Aaron W. PEARCE from the "Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa" ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Baker < gonfishn@millcomm.com > ==================================================================== AARON W. PEARCE is one of the well known citizens of Grove Township, having been a resident of Pottawattamie County since 1874. He was born in Richland County, Ohio, September 22, 1840. His father, Dennis Pearce, also a native of Ohio, was a son of Aaron Pearce, who was of Irish extraction. In politics the Pearces have been Whigs and Republicans; in religion they have been associated with the Christian Church. Dennis Pearce wedded Mary Pollock, a native of Richland County, Ohio, by whom he had nine children, four sons and five daughters. Three of the daughters are deceased. Mrs. George Bolton and the subject of this sketch are the only ones living in Pottawattamie County. James H., a twin brother of Aaron, resides in Adair County, Iowa. In 1852 or 1853 the family removed from Ohio to Cedar County, Iowa, and, were early settlers in that section of the country. They had been there only a year when the father died, leaving his widow and children to battle for life in a new country. The mother afterward married Mr. H. C. Paxton, who died in 1870. Aaron W. Pearce received his education in Richland County, Ohio, and in Cedar County, Iowa. During the late war, in answer to Lincoln's call for "300,000 more," he enlisted in September, 1861, in Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry. He enlisted under Colonel Abraham Hare, of Muscatine, who was some time afterward succeeded by Colonel William Hall, of Davenport. Mr. Pearce was a brave soldier, and with his regiment took an active part in many of the prominent engagements of the war. He was returned home on a veteran furlough, and after it expired he joined his regiment on the Tennessee River. He was afterward with Sherman before Atlanta. July 22, 1864, he was made a prisoner and taken to Andersonville, marching a portion of the way and finishing the journey by rail, arriving at the prison early in August. A portion of the time Mr. Pearce was at Andersonville there were 30,000 prisoners there in a field of only thirty acres. About one hundred dead Soldiers were carried out of the stockade daily. Much has been said and written of the horrors of that prison, but the half has never been told, nor can it be realized by any save those who passed through the terrible ordeal of prison life. About the middle of September Mr. Pearce was moved from Andersonville to Charleston, South Carolina, remaining there a short time. He was taken to Florence, South Carolina, where he was held until February, when the near approach of Sherman's army made another move necessary, and, being placed on the cars, was started toward Wilmington, North Carolina, and on to Goldsboro, where with other prisoners he was paroled and returned toward Wilmington, passing, into the Union lines near that place February 26, 1865. Leaving Wilmington by steamer for Annapolis, Maryland, they went to Baltimore, where he shed his prison rags and put on the blue again. He soon left for St. Louis, but was unable to travel, and was placed in the hospital at Grafton, West Virginia, remaining there one month. Then he again returned home on a furlough, and rejoined his regiment the last day of the general review at Washington. After the war he came back to Cedar County, where he resided for some time. In the spring of 1872 he removed to Polk County, Nebraska, and took up a soldier's claim of 160 acres. After remaining there sixteen months he came to this county and located in Grove Township. At that time he settled on section 33, near where he now lives. He afterward traded with Thomas Conner for his present farm. It is in section 28 and contains 108 acres, forty of which are in timber. It is well adapted for stock and grain purposes, and is well supplied with all necessary farm buildings. A good residence situated, on a natural building site, surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. makes a comfortable and attractive home. September 11, 1866, Mr. Pearce married Agnes Bolton, a native of Cedar County, Iowa, and a daughter of William and Sarah (Southern) Bolton, natives of Virginia. Her grandfather, Henry Bolton, was a native of Virginia and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Pearce was reared and educated in Cedar County. They have seven children, namely: Merrill Edson, Myrtie C., Estella Kate, Dessie Irene, Ethel Grace, Laura Jane and Mary Ida. Miss Estella is a successful teacher in the schools of Pottawattamie County. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce lost one child by death, Eva L., at the age of three years. In politics our subject is a Republican. For the last ten years he has served as Township Clerk. He has also served as a member of the School Board. He and his wife and three of their daughters are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Pearce is a man of integrity, and is highly respected by all who know him. ==================================================================== If you would like more information about anyone mentioned in this biography, please write to the Pottawattamie County Genealogical Society at: PO Box 394 Council Bluffs, IA 51502-0394 ====================================================================