the
father being a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. Peter S. Pearce, who was a carpenter and builder
by trade, removed from Ohio to Indiana in 1836 and seven years later took up his residence in Illinois. In 1848
he came to Poweshiek county and settled on government land in Grinnell township, where he established the family
on a farm of two hundred acres, which he developed from its wild state until it became a valuable property. He
was a man of influence and responsibility, whose name was accepted as a synonym for industry and integrity. In
politics he adhered to the democratic party and was elected justice of the peace an office which he filled with
marked ability for a number of years. Fraternally he was connected with Herman Lodge, No. 273, A. F. & A. M.,
of Grinnell. He was called to his reward while still residing on the old homestead in 1877, his wife having died
ten years earlier. On the maternal side the family record has been traced back for over one hundred years. our
subject's grandfather Prosser having served in the war of 1812.
C. William Pearce has been a resident of Iowa since he was nine years of age. He has devoted his life to agricultural
pursuits and remained on the home farm until 1901, since which time he has been an honored resident of Grinnell.
He still owns two hundred and fourteen acres of land in Grinnell township and his residence in the city. He was
married in January, 1864, to Miss Matilda. G. Brown, who was born in Somersetshire, England, October 23, 1828,
and was a daughter of John and Maria (Grant) Brown. She came with her parents to America in 1850, the family living
for several years in Wisconsin. In 1854 they arrived in Poweshiek county, six months after the first settlement
was made at Grinnell. After a happy married life .of more than forty years Mrs. Pearce died at Grinnell in 1907.
She was a woman of many admirable traits of mind and heart and a consistent member of the Congregational church.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Pearce were the following children: George G., who is now married and lives in Washington
township; Frank H., who is also married and lives in Grinnell township; Nellie M., who married James R. Rutherford,
a farmer of Idaho; Seth J., who is married and lives in Grinnell township; and Mary C., who married J. R. Nicholl
and lives in Jasper county.
Mr. Pearce set a worthy example for his children and today they are useful and honorable members of society, each
performing his or her work in the promotion of the general welfare. His political allegiance is given to, the democratic
party and while he has not sought public office he has ever been a consistent advocate of honest government administered
in accordance with practical business principles. The excellent qualities he has manifested as a citizen, as a
business man and in private life fully entitle him to the respect in which he is universally held.
From:
History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
A Record of settlement, organization
progress and achievement
By: Prof. L. F. Parker
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Chiago 1911
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