Abel
Brown Pierce, Sr., son of Jonathan Edwards and Nannie Lacy Pierce, was
born on December 4, 1874, at Deming’s Bridge. He attended the South
Jersey Military Academy, studied for two years at The University of
Texas, and attended Draughon’s Business College before entering the Navy
as a Paymaster during the Spanish American War. He assisted his father
in establishing businesses in banking and land management in the
Blessing area, and also supported civic improvements. He met Adelaide
Hall at a party in Palacios in the home of the H. B. Farwells, who had
been neighbors of the Hall family in St. Paul, Minnesota. They were
married in St. Paul, on January 19, 1909. Adelaide Emily Hall was born
on August 27, 1885, to Lee and Alice St. Germain Hall in St. Paul,
Minnesota, and educated there. Alice have been born there of French
Canadian-English parents in 1866. Lee was born in New Orleans,
Louisiana, in 1863. His father was born in Massachusetts and his mother
in Maine. They often visited in the home of Adelaide and Abel in
Blessing, and both died there, he in 1940, and she in 1966. They were
buried in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday, May 25, at 4:00 p.m. at
the family residence in Blessing for
Abel Brown Pierce, 69, who died
there Tuesday at 10:22 a.m. |
|
|
|
|
|
Blessing
A. B. Pierce Home |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
Abel B. and Adelaide had four sons: Abel, Jr., born on October 20, 1909; Hall Edwards, born on September 24, 1911; Lee Mudge, born on November 11, 1913, who married first Jedie Chiles and second Annie Marie Selden; and Clinton Lacy. In addition to maintaining a gracious home for her family, Adelaide entertained Episcopal Bishops Kinsolving and Clinton S. Quin, many civic groups, and had a formative influence on the development of the area. She helped to establish and served as President of the Hawley Cemetery Association, the Blessing Library Association, the Matagorda County Tuberculosis and Health Association, and the Matagorda County Federation of Women’s Clubs. She served as secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Blessing Independent School District for thirty years. She served on the Matagorda County Citizen’s Highway Beautification Committee, and the Blessing Good Roads Association. She was chairman of the Scholarship Loan Committee for the Matagorda County Federation of Women’s Clubs, and Treasurer of St. Paul’s Episcopal Mission. She was County Canning and Sewing Plants Supervisor in World War I, a member of the Matagorda County Historical Society, the Texas State Survey Committee, the Board of Directors of the County Museum Association, the Bay City Book Review Club, and the Comfort Wood Chapter of DAR. She was the author of Deming’s Bridge, Hawley Cemetery, Tres Palacios Baptist Church, 1960. Abel B. Pierce, Sr., died on May 23, 1944 at his home in Blessing; Adelaide died on October 24, 1967, in Bay City. Both were buried in Hawley Cemetery.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pages
405-406
photo: Lee Mudge, Hall Edwards and Abel Brown Pierce, Jr., sons of Abel
Brown and Adelaide Hall Pierce |
|||
|
Because there was no hospital near, Adelaide Pierce went home to her parents in St. Paul Minnesota, to have her first born. Although he was named for his father, Abel Brown Pierce, his prenatal nickname “John Henry” remained. Born on October 20, 1909, he was brought home to Blessing as an infant. He had three brothers: Hall Edwards (September 24, 1911-November 24, 1932), Lee Mudge “Tick” (November 11, 1913-July 12, 1998); and Clinton Lacy (October 3, 1918-January 18, 1934). The family was Episcopalian and was of English-French extraction. They lived in the new Blessing Hotel while their home at Avenue C and Eighth Street in Blessing was built; but spent many summers at White Bear Lake, Birchwood, Minnesota during their childhood. Abel was educated in Blessing Grammar School; Shattuck School, Faribault, Minnesota; Rice University and the University of Pennsylvania. He worked as a draftsman for E. N. Gustafson, County Engineer in 1932-33; as draftsman and delineator for H. D. Payne, Architect in Houston 1933-36; draftsman, inspector, designer, delineator for Nunn & McGintry, Architects 1936-42 and 1945-48; was a partner in the firm, Office of George Pierce-Abel B. Pierce, Architects & Planners 1948-1969. Although Abel was a Second Lieutenant in the 360th Infantry Reserve from 1930-36, he had to resign his commission because of a detached retina. However, he worked as materials control engineer for Brown Shipbuilding Company, Greens Bayou, constructor of sub-chasers, destroyer-escorts, landing craft infantry, and salvage vessels for the United States Navy, 1942-45. Abel was Secretary in 1958 and Vice-president in 1964 of the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects; was a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission, later the Board of Adjustment for Piney Point Village, Harris County, Texas, from 1963-75; was a vestryman of the St. Francis Episcopal Church, Houston, and the Bishop’s Committee for St. John’s Mission, Palacios; a member of the Matagorda County Historical Society and Historical Survey Commission in 1979; a member of the building committee of the Matagorda County Cultural Association; and chairman of the Matagorda County Museum Association for 1983-84. Abel and Ruth Perla Harrison, daughter of George A. and Lena Dickert Harrison, were married on October 3, 1942, in St. John’s Episcopal Mission in Palacios. Their children were: Adelaide Pierce Carter, Sally J. Pierce and Jonathan L. Pierce. Ruth was born July 21, 1916, on a farm about ten miles from Palacios and walked the one and one-half miles from the “Viets Place” to the Prairie Center School with the children of the Lees, Johnsons, Dannels, Powers and Margaret Hill. Sometimes they caught rides on “Baldy” the horse of the teacher, J. R. Laslie. Robert Margerum was Ruth’s first teacher. The farm had interesting outbuildings, a stocked pond, a dipping vat, and a big red barn with hay and drying peanuts in the loft. The family moved to Palacios when it was still much like the country; and kept a cow, chickens and had ice delivered in blocks by the iceman. The children rode their horse, read, and traveled in the summer. The Harrison family purchased the C. B. Truitt house at Second and Morton Streets, which was still owned by the family in 1984. Another activity remembered was the cake sales held to help pay the expense of moving Grace Chapel, which became St. John’s Episcopal Mission, from Collegeport to Palacios in 1928. Ruth was graduated from Palacios High School in 1933, and attended Rice Institute for two years, and then joined her sisters, Naomi and Marion, at The University of Texas where she was graduated. She worked for Dr. Home Prince in Houston as a Medical Technologist before returning to college to complete her M. A. in Bacteriology. She was a member of Iota Sigma Pi, an honorary fraternity for women in Chemistry. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and after her marriage worked with the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Ruth was a member of the Board of the St. Francis Episcopal Day School, was on committees at the Kinkaid School, and was President of the Piney Point Garden Club. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Houston Chapter, American Institute of Architects, and the State and local chapters of the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas. She studied Spanish at the National University of Mexico and handweaving in Darlarna, Sweden. She joined her husband as Secretary of the Matagorda County Museum, Secretary-Treasurer of the Blessing Historical Foundation, and membership in the Heritage Societies for Harris and Gillespie Counties, Matagorda County Historical Society, Matagorda County Historical Commission, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pages
404-405 |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Pierce (Mrs.) Adelaide Emily Hall, 82,
died Tuesday afternoon in Matagorda General Hospital. Funeral
services will be at 3 p. m. Thursday in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
in Bay City with burial in
Hawley Cemetery. The outstanding
civic leader of Matagorda County was the widow of Abel Brown Pierce,
who with his father, Jonathan Edwards Pierce, founded the town of
Blessing. She is survived by two sons, Abel B. Pierce, Jr. of
Houston and Lee Mudge Pierce of Blessing; six grandchildren, Lee
Hall Pierce, Michael E. Pierce, Frederick Pierce of Blessing;
Adelaide Harrison Pierce, Sally Jeannette Pierce, Jonathan L. Pierce
of Houston; three great-grandchildren, Michael E. Pierce, Stacy
Pierce, and Lee Edward Pierce of Blessing; and many nieces and
nephews. Pallbearers will be G. K. Nelson, J. E. Cornett, B. B.
Rhodes, Richard Dawdy, Verner Bowers, and R. B. Trull. Honorary
The Daily Tribune, October, 1967 |
|||
|
Bay City Tribune, Wednesday,
August 18, 2010 |
|||
|
Hall Edwards Pierce, age twenty-one years and two months, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Abel B. Pierce of Blessing, died on Nov. 24, 1932, at his home in Blessing, where he was born on Sept. 24, 1911. Hall was a second year student at the University of Texas, where he was taking a course in engineering, hoping someday to be a designer of aeroplanes. He was president of the University Aeronautical Society. He is survived by his parents, his three brothers, A. B. Pierce, Jr., Lee Mudge Pierce, and Clinton Lacy Pierce, by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hall of St. Paul Minn., by three aunts, Mrs. Allen J. Smith of Philadelphia and Blessing, Mrs. W. W. Heffelfinger of Minneapolis, and Mrs. F. S. Van Bergen of St. Paul, also by an uncle, Mr. John Pierce of Palacios. The burial took place on Saturday, Nov. 26 in the family cemetery at Hawley, near Tide Haven on the old Pierce Ranch. Hall E. Pierce The Tribune, Thursday, received the sad news of the death of Hall E. Pierce, son of Mr. and Mrs. Abel B. Pierce of Blessing, which occurred at his home in blessing following an illness of several weeks. Hall was 21 years old and two months of age and was born and reared in Blessing. He was a student in the University of Texas and was making a splendid record when he was stricken and compelled to return home.
This young man was the scion of one of the oldest and most prominent of South Texas’ families, of a sincere and studious nature and possessed of many sterling qualities. His friends amongst the old as well as the young are many. The sadness and regret over his untimely end is genuine and general in the hearts of all who knew him. The Tribune joins the hosts of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce in extending to them our sympathy in this, their darkest hour of trial.
The Matagorda County Tribune,
Thursday, December 1, 1932 |
|||
|
Funeral services for Lee M. “Tick”
Pierce, 84, of Blessing, will be held at 4:00 PM Tuesday, July 14,
1998 at the Taylor Bros. Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Nick Novak
officiating. Interment will follow at
Hawley Cemetery Pierce passed away July 12, 1998 in Bay City. He was born November 11, 1913 in Blessing to Abel Brown Pierce and Adelaide Hall Pierce. He attended Blessing Elementary School and graduated from St. James Episcopal School in Maryland. Pierce joined the U. S. Navy during World War II and was stationed in the Pacific. He was a farmer, rancher and owner and operator of the Ace of Clubs Ranch and the Pierce Insurance Agency.
He was a member and was instrumental in
the establishment of the American Legion Cecil Lee Post # 649, of
Blessing and served as Commander, Adjutant, Treasurer and Judge
Advocate. He was President of the
Hawley Cemetery Pierce was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church of Palacios and served as member of the Board of Vestry and served as Senior Warden for many years. He was a member of the Blessing Historical Foundation and a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas in Bay City. Pierce is survived by his wife, Pauline Pekar Pierce of Blessing; by his sons and daughters-in-law: Lee Hall Pierce & wife Ona Lee of Blessing, Fredrick L. Pierce & wife Crystal of Blessing, and Yvonne Pierce of Blessing; by his Step-children, Jody & Raymond Matura of Pt. Lavaca and Carolyn & Eddie Heatwole of Houston; and by a brother: Abel B. Pierce & wife Ruth of Blessing. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Michael E. Pierce, Jr. & wife Jackie, Stacy G. Pierce Wolf & husband Joe, Lee Edward Pierce, Jedie L. Pierce, Sarena A. Pierce Williams & husband Travis, Sabrina L. Pierce, and Colton T. Pierce; by his step-grandchildren: Natalie Longacre & husband Wayne and Christe Heatwole; by his great grandchildren: Heather Pierce, Wendy Pierce, Michael Wolf, Phillip Zarate, Jr.; by his step-great grandchild: Mark Longacre. He is preceded in death by a wife, Jedie Chiles Pierce in 1970, by a wife, Anna Marie Selman Pierce in 1990; by his children, Michael E. Pierce, Sr. and Mary Alice Pierce; and by his brothers: Hall Edwards Pierce and Clinton Lacy Pierce.
Honorary Pallbearers include the Members of the American Legion-Cecil Lee Post # 649, his Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, and his Step-Grandchildren and Step-Great Grandchildren. Memorials may be made to: Blessing Historical Foundation, P. O. Box 275 Blessing, TX 77419; Matagorda County Museum, 2100 Ave F. Bay City, TX 77414; or to the charity of choice. Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City.
The Daily Tribune, July 14, 1998 |
|||
|
pallbearers are L. L. Rhodes, Wyatt O. Selkirk, Ben H. Wheeler Jr.,
A. R. Matthes, Frank Cobb, A. M. Logan, C. P. Butler, George L.
Harrison, L. L. Chiles, and Paul J. Wheeler. Ushers will be Paul
Braden and Thomas Holsworth. Funeral arrangements under direction of
Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.
Ruth
H. Pierce, 94, died peacefully in her home in Blessing, TX on August
13, 2010. She was born in Palacios on July 21, 1916 to George A.
Harrison and Lena S. Harrison. As a child, she lived on the family
farm at Prairie Center, between Blessing and Palacios. Her father
was a long-standing county commissioner during the difficult years
of the Great Depression. She was the oldest sister to four siblings:
Naomi Brown, Marion Robinson, George “Bill” Harrison, and Laura
Huddleston. She attended Palacios High School and graduated as
valedictorian of her class. After attending Rice University and the
University of Texas, she earned a BA in Chemistry with honors and a
subsequent Masters degree in Bacteriology. These were uncommon
accomplishments for women at that time. While employed as a medical
technologist in Houston, she met her future husband Abel B. Pierce,
Jr., of Blessing. They were married at St John’s Episcopal Church on
October 3, 1942. From 1938 to the present she was a member of the
Iota Sigma Pi Honorary Fraternity for Women in Chemistry. She was an
avid historian and co-founded the Blessing Historical Foundation, a
non-profit organization aiding the upkeep of the historic Blessing
Hotel. Her interest in history was secondary only to her interest in
genealogy, prompting her to commission a Pierce family history that
when unrolled spilled over the edges of a ten-foot table. She was a
lifetime member of the Matagorda Co. Historical Museum Board, as
well as the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas, serving as President
from 1966-67. She was a lifelong member and devoted supporter of St
John’s Episcopal Church, Palacios. She is survived by: daughter
Adelaide Carter and her husband Gary, daughter Sally, son Jonathan,
his wife Anna-Maria, and their daughter Jennifer. She is also
survived by her dear sister Naomi Brown. She is lovingly remembered
by all who knew her as a remarkable woman and will be sorely missed.
Memorial Service: St Mark’s Episcopal Church, Bay City, at 11 am on
Thursday, August 19, with Dr. Jim Ely officiating. Burial will
follow at 
The
end came at 5:30 Thanksgiving morn. The funeral is set for Saturday
afternoon at 3 o’clock, with religious services at the home, the
burial following immediately in the
Pallbearers
will be Lee Edward Pierce, Michael E. Pierce, Jr., Joe Wolf, Mel
Anders, Emmitt Owen Chiles, and Lawrence Bartosh.
|
Copyright 2011 -
Present by Carol Sue Gibbs |
|
| Created Sep. 5, 2011 |
Updated Sep. 5, 2011 |