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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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William F. Pearce.

William F. Pearce, whose home is on section 28, Walnut township, is a native of Dexter, Dallas county, Iowa.  He was born September 20, 1874, of the marriage of James H. and Nancy (Ford) Pearce.  His ancestry is distinctly American.  His father was a native of Ohio and in early manhood took up the occupation of farming.  During the pioneer epoch in the history of Adair county he arrived in this part of the state, settling in Jackson township near Bridgewater.  Afterward, however, he removed to Dallas county and took up his abode upon a farm between Dexter and Stuart.  Later he removed to a farm five miles southwest of Canby, where he resided for many years, and his last days were spent upon his farm in Grove township, Adair county, where he passed away in 1908.  In early manhood he had wedded Nancy Ford, a native of Lucas county, Iowa, and here death occurred upon the home farm in Jefferson township in 1898.

William F. Pearce began his education in the district school near Canby and afterward attended school in Eureka township.  He continued upon the home farm until he reached adult age and his training well qualified him to take up the practical and responsible duties of life when he began farming on his own account.  As he had no assistance starting out, he rented land and thus followed agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1913, when he purchased his present farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Walnut township.  He moved on to it in the spring of 1914 and is now busily engaged in its further cultivation and improvement.  He has brought his land to a high state of cultivation, so that he annually gathers good crops.  Several years ago he began the breeding of registered Belgian stock, first purchasing a team of registered thoroughbred mares, and today he has a fine lot of full blooded brood mares, while upon the market he secures a ready sale for his horses.  He likewise raises a good grade of cattle and hogs and he is successfully engaged in general farming as well.

In 1901 Mr. Pearce was united in marriage to Miss Alice Laughlin, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Crawford) Laughlin, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the mother's birth having occurred in County Donegal.  He came to the new world when eighteen years of age, while Mrs. Laughlin was a maiden of but eleven summers when she crossed the Atlantic to the United States.  They were married in Philadelphia, at which time Mr. Laughlin was there employed at the trade of carpet weaving.  His attention was given to his business affairs until he felt that there was a still stronger call upon him and he offered his services to his country, enlisting with the boys in blue of Company E, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.  He took part in a number of sanguinary conflicts, serving throughout the period of the war, after which he was married and came to Iowa, settling near Davenport.  Later he removed to Jefferson township, Adair county, where he purchased land, upon which he lived for many years.  He died upon that place in 1905 and there his widow continued to reside until 1913, when she removed to Stuart, Iowa, where she died July 12, 1915.  Mr. and Mrs. Pearce have had two children:  Clarence, who was born June 4, 1902, and died at the age of five years;  and Leota, born June 20, 1912.

Mrs. Pearce is a member of the Christian church of Knox Grove and has many pleasing qualities which have gained her the friendship of many.  Mr. Pearce votes with the republican party and is well informed concerning the questions and issues of the day, but is not ambitious to hold office, feeling that his business affairs make full demand upon his time and energy.  He is not afraid of work, nor does he shirk that study of conditions which must always precede success.  He is advancing steadily in the business world and is thereby securing a handsome competence as a reward for his labor.

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