Effie Pierce

Notes:

William removed with his father to Greenbush, Illinois in 1834, where he farmed. In 1858 he removed to Monmouth, Illinois, where he served as Justice of the Peace several years, was County Superintendent of Schools, and served two terms as Postmaster.

William married Harriet Woods on 22 Mar 1848. Harriet was born on 27 Feb 1826; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Amos Pierce was born in Vermont, July 31, 1784, where he spent his boyhood days. Removing from Vermont, he settled in western New York, where he was engaged in blacksmithing, proving himself an expert in making the first bolts and ironwork on the New York and Erie canal. In 1811, he was married to Miss Mary Sanford. She was born in 1790, and died September 30, 1845. His second marriage was to Mrs. Evaline Woods. Mr. Pierce removed from New York to Ashtabula county, Ohio. He came to Illinois in 1834, and bought a quarter section of land in Knox county. The village of Altona is located on this same quarter. After he had bought it, he became dissatisfied, as there was no timber on the land. He then sold it and went to St. Augustine, where he met with some old settlers who went with him to Greenfield (now Greenbush), where he bought land south of the village, on section 7. Here he built his log house of three rooms, and here he spent the remainder of his days, farming, blacksmithing, and running a sawmill on Nigger creek, a short distance south of his residence. This mill was built by Cornelius Clover, who then resided near St. Augustine. It was run by water-power, and had an up-and-down saw. The log was drawn against the saw with a wheel, having notched segments on the outer circle and wood pins on the side. When the board was sawed, the sawyer stepped on the pins to return the log. This action was called "treading back the ragwheel.'' Many of the old settlers procured lumber here to use in the construction of their houses, and for other purposes. The old mill played its part in the early days, and then passed into decay. It is said that at the home of Amos Pierce strangers and friends were welcome alike, and that his home was a refuge for the colored man on his way to Canada for freedom. He was industrious, and stood for temperance, education, progression, and a liberal religion; and was a member of the Universalist church. In politics he was a republican. He died July 20, 1872.

Amos Pierce, the subject of this sketch, was the seventh in descent from Thomas Pierce, the emigrant ancestor of this branch of the Pierce family. Thomas Pierce came from England to this country, in 1633, with his wife Elizabeth, and settled in Charlestown, Mass.

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/il/county/warren/john_patterson.html

Amos married Mary Sanford in 1811 in New York. Mary (daughter of Oliver Sanford, Jr. and Catherine Green) was born on 4 Nov 1791 in Poultney, Rutland County, Vermont; died on 30 Sep 1845. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Oliver was a Deacon in the Baptist Church for many years. He was a farmer in Poultney, Vermont.
On 25 May 1795, Oliver and Catharine Green Sanford signed a quit claim of all rights in the Susquehanna Purchase, which had been willed by their father Robert Green to his children. The estate was distributed 29 August 1846.

Oliver married Catherine Green on 3 Feb 1791. Catherine was born on 2 Mar 1775; died in 1846. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]