Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Pierce, Nathan April 24, 1838 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net October 9, 2006, 6:16 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons 

Page 479, 480

Nathan Pierce
	To the memory of the noble veteran, esteemed pioneer and leading 
citizen of Umatilla county whose name appears above we desire to add our 
tribute, though small it may be, in granting this memorial to his worthy life 
a place in these chronicles of our county, where his exemplary conduct, firm 
stand for the principles of truth and uprightness and his life of integrity 
and industry have endeared his name to all and made him a worthy example for 
rising generations to follow.
	He was born in Indiana, on April 24, 1838, and received a good 
education there in Franklin College, near Indianapolis, remaining until the 
breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Forty-ninth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, serving until the battle of Stone River. Here he was so 
severely wounded that it was necessary to quit the service, and after being 
discharged he returned to his home and later came to Montana and engaged in 
mining until 1868, at which time he came to Walla Walla county and joined the 
ranks of educators for two years, where he was eminently successful.
	In 1870 he was married to Miss Louisa J. Berry, daughter of Thomas F. 
and Martha J. Berry, pioneers to the coast in 1853 and to  Walla Walla county 
in 1864. To this union were born the following children: Henry F., married and 
living in San Francisco; Oscar C., married and living in Milton; Nellie, wife 
of F. A. Sikes, living on the home place; Ada, a graduate of the State Normal 
at Weston and teacher in the city schools of Milton; Lincoln, a graduate of 
the high school; Epsie, attending school; and one deceased in infancy. Mr. 
Pierce was affiliated with the G. A. R., also with the I. O. O. F., where he 
was very active. He always showed a marked interest in political affairs, 
having been selected to act as mayor of his city for several terms, also as 
state elector at one time. When he first came to the county he took a pre-
emption and sold it, then took a homestead one and one-half miles east from 
Milton, which Mrs. Pierce still owns in addition to about seven hundred acres 
of fine land. He had improved his land in a first-class manner by erecting 
fine buildings and procuring other necessaries for successfully carrying on a 
fine estate. He also owned a home in Milton, where his widow now resides. He 
was active in the welfare of his city and the county and state at large and 
was foremost in all that would advance their interests. He was raised in the 
Cumberland Presbyterian church but joined the Christian church because his 
church was not represented where he lived, and in this denomination he did 
good service and was beloved by all, while his every-day live was true to the 
teachings of his Divine Master. During the year of 1899 his health failed and 
he went to California to recuperate, but this boon that he sought eluded his 
grasp and he passed on his eternal reward on July 26, 1899. His remains were 
brought to Milton and interred in the I. O. O. F. cemetery. Mrs. Pierce 
survives him and resides in her elegant home in Milton with those of her 
children that have not gone into the world for themselves.


Additional Comments:
An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.

	Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies 
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies. 


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