Elisha Pierce

    Elisha Pierce, attorney at law, and Representative from this district in the Fifty-fifth General Assembly of Indiana, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, December 14, 1846, a son of L. B. and Huldah (Graham) Pierce, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Ohio. When but five years old, he was brought by his parents to Indiana, their first location being in grant County, but four years later they removed to Blackford County, where they have made their home since the fall of 1868.

    Before reaching the age of sixteen years our subject entered the Union service, insisting on taking his father's place in the ranks, and in October, 1862, he was enrolled in Company I, Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry. This regiment was soon at the front, and their firs field of operations was in the movements connected with the siege of Vicksburg. the first regular engagement in which he participated was at Chickasaw Bayou in the rear of Vicksburg, where Sherman's attack was repulsed. He then went with his regiment to Arkansas Post, and from this point on he was in all the movements of his command during the siege and until the surrender of the city and defenses by General Pemberton. Shortly after the surrender his regiment marched to Jackson, Mississippi, and after several skirmishes proceeded to new Orleans, and from there went to Texas. In that department they were engaged until the expiration of their term of service when they proceeded to New Orleans. Mr. Pierce was discharged at New Orleans in the winter of 1863, when he returned to his home.

    In the fall of 1864 he again enlisted, becoming a member of Company C, Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry, and resumed service in the department of the Mississippi. Proceeding to Fort Butler, seventy-five miles above New Orleans, he subsequently came with his command to the vicinity of Mobile, where they participated in the engagements at Forts Spanish and Blakely, which not only resulted in the fall of Mobile, but were also the last regular engagements of the civil war. From there they marched to Montgomery, and at a point forty miles west of the city went on guard duty, having charge of Government property, and in this service Mr. Pierce had under him a detail of a dozen men. Their next objective pint was Jackson, Mississippi, where they were mustered out. Mr. Pierce received his final discharge at Vicksburg, when he again returned to his home.

    During his boyhood his educational facilities were very limited, and while in the army he was obliged to dictate to a comrade the letters he wished to write home. But although a good reason had heretofore existed for his lack of school training, it was not suffered to stand in his way on his return from the war. Four years of schooling at Hartford City and Jonesboro were supplemented by four years of hard earnest study at home, so that he may be considered a largely self-educated man.

    In April, 1869, he commenced the study of law with A. B. Jetmore, of Hartford City, and after the departure of Mr. Jetmore from this city he pursued his studies with W. A. Bonham, and in April, 1871, he was admitted to the bar before Judge Cogo.

    October 3, 1870, he was married to Miss Elmira Beecher, a native of Pennsylvania. her father died in Hartford City, of which place her mother is now a resident. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are the parents of one child named Greeley.

    The experiences of Mr. Pierce when he began life for himself are worthy of particular notice. He began teaching school to obtain the absolute necessaries with which to commence house-keeping. He put up a log cabin, 12 x 15 feet, on his father's farm, and for five years he walked daily from this place to town, not only while pursuing his studies, but also in the early days of his practice. Nothing but the most indomitable spirit and strongest exercise of will-power enabled him to overcome the many obstacles in his way, and to bear up under the many discouragements cast upon him by those who should have aided him with an encouraging word.

    He practiced without a partner until 1875, when he became associated with Jacob Welch, but he following year this partnership was dissolved, the latter going to Hartford City. In 1877 Mr. Pierce formed a partnership with James B. Weir, which continued until 1880, and from 1882 until 1884 he was associated with Judge Carroll. In July, 1885, he became associated with B. G. Shinn, when the present law firm of Shinn & Pierce may be said to have actively commenced in 1873, when he became deputy prosecutor for Blackford County, which position he filled until 1877. In 1878 he ran for district prosecutor, and although the county was largely Republican, he came within sixty-three votes of an election over his opponent.

    In 1886 he entered the lists for Representative to the General Assembly from the district composed of Jay, Blackford and Adams Counties, and at the convention held at Portland in June of that year he received the nomination of his party, being elected at the election in the following November. In that General Assembly he was on the following committees: Claims, Judiciary, Benevolent Institutions, Southern Prison and Bribery, and took part in the investigation of the Insane Hospital, Deaf and Blind. In this session he introduced a number of measures, among which were the bills for the following purposes: to amend Section 10 of the drainage act; to amend the law relating to justice authority to imprison for costs as well as for fines; to amend the law in relation to changing county boundaries, etc.

    Mr. Pierce is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the Grand Army Post at Hartford City. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being steward of his church.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.