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Gone, but not forgotten: First families in Newton County, John Lindsey Pierce family

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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.

Their oldest, Joseph Pierce (1836-1916) married twice, first to Nancy Hampton (ca 1842-1875) and then to Martha Elizabeth Mathis (1858-1931). He served in 1st Arkansas Cavalry (US) during the Civil War. He had 14 children, four of whom lived to adulthood.
James Pierce was the second oldest son of John and Polly. (1839-1917). He married Rachel Owens (1849-1920).
Third son William Pierce (1841-1864) enlisted in 1st Arkansas Cavalry (US), like his brother Joseph. While at home on furlough, he took ill with "congestive chills" and died.
The oldest daughter of John and Polly was Barbara Pierce (1843-1916). She married Henry Woody Smith (1836-1920) and lived in White Township.
James Lemuel Pierce was born in 1850. He married Mary Maranda Flud (d 1914). They farmed in White Township and raised 12 children. James died in 1926 when the truck in which he was riding overturned while negotiating a curve.

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.



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