History of Taylor County Iowa, 1901 by Taylor Co. Historical Society

J.W. PIERCE FAMILY
My grandparents, John William and Laura Johns Pierce, moved to Taylor County in 1903 from 
Charleston, Illinois, with their two children, Howard William and Ethel Clotille.
They established their first farm home on the road known as the State Line Road south of
Bedord.
On August 8, 1916, my father Howard was married to Bernice Chloe Russell, and they 
established their first home 3 1/2 miles north of Bedford on Highway 148.
In 1918 my grandparents moved into Bedford where they made their home at 1108 Lone 
Mountain Street and lived there for the rest of their lives residing in the same house for 35 years.  
Aunt Ehtel made her home with them until her death in 1942.  My grandmother died in 1947 at 
age 76 and my grandfather continued to live alone until his death in 1952 at age 81.
My grandparents and Aunt Ethel were active in their earlier years in the First Baptist Church and 
as a small child I went with them and attended church and Sunday School.
Some of my happiest childhood days were spent at my grandparents home.  I stayed with them 
and attended Bedford Hight School as a freshman.
My father's family grew to include three boys and three girls: Hal, Russell, Donna, Shirley, Jackie, 
and myself [Wanda].
Being only grandchildren, they liked it very much for us to stay with them and enjoy the modern 
facilities of town living as in those days farm living was without many comforts to say the least.
My grandfather had to adjust from early methods of travel such as horse drawn buggy to driving 
one of the first gasoline powered cars.  One of  my favorite stories told about him was the one 
concerning his driving up to his garage, calling "Whoa" and driving right on through the front of 
the building, breaking in the process all of my grandmothers canning fruit jars wihich in those 
days was a terrible catastrophe to her way of thinking.  This was terribly funny to us, the young 
people of the grandparents.  I'm sure they influenced my life to a great degree, encouraging me 
to do well in school and to be a teacher.  This I have accomplished and have been an elementary 
teacher for nearly 40 years.
My parents retired from farming and lived in the family home until the death of my father in 1966.  
My mother continued to live there until her marriage to Leland (Budd) Chamberlin, and then 
moved to his home east of Bedford.  They are now retired and live in their new town home.
Today another generation makes their home in the old family place, my brother Russell, and his 
wife, but I'm sure to all of us, it is still "Grandpa's house" in our memories.  Submitted by Wanda 
P. Lovitt

REX ROLAND PIERCE
Rex Rolland Pierce, son of Russell R. Pierce and Iowa Badger Pierce, was born in Waverly, 
Iowa, August 8, 1919.  On January 30, 1943 in Pacfic Grove, California, he married Jeanne Ardith 
Homan, born June 14, 1923 in Prescott, Iowa, the daughter of Hervey James Homan and Annie 
Lovinnie Heatherington Homan.
They moved to Lenox, Iowa, February 1, 1952, and have 3 children.  Alan Ray Pierce was born 
January 18, 1948 in Charles City, Iowa.  He married Linda Sue Worley and they have two 
children, Emily Sue, born may 20, 1974 and Chadwick Ray, born April 21, 1978.  They live at 
Greene, Iowa. Deborah Carole Pierce was born December 21, 1949 in Charles City, Iowa and 
married Robert L. Linman, residing at Galesburg, Illinois.  Jeffrey Rex Pierce was born February 
14, 1951 in Charles City, Iowa and resides at Lenox, Iowa.  Submitted by Jeanne Pierce