Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Pierce, George W. 1850 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 5, 2005, 2:25 am Author: Tom Gregory HON. GEORGE W. PIERCE The eminent position among the galaxy of states forming our Union secured and maintained by California is due to the loyal devotion, not alone of her native-born citizens, but also of those who through long years of association have become imbued with an intense affection for the commonwealth as well as a sincere faith in her future possibilities. In practically all else save the accident of birth Mr. Pierce is a typical Californian and to the state where he has lived since childhood he gives a patriotic loyalty unexcelled by the devotion of the native sons. Combined with his affection for the west is an intelligent appreciation of the advantages offered by the region. These qualifications led to his selection by the California Promotion committee (composed of successful business men of San Francisco and other cities of the state) as lecturer-at-large to visit Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, where he delivered addresses in many cities concerning the west and portrayed vividly but without exaggeration the prospects for future greatness of the coast country. The Pierce family has been represented in California since the year 1852. George W. Pierce, Sr., who was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1814, traveled overland to Wisconsin in 1835 and settled in Kenosha county, where he took up a tract of raw land. There he married Miss Eunice French, who was born in Connecticut October 28, 1821. For some time the young couple gave their attention to the development of a farm from their unimproved claim. Three children were born on that farm, but the sole survivor is George W., who was born December 10, 1850. During 1852 the parents left him with relatives in Wisconsin and they came overland to California, where the father tried his luck in the mines of Eldorado county. Removing in 1854 to the "Big" ranch, owned by Hutchinson & Green, he devoted his time to transforming the property into a productive tract. The failure of the firm in 1860 put the land on the market, and he bought twelve hundred acres, which for many years he cultivated. Retiring in 1888 to Davisville, he died in that place in February of 1891. When the first hardships of western existence had been ended and the first obstacles overcome, the parents decided to bring their son to the coast, and in 1859 the mother returned to Wisconsin for him. In 1860 she brought him to California via Panama, reaching San Francisco in May, 1860. Since then George W., Jr., has known no other home save the west. Here he completed his studies in the public schools. In 1875 he was graduated from the department of civil engineering, University of California, with the degree of Ph. D., being the first young man from the Sacramento valley to graduate from the institution. A thorough course in civil engineering qualified him for successful work in that difficult occupation and already he had entered upon work with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company when, owing to an accident to his father, he was obliged to return home and assume the management of the ranch. After a time his father began to improve and meanwhile he had formulated plans for the study of the law, but again ill health prostrated the parent and the son finally abandoned all hope of a professional career. The disappointment was keen, yet there have been many compensations, not the least of which is the high esteem in which he is held as an agriculturist and horticulturist and the aid he has been enabled to render the farming interests of his county. The ranch owned and operated by Mr. Pierce comprises twelve hundred acres situated on Putah creek five miles west of Davis. All of the improvements on this splendid property have been made since the present family took possession. One of the most valuable improvements is an orchard of one hundred and fifty acres planted largely to almond and prune trees. For many years a large flock of Shropshire sheep has been kept on the place, also a fine drove of full-blooded Shorthorn cattle, and the sale of the stock in the general markets brings an important annual revenue to the owner of the ranch. Grain and other crops are raised in large quantities and with considerable profit. Although educated for another occupation than agriculture, the owner has been remarkably successful in his ranching operations and has made of his task a science and a pleasure as well as a source of profit. Every movement for the expansion of the resources of California receives the stanch aid of Mr. Pierce. Prominent in the organization of the Almond Growers' Association of Davisville, he served as its vice-president for some years. Further he aided in organizing the California Grain Growers' Association, which held its first convention in 1902 and which has established headquarters in San Francisco. Of this important movement he has officiated as president. The united efforts of its members has proved most helpful to the grain interests of the localities most largely represented therein. When a location of a site for the experiment farm of the University of California was under consideration there were thirteen counties offered sites and seventy-seven sites altogether were offered in the various counties. Knowing the fertility of the soil on Putah creek and the central location of Davis for adaptability and experimental purposes, Mr. Pierce was foremost in advocating the location of the farm at Davis. After about fifteen months the commission decided on the location he had selected, securing for Yolo county the state institution. It is an interesting fact that fifty years prior to the location this farm secured the first prize as the best ranch for general farming in California. In 1910 Mr. Pierce was selected by a coterie of capitalists as an expert on lands and soils to visit Panama and report on the condition and the desirability of lands as an investment. He spent about six weeks there, later making an exhaustive report on the country. In 1911 he was sent to Arizona to examine copper mines. He is the executive member of the Yolo County Panama-Pacific Exposition Commission and is very active in securing and arranging for Yolo county's representation and exhibit at the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco and the California Pacific Exposition at San Diego in 1915. Politically a Republican, Mr. Pierce has been chosen to serve in various posts of trust and honor, notably that of representative in the state assembly of 1898, also serving in the session of 1899 and the special session of the same term. Able service was given as a member of the committee on ways and means, on education, on public buildings and grounds, and on swamps and overflowed lands. His party has utilized his services upon its state central committee. Under the administrations of Governors Budd and Gage he served as a trustee of the State Normal school at San Jose. Mr. Pierce was married to Miss Susan Gilmore, a native of Eldorado county, Cal., the daughter of Nathan Gilmore, who came to California from Indiana across the plain in 1849. He discovered and founded Glen Alpine Springs, near Lake Tahoe, and this is still in the possession of his daughters. He died in Placerville. Mrs. Gilmore was in maidenhood Amanda Gray of Kentucky. She came across the plains to California in 1850, and died at Eldorado. The two daughters who survive are Mrs. J. L. Ramsay, of Freewater, Ore., and Mrs. Pierce. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce became the parents of four children, two of whom, Gilmore and Eunice, died in infancy. Two sons are living, George G., attending the University of California, class of 1915, and Dixwell Lloyd, a pupil in the Woodland high school, class of 1914. In fraternal relations Mr. Pierce is past noble grand of Davisville Lodge No. 169, I. O. O. F., and with his wife belongs to the Rebekahs. In his own locality he is a very influential citizen and the varied avenues of activity that have secured his co-operation are the richer and more successful for his intelligent support and sensible suggestions. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/pierce78nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 9.0 Kb