John Lindsey Pierce was born about 1815 in Tennessee, according to the 1850 census. He married Mary “Polly” Burdine in St. Charles, Missouri, Nov. 26, 1834. She had been born there in 1817.
By 1840, they were living in Conway County, Arkansas. The 1840 census listed only the head of the household by name, but did list other household members by gender and age range. Besides John and Mary, they had two sons under five, which would be Joseph and James found in the 1850 census
By 1850, they were in Jackson Township, when John had only $100 in personal property. By 1860, they had moved again, this time to White Township in Newton County. John was now a landowner, having $1,000 in real estate and $1,000 in personal property.
Only James, William, Margaret, and John were still living in the household. By 1870, he had $300 in personal property and $300 in real estate in White Township, reflecting the deflation caused by the devastation of the Civil War.
James was still living with them, only now he was married and had several children. According to his widow’s testimony in an application for pension papers from her son William’s service, John died in Taney County, Missouri, May 5, 1875.
Mary lived on in Newton County, dying there Feb. 20, 1902. She was buried in Smith Cemetery at Vendor.
Several of their children remained in Newton County.
Barbara LeRoy is the author of “Which Side Were They On?,” a 302 page book listing biographical sketches of the Newton Countians who were involved in the Civil War, available for sale either in the Bradley House Museum or by purchasing online at www.newtoncountyar.com. The book sells for $33.