Darwin Peirce

As printed in 1908

DARWIN PEIRCE, a veteran of the Civil War and a respected citizen of Madison Township, Clark County, Ohio, is the owner of some four hundred and thirty acres of land, of which two himdred and sixty acres comprise the home farm. He was born on this place July 5, 1841, and is a son of Edwin and Frances (Williams) Peirce.

Jonathan Peirce, grandfather of Darwin Peirce, was "a resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania, until 1825, in which year he moved with his family to Warren County, Ohio. One year later he came to Clark County and rented what is now the H. E. Bateman farm, then known as the Jonathan Cheney farm. He manufactured a hay rake, known as the old Peirce rake, from the sale of which he made his first purchase of land hei'e. He bought four hundred and fifty-five acres, now known as the John Rankin farm, and subsequently bought the Bown farm, on which he was living at the time of his death. He acquired some two thousand acres in all, being one of the largest individual landowners in this section of the county. He married Hannah Darlington, who was bcrn in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and died on the old Jonathan Cheney place in Madison Township. Jonathan Peirce was a Quaker in religion, and in politics a Wliig and great abolitionist. He was connected with the underground railway and helped many a poor slave to his freedom.

Edwin Peirce, the father, was born In

Chester County, Pennsylvania, about 1810, and attended school there, and later at Springfield, Ohio, the house in which he boarded at that time being still standing. He engaged in farming during his active career, which was cut short by an accident which made him a cripple, and his death followed in a few years. He was married in 1840 to Frances Williams, a daughter of William Williams, who came from AVestmoreland Coimty, Maryland, her mother coming from Ireland with her parents when three years of age. Three children were born to bless their home, namely: Darwin; Hannah Mary, who for fifteen years was superintendent of Christ Hospital at Cincinnati, and is now engaged in charitable work in the slums of that city; and Laura (Harold), who is now a resident of South Charleston.

Darwin Peirce was reared on the home farm, but as he was five years of age when his father died, and the only son, his schooling was of necessity very limited. He is nevertheless a man of more than average education, but largely self-acquired. He made and developed the home farm himself. At the time of the Civil War he was living with his mother and two sisters in the log house on the farm, a time when his best energies should have been given to the development of the place in order that his further success be assured, but, casting aside all his personal ambitions, he followed the course of patriotism and loyalty to his country in a time of need, although it subjected his family to many hardships. He enlisted August 15, 1862, in Company C, One Hundred and Tenth Eegiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Keifer, and seized until the war closed. He saw much hard fighting, was in numerous important engagements, and was several times wounded. When the war closed he returned home and with renewed energy undertook the work on the farm, and with what success may be determined by the high station he occupies among the men of his township.

Mr. Peirce was married to Mary E. Mathewson, a daughter of Mathew and Margaret (Evans) Mathewson. Her father was born in England and came to the United States in 1834, locating on what is known as the Thomas Mathewson farm. He was married in 1841 to Margaret Evans, a native of Wales. Mr. and Mrs. Peirce have two sons: John, who is an electrician in Omaha, Nebraska; and Walter Thompson, who is an instructor in the Ohio State University at Columbus. Mr. Peirce is a Bepublican in politics, and for thirty-one years served efficiently as a school director. He was for twenty years a member of the Soldiers Belief Committee, and for eleven years was a member of the Clark County Agricultural Board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and belongs to the order of Odd Fellows. Religiously, he was brought up in the Quaker faith.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.