Zenas Pierce

ZENAS PIERCE.

The history of Mr. Pierce is a connecting link between the pioneer past and progressive present, for he is numbered among the native sons of Miami county, and for two-thirds of a century has been a witness of its development and improvement. He was born on a farm in Union township, April 17, 1834, and is a son of Samuel and Millie (Iddings) Pierce, the former born in Grayson county, Virginia, on the loth of October, 1785, the latter in April, 1790. During his boyhood the father accompanied his parents to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1804, when he came to Miami county, Ohio, taking up his above in Milton. He was familiar with the trades of wagon-making, carpentering and cabinetmaking, and conducted a cabinet shop at Milton at that early day. In 1810 he wedded Miss Millie Iddings and the same year erected the third house in Milton. It was rn a log cabin of two rooms, situated on Main street, and there stood until 1897. when it was torn down. In 1813 he purchased a farm which had been entered from the government by its former owner. The place comprised one hundred and sixty acres on section 3. Union township, and the purchase price was three dollars per acre. A log cabin had been built, but only one acre of the land had been cleared, the remainder being co\ered with heavy timber. With characteristic energy, however, Mr. Pierce began its further development and improvement, and continued the work of operating the farm until his death, which occurred in 1877. He was a member of the Society of Friends and very active in the work of the church. His early political support was given the Whig party, and on its dissolution he joined the ranks of the Republican party, becoming one of its stalwart advocates. He served as trustee of his township, and for one term was county commissioner, proving a capable ofhcial. In every relation of life he was trustworthy and reliable, was fair in his dealings and enjoyed the respect of his fellow men. In his family were thirteen children, twelve of whom reached years of maturity anil were married before his death. The record of his seven sons and six daughters is as follows: Ruth became the wife of Jesse Pemberton; Margaret married Moses Jay; Malinda became the wife of Noah Brooks; Gaynor A. and William were the next of the family; Almira married Martin Brooks; Mary was the next younger; Hannah married Henry Coate; Mary B. was the wife of Jonathan L. Boyd, and the others were John, Clarkson, Zenas and Benjamin. Those still living are Samuel, John and Zenas.

In taking up the personal history of Mr.

Pierce of this review we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Miami county. He was reared ori the old family homestead where his birth occurred and pursued his education in a log school-house, to which he walked four miles. His privileges in that direction, however, were rather meager and his knowledge has been largely acquired through reading, experience and observation. He started out upon an independent business career by renting the old home place, and for some time carried on agricultural pursuits, operating the home farm until 1883. when he removed to Bradford, Ohio, where he engaged in the hardware business for eight years. He then came to Pleasant Hill, where he has since made his home.

Mr. Pierce has been twice married. On the 9th of September, 1854. he wedded Eliza McCormack. and they became the parents of seven children; Hannah, Clarkson, John, Samuel, Lewis, Zenas K. and Roland N. After the death of his first wife Mr. Pierce married her sister. Miss Hannah Mc- Cormack, their wedding being celebrated in 1 88 1. They continued upon the farm until 1883, and for the past nine years they have been residents of Pleasant Hill, where they have many warm friends. For three years Mr. Pierce has served as justice of the peace, and for five years has been a member of the council of Pleasant Hill. He is very faithful in the discharge of his duties and is a loyal adherent of the Republican party. He belongs to the Friends' church, of Newton township. He has lived an honorable, upright life, which is in many respects well worthy of emulation. He is entirely free from ostentation, and his sterling worth has gained him the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated.

There is particular satisfaction is reverting to the life history of the honored and venerable gentleman whose name initiated this review, since his mind bears the impress of the historic annals of the state of Ohio from the early pioneer days, and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the republic and has attained a prominent position in the county of his adoption. He is now one of the revered patriarchs of the community, for he was ])orn on the 27th of January, 1806, his birth occurring near IMifflintown, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, his father being Henry Hildebrand, who was born and reared in Montgomery county in the Keystone state. He removed to Juniata county, where he married Miss Mary Ann Marks, daughter of Jacob Marks. During the fall of 181 2 he loyally served as a member of the American army. His father was Casper Hildebrand, who came to the United States from Germany and took part in the war of the Rebellion.

i\Mr. William Harrison Hildebrand, of this review, was reared upon the old home farm in the state of his nativity, and in early life learned the carpenter's trade. When a young man he came to Ohio, locating upon his present farm, comprising one hundred and thirty acres in Washington township, Miami county. Throughout his active business career in this county he carried on agricultural pursuits, his labors bringing to him a comfortable competence. He married Miss Jane Adams and they raised a large family. His wife died on the old homestead. Mr. Hildebrand, however, has been spared to reach the advanced age of ninety-four years. His career has been an honorable one and now, in the evening of life.

he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear. His sterling characteristics have gained him hisfh regard and no man in the community is more respected than this venerable gentleman.

ISAAC S. lORRIS.

I. S. Morris is the oldest representative of journalistic interests in Piqua. Isaac Morris, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Pasquotank county. North Carolina, about 1765, and was there married to Miss ]Millicent Bundy, whose birth occurred in Percpimans county, North Carolina, December 11, 1769. Isaac Morris followed farming, thereby supporting his family of nine children, the third of whom was John Morris, whose birth occurred in the southern part of N'orth Carolina on the 19th of December, 1797. 'hen he was four years of age his parents removed to Grayson county. Wirginia, where Isaac morris died about 181 8. Two years previously John Morris emigrated westward to Ohio, locating in Highland county, whence he removed to Clinton county, this state, about 1820. On the 9th of February, 1822, he was united in marriage to Ruth Stanley, daughter of Anthony and Hannah (Reece) Stanley, natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Morris was born in Guilford county. North Carolina, February 19, 1804, but removed to Ohio in her maidenhood and was there. married to John Morris, who was a well-known farmer of this locality, following agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. After he had attained the age of seventy-five years, however, he put aside business cares and spent his remaining days in retirement from labor. He reniDved to Harveysburo. where he died Aue;uft JQ. 1886, ill his eighty-ninth yjar, living long survived his wife, who passed away on the 22(\ of Jnne. 1838, in her thirty-fifth vear. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters, of whom I. S. Morris was the eldest.

The subject of this review was born in Clinton county. Ohio, February 7, 1825. His early life was spent upon the farm and through the summer months he assisted in the work of the fields, while in the winter season he attended the district schools. Later he continued his education for two years in the select Quaker school at Martinsville, Clinton county, and subsequently was graduated in the Fanners' College at College Hill, where he graduated in the class of 1 85 1. In the meantime, however, in 1844, he began teaching in the district schools, being thus engaged through the winter, while in the summer he worked on the farm. After his graduEjtion he continued his work of teaclr'ng in the district schools until 1853, when he was appointed superintendent of the public schools at Eaton, Preble county. Olr'o, occupying that important position until June, 1860. In that yjar, JK.iwever, he severed his connection with educational labors and turned his attend'on to journalism, becoming Cdiinected with the Eaton Register. On the ist of January, 1861, he purchased an interest in that paper and continued its publican'on und 1874. when he sold his interest and removed to Piqua. Ohio, where he established the Miami Helmet, the first issue occurring August 6, 1874. He is still publish-'ng tli-s journal and is the senior editor of Miami county, both in age and years of continuous service. He is also editiT of the Piqua Daily Call, which is owned and managed by his son. J- Morris, who established the latter paper on the 17th of October, 1883.

On the 1 6th of October, 1851, Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Edith T. Jenkins, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Gawthrop) Jenkins. She was of English descent, and one of her great-great-uncles, George Gawthrop. served as bishop to the king in 1700. The ancestry of the Gawthrops may be traced back as far as the time of the Doomsday Book. Mrs. Morris was born in Frederick county. Virginia, November 2'. 1824, and by her marriage became the mother of four children, one of whom died in infancy. Those still living are Mariana, who was born September 3, 1855, and is the wife of George A. Brooks, of Piqua; Xellie, who was born October 18, 1857, and John W' who was Ixirn September 18, 1860. The mother passed away April 8, 1898. after traveling with her husband on life's journey for nearly forty-seven years.

Mr. Morris was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends, but in Nru'ember. 1857. he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has s'nce been a consistent member. His early political training made him a followed of the Whig party, but on. the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks and has since upheld its banners with patriotic loyalty. He has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to devote his time and influence to the advancement of his party in a more quiet way. He commands the respect of all with whom he has come in contact, for his has been a life cons'spent with every many principle, and his influence has been effective in promoting those measures which have contributed to the general good along the line of material, social, intellectual and moral advancement.

As printed in A genealogical and biographical record of Miami county, Ohio (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.