Plumas County Biographies

Elisha H. Pierce

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
Pierce is a native of New York. In the summer of 1852 he kept a liquor stand on 
Rich bar, but in the fall left the river and went to the American valley. He 
served as deputy sheriff under George W. Sharpe, and when James D. Byers was 
elected sheriff held the same position under him. Having served out the term, 
he, with J. H. Houck, opened a saloon in Quincy, which had a very large custom. 
In 1861 Pierce was elected sheriff, defeating John W. McWilliams. In 1865 he 
again appeared before the republican convention, but failed to get the 
nomination, S. J. Clark being selected as the nominee. During the campaign he 
worked in the interest of Yeates, and in 1867, when Clark was again pitted 
against Yeates, Pierce took an active part in securing his defeat. He then left 
the county, removing to Santa Barbara. Pierce had golden opportunities during 
his shrievalty for making a fortune. His percentage alone for collecting the 
foreign miners� tax was $18,814, after paying all the expenses of collection. On 
one occasion he visited Sierra valley, to serve tax summons, and his fees 
amounted to $1,400. He did not make many friends while in office. His conduct at 
the time Ross and Williams were taken by a mob and hung has received severe 
censure, because of his alleged negligence to offer protection to the 
unfortunate men. He was accused of aiding and abetting the outrage; though 
further than an apparent fear of interfering with the infuriated mob, there can 
probably be no definite charge laid at his door.
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. � Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 186-187 


is one of California's pioneers and a representative farmer and citizen of 
Perris. He was born in Onandaga County, New York, July 11, 1831. His parents 
were Jonathan Pierce and Mary (Pettyrove) Pierce. The subject of this sketch was 
the second child of a family of six children.  He received his early education 
in Wisconsin, and when only nineteen years of age he crossed the plains to 
California and dug for the precious metal in El Dorado County. He dug there with 
fair success for more than a year and got out about $2,000, and in the spring of 
1851 he went to Feather river and tried his luck. He remained there until he 
voted for General Scott for President of the United States. In 1861 Mr. Pierce 
was elected Sheriff of Plumas County, and held that office for four years. He 
then removed to Santa Barbara County, where he bought a farm and engaged in 
farming it until 1885. While here he was elected Supervisor for three years. He 
then came to Perris, where he took up 160 acres of Government land, and has 
since bought railroad land until he now farms 800 acres. He sows about 500 acres 
each year of wheat and barley. He has built a good home and his ranch has the 
appearance of peace and plenty. His horses and cattle are fat and look as though 
it were a good thing to be owned by such a man. Mr. Pierce was united in wedlock 
in 1858 to Mrs. Elizabeth Sharp, widow of Mr. George W. Sharp, and daughter of 
Mr. William Shield. Their family consists of four children: Alice, born in 
Quincy, Plumas County, in 1859, married Mr. M. M. Groshone, and resides in Santa 
Barbara; William, born in Quincy, Plumas County, in 1871, married Miss 
Skillinger, and is living in Mountain Glenn, near Perris; Mary, born in Quincy, 
Plumas County, in 1872, married A. E. Colby, and lives near her father's place 
on a nice ranch of their own. Harry was born in Carpenteria, in 1869, and his 
death occurred in San Bernardino County, July 18, 1887. He was oiling a steam 
thresher while it was running and it broke through with him. His injuries were 
so severe that he only lived three hours. Mr. Pierce's last marriage occurred 
1871, when he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Colby, daughter of Mr. Levi 
Colby. Their family consists of three children: Florence, born in Santa Barbara 
County, 1874; Archie, born in Carpenteria, Santa Barbara County, in 1876, and 
Mattie, born in Perris, January 20, 1887. Mr. Pierce is a man of high moral 
worth, and is a credit to the community in which he lives.
  
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  330