Runnels County, TX - PEARCE, SARAH ELIZABETH PRIDE OBITUARY (1852-1939)

Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net

Source unknown

First Settler of Old Runnels Dies In Winters Wed.

Mrs. S. E. Pearce Had Resided in Section Since '76

Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Pearce, 87, one of the early pioneer settlers 
of Runnels County, passed away at the home of a daughter, Mrs. R. H.
MacFarland Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock.  She had been in failing
health for several months and in a critical condition for the last
week.

The remains were conveyed to the home of W. L. Hayley at Norton 
Wednesday night to lie in state until the funeral hour Thursday
afternoon.  Rites were held from the Kickapoo Baptist church by Rev.
H. Crane, Norton Methodist pastor, and the Rev. D. M. West of Bronte,
a life long friend of the family.  Burial was in the Robert Lee
Cemetery by the graveside of her companion who passed away in 1911.

Born Sarah Elizabeth Pride on March 10, 1852 in Freestone county,
she was the daughter of John and Ellen Pride.  On October 11, 1868 
she was married to Henry Davis Pearce in Collin county where the
couple lived for eight years.

Driving a team and hack while her husband drove a team to a covered
wagon, she endured all the hardships of the early day pioneers, as
they forged westward to make their home in West Texas, during the
year 1876.  They first located at Brownwood and two years later, in 
January 1880, they moved to Paint Rock.  They relocated on Valley
Creek and helped to organize Runnels county.  They were the first
family to move to Runnels City, the first county seat of Runnels 
county, stretched the first tent and started the Post Office and a
restaurant.

In the year 1886 the Santa Fe railroad was built further westward and
the townsite of Ballinger was decided on.  Many of the early settlers
moved to the nearby town of Ballinger and among them Mr. and Mrs.
Pearce.  This pioneer couple established the first and only hostelry
in Ballinger for several years and which was known over this section
as the Pearce Hotel.  Mrs. Pearce served as the first postmaster of 
Old Runnels and as the second postmaster of Ballinger for a term.

Mrs. Pearce was converted during the early years of her life, uniting
with the Missionary Baptist church of which she was very active.
Her membership had been with the Kickapoo Baptist church near Bronte
for 25 years.

She was the mother of eleven children, four daughters and two sons, 
preceded their mother in death some years ago.  Her daughter, Mrs.
W. L. Hayley of Norton, was the first white child born in this 
county after organization in 1880.

The surviving children are four daughters, Mrs. W. L. Hayley of Norton;
Mrs. W. B. Hamilton of Montell; Mrs. Frederick Henry of Montell; Mrs.
R. H. H MacFarland of Winters and a son, H. H. Pearce of Dallas.  
There are twenty-three grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren.

Grandsons served as pallbeareres and great granddaughters assisted 
with the flowers.

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