Biographical Sketch of

Oliver Peirce

Transcribed by Char Eckman



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 491 - 493

Oliver Peirce, who resides on section 34 in the town of Saxville, Waushara County, is an honored pioneer and well 
deserves mention for the active part he has borne in the upbuilding and advancement of the county's best interests.  
The family was established in America during the latter part of the sixteenth century, and our subject is of the 
eighth generation from the original ancestor, who left his home in England and cast his lot with the brave men and 
women who lade the foundation for this country.  His paternal grandfather, William Peirce, aided in the struggle for 
independence and was a faithful soldier of the Revolutionary War.  He was born near Waltham, Mass., Dec. 6, 1760, in 
sight of the historical field of Bunker Hill.  Though only fifteen years of age when the war broke our, he entered 
the ranks of the Colonial army, in which he remained until the American people had cast off the British yoke of 
tyranny.  At the close of the war he was honorably discharged, and until his death was awarded a pension in recognition 
of his services.  He died in Waltham, Mass., Sept. 4, 1825.  He was married, May 21, 1789, to Phoebe Manning, who was 
born in Massachusetts, Nov. 10, 1766, and died Oct. 13, 1851.  She was an eye witness of the burning of Charleston by 
the British during the Revolution.

Francis Peirce, father of our subject, was also a native of Waltham, born Feb. 15, 1798.  He was educated in the common 
schools, learned the trade of a blacksmith of Daniel Emerson, of Waltham, and then embarked in his business career.  He 
kept a market in Boston for a short time, later was proprietor of a store in Tiverton, R. I., for about a year, and was 
a machinist in Fall River, Mass., for several years.  On the 30th of November, 1826, he married Betsy Boomer, daughter 
of Nathaniel and Sarah (Borden) Boomer, both of whom were natives of Bristol County, Mass., where Mrs. Peirce was born 
July 7, 1805.  With his wife and two children Frances Peirce removed to Mina, Chautauqua County, N. Y., going by way of 
New York City and up the Hudson to Albany, and thence by canal and team to his destination.  He did not long remain 
there, however, but in 1832 removed to Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pa., where he made his home until 1846, devoting his time 
to farming, blacksmithing and school-teaching.  He also engaged in merchandising to some extent, and traveled through 
that community as a temperance lecturer.  Removing to Clarksville, Pa., he became a member of a firm engaged in general 
merchandising and mining coal  Accompanied by his son Oliver, in 1850, he emigrated to Wisconsin and became one of the 
pioneers of Waushara County.  His name is inseparable connected with the history of Pine River, as few men in that early 
day labored more zealously for its interests or did more to make it a habitable abode for civilized man.

Mr. Pierce died Feb. 24, 1877, and his last resting place is marked by a simple monument that stands on a beautiful 
ridge, which less than thirty years ago was a favorite point of observation for the red man.  His life covered almost 
fourscore years.  Nature had wonderfully fitted him to enjoy this life and he enabled many others to appreciate its 
beauties and pleasures as he did.  He was genial in disposition, ardent in temperament, gifted in mind and in person, 
alive to friendship and to love, passionately fond of the best literature and a worshiper at the shrine of nature.  
Had his life been spent under different circumstances, he would probably have left a brilliant record and carved his 
name in indelible letters on the pages of American history; as it was he exerted an influence for good, was always 
striving to uplift the fallen and teach others to appreciate the hidden beauties of nature, which afforded him so much 
pleasure.  He was a natural orator and his words of eloquence were heard in behalf of temperance even in the early part 
of this century, when it was so unpopular to be an advocate of that cause.  He felt that liberty was the birthright of 
the American citizen, and his loyalty to his country was almost ideal in character.  In the home circle he was a loving 
and tender husband, a kind and indulgent parent, and his wise councils and protecting care threw around his children a 
safeguard separating them from the baser things of life and leaving them to enjoy the higher plane on which he lived.  

In political sentiment he was a Jacksonian Democrat and was thoroughly versed on all public issues.  He was the first 
Town Superintendent of the town of Saxville, a position which he ably filled.  His wife, a most estimable lady, who 
was greatly beloved for her many excellencies of character, died on the 18th of August, 1846, in the forty-first year 
of her age.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Peirce were born five sons and four daughters, Oliver being the eldest of the family: William, born 
Aug. 30, 1829, married Elizabeth P. Allen, and for thirty years was a wholesale merchant of Boston; James, born Aug. 
11, 1831, died in 1838; Lydia, born June 25, 1833, became the wife of Grosvenor Allen, and met her death by drowning 
in the St. Lawrence River, July 5, 1872; Mary A., born Feb. 16, 1835, died Sept. 8, 1866; George, born March 25, 1838, 
and died on the 31st of August, following; Caroline, born July 14, 1839, was married, Sept. 10, 1863, to Ezra F. Stuntz, 
a farmer of Erie, Pa.; Edgar, born May 6, 1841, wedded Mary M. Wells, served his country three years in the Civil War, 
and is now a hardware merchant of Big Rapids, Mich.; Harriet, born Sept. 8, 1843, was married May 14, 1868, to Alex 
McDowell, a flax manufacturer of Ashland, Ohio.

From 1832 until 1850, Oliver Peirce, whose name heads this sketch, resided in Elk Creek County, Pa., with the exception 
of a few months spent in Clarksville.  He gathered together enough money, by working as a farm hand and at other pursuits, 
to enter the land upon which he now lives.  Coming to this county in 1850, he made a claim of 160 acres, upon which he 
built a log cabin that continued to be his home while he awaited the Government surveys to obtain his title.  He continued 
to add to his first tract as his means would allow until he possessed 360 acres.

On the 11th of November, 1858, Mr. Peirce led to the marriage altar Sarah E. Kimball, who was born in Buxton, Me., Oct. 
26, 1832, and was a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Lowell) Kimball, also natives of Buxton.  The birth of three sons and 
one daughter blessed their union:  Francis D., born Feb. 28, 1860, married Eliza Brown, of New York, and manages his 
father's farm; Mary K., born Sept. 26, 1863, teaches in the Kindergarten department of Berlin High School; William C., 
born Dec. 4, 1864, died March 20, 1877; and George H., born April 29, 1868, died on the 14th of July, of the same year.

In the spring of 1859, Mr. Peirce was employed by his brother-in-law, A. M. Kimball, as a confidential clerk, which 
position he maintained for ten years.  Since that time he has devoted his attention to his farm of 200 acres, and now 
has one of the most pleasant homes in the town of Saxville.  He has been quite successful in his business operations 
and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of the community.  In former years he was a supporter of the Republican 
party, but of late years has affiliated with the Prohibition party, and is an ardent advocate of the cause of temperance.  
He has been Township Chairman for several years, was Superintendent of the schools, served as Postmaster of Pine River 
for ten years, was Town Superintendent of the town of Leon for one year, and for nineteen successive years was District 
Treasurer of the joint districts composed of Leon and Saxville Townships.  As a public official he has won the confidence 
and respect of all, as his long continued service well indicates.  On the 16th of May, 1869 Mr. Peirce became a member 
of the Pine River Congregational Church, and has since filled the office of Deacon, and was one of the prime factors in 
the erection of that house of worship.  His wife is also a consistent member of the same church.

Mr. Peirce enjoys the just reputation of having been an honest, upright and honorable citizen all his life.  His 
magnanimity, fidelity and purity of principle, have elevated him far above the common level, and if all men were 
fortunately possessed of such characteristics as he, the "judge and jury" would soon perish in the stream of oblivion, 
and ere his evening sun shall have reached that horizon where the dusk is waiting for the night, he will have made 
foot-prints on the sands of time never to be effaced.  See portrait p490.






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