Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Pierce, Winfield S ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:18 pm Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900 Winfield S. Pierce On the roster of Grundy county officials is found the name of Mr. Pierce, for he is efficiently serving as the county clerk. He was born in Wyoming county, New York, August 7, 1852, his parents being Carey and Mercy (Warren) Pierce, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, and were of Scotch lineage. Their ancestors settled first in Massachusetts, and later representatives of the family removed to western New York, early in 1800. In that section of the country Mr. Buell, the great-grandfather of our subject, was celebrated far and wide as an Indian fighter. It was in the year 1854 that Carey Pierce and his wife came to Illinois, taking up their residence upon a farm in Highland township, Grundy county, where the father devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits until his death. He died in 1896, at the age of seventy- one years, and his wife passed away in 1871, at the age of forty-four years. They were the parents of four children, as follows: W. S., of this review; Warren, a farmer of Plankinton, Dakota; Lorin, who is engaged in the milling business in Michigan; and Elmer F., a grain inspector of Joliet, Illinois. W. S. Pierce spent the days of his boyhood upon the home farm and acquired his education in the schools of the neighborhood. At the age of seventeen he left the parental roof and started out upon an independent business career by learning telegraphy. He was afterward employed in Streator, Illinois, as a bill clerk, and for three years was the manager of the business of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and the agent for the United States Express Company, at that place. In 1876 he removed to Verona, Illinois, where he engaged in the grain business, but that undertaking did not prove a profitable one and in 1878 he failed in business there, but afterward continued to deal in grain at that point, with the exception of a period of five months, with good success, until 1896, when he sold his interest. Two years previously he had been called to public office by the ballots of the Republican voters of Grundy county, being elected county clerk. He discharged his duties so acceptably and promptly that he was re-elected in 1898 without opposition in his own party. He is most careful and systematic in his work, and his ability and faithfulness have gained him the commendation of all concerned. Although in office, he is not entirely separated from connection with the commercial interests, being a stockholder in the Morris Grain Company, which was organized in 1895. In the year 1875 Mr. Pierce was united in marriage to Miss Ellen L. Ward, who died in 1891, leaving three children, namely: Erwin, who is the manager of the Grundy County Telegraph Company; Ilda M., the wife of Clare B. Godfrey, who is serving as deputy county clerk; and Carl, at home. In 1892 Mt. Pierce was again married, Miss Carrie Martin becoming his wife. They have two children— Corinne and Bernice. Mr. Pierce has spent almost his entire life in Grundy county and among his stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood. His long retention in office is an indication of his reliability and able service, and Grundy county numbers him among its most valued officers. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p574-575 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/pierce631nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb