HON. ALONZO D. PIERCE Among the foremost of the citizens who have had the making of Pope county within the past three decases is the Hon. Alonzo Pierce, a man of well-rounded character, warm and generous nature, far-seeing business acumen and large public spirit. he won distinction as one of the most fearless and efficient officers of the Illinois regiments that did such noble service during the late war, and has been prominent in the civic and business life of this section since that era of battle that proved the worth of his manhood and citizenship.

Mr. Pierce was born at Jamestown, Chautauqua County, N.Y., January 17, 1831, a son of David Pierce, who was also a native of New York, born in the town of Hoosick, Rensselaer County. His father had removed to that part of the country from New England, his birthplace, and had rented land of the Van Rensselaers, a noted Knickerbocker family of that region. His last years were, however, spent at Jamestown.

The father of our subject was reared in eastern New Yor, and settled in Chautauqua County when a young man, becoming one of the early settlers of Jamestown. In 1833 he again started Westward, accompanied by his wife and two children, and made his way to Ohio. He stopped for a while at Mentor, on land that was subsequently included in Gen. Garfield's estate at the time of his death. From there he went to Ashtabula County, and bought a sawmill that was operated by water-power. During the winter season he manufactured lumber, and engaged in farming the remainder of the year. In 1839, he once more turned his face Westward, and coming to Illinois bought land in the western part of Pope County, and there serenely passed the rest of his days until his death, in 1876, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife died in 1890, at the age of seventy-eigth years. Her maiden name was Jane Jackson, and she was born in Chautauqua County, N.Y., a daughter of Daniel jackson. She was the mother of four children: Lovina, Alonzo D., Isabelle and Andrew J. The father of our subject was a Democrat until the war broke out, but from that tim ehe was a firm adherent of the Republican party. While a resident of Ashtabula County, Ohio, he served as Constable under John Sherman, Sr.

The subject of this biography made the most of his opprtunities fo obtaining a practical education, and attended school quite regularly until 1848. In that year he commenced sailing on the Lakes, and was thus engaged for two seasons. In the winter of 1849 he came to Illinois; and in February, 1959, with several others, started from Naperville for an overland journey to California, theirs being the second train of that season to face the perils and hardships to be encountered in crossing the wide and desolate plains and the mighty barrier of the mountains that lay between the little party and the wonderful gold fields of the modern El Dorado, where eachhoped to make his fortune. They crossed the Mississippi River at Council Bluffs, proceeded to the present site of Omaha, thence Southward to Ft. Kearney (the present site of Nebraska City), and then their course lay Westward over the plains and Rock Mountains. At that time there was scarcely a white settler between the Missouri River and California, except the Mormons at St. Lake. Deer and Antelop were plentiful, and the beautiful creatures were so little used to seeing white men, that they hardly knew whether or not to fear them. Buffaloes were encountered in innumberable numbers.

At the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains the party ran out of provisions. The Mormons, who shrewdly took advantage of the tide of emigration that poured over the Rockies at this point to make money from the necessities of the emigrants, had driven stock hither a thousand miles from their abiding-place, and kept them there in readiness to sell to half-starved travelrs at the most exorbintant prices. For ten pounds of fresh beef our subject and his comrades gave them a good wagon, harness for four horses, nearly a box of sperm candles, half a box of soap and $3 in cash.

July 13, our party of adventurers arrived at Hangtown (now Placerville), and were soon engaged in seeking gold. Mr. Pierce mined for nearly two years with fair success, and then purchased a ranch in the Sacramento Valley, twenty-five miles above the city of the same name. A few months later he found that his title was not good, and selling what sotck he had to pay his debts, he returned to the mountains, where he joined his former partner, having $20 in cash with which to begin life again. He bought an inerest in a mine with his old partner, and continued mining until 1856. Tiring of the rough and wild life of a mining camp, in that year he returned to his old home in Ohio, traveling by the Nicaragua route, and he went into the lumber business with his father in Ashtabula County. The panice of 1857 came, brining hard times and financial disaster to many a firm, and the Pierces were obliged to suspend business. They continued to reside in Ohio until 1859, and then father and son came to Illinois to retrieve their fallen fortunes. Together they bought land on sections 24 and 25, township 14, range 5, and carried on agricultural pursuits until the Rebellion broke out.

As soon as possible, Mr. Pierce settled his affairs and arranged to enter the ranks as a soldier to help defend his country's honor, his heart going out in undying patriotism to her in th ehour of her greatest trial, when she needed the support of every true-born freeman. He enlisted as a private in August, 1861, in Company A., Sixth Illinois Cavalry, andn for four long and bitter years served the Government with unwavering fidelity in the performance of his duties, however arduous, and with unshaken loyalty to th eold flag, until a few months after peace was declared, and he and his gallant men were no longer needed at the front. Soon after his enlistment he was promoted to the position of First Sergeant, and was made drill-master, company clerk and Quartermaster-Sergeant. For bravery in battle he was promoted to the rank of captain, and was afterward commission Major for his heroic conduct. He was with his regiment in its various marches, and in the campaigns in which it bore an important part, and was always conspicuous for his valor and intrepidity in every encounter with the enemy. At Belmont, Tenn., he led one hundred of his command against Richardson's regiment, and had the rebels well whipped before the rest of his regiment campe up. Sixty of the one hundred men who thus bravely followed their daring leader were either killed or wounded. In that engagement the valiant Major had a hand-to-hand encounter with Maj. Benson, of the rebel army, upon whom he inflicted a mortal wound. Our subject's military life was brought to and end by his honorable discharge with his regiment in November, 1865.

Returning home from his long sojourn in the South, Mr. Pierce resumed farming. In 1877 he turned his attention to the mercantile business, opening a store for the sale of general merchandise, and continued actively engaged in that line until he turned the business over to his sons in 1892. Then, having gecome interested in the creamery at Goldconda, he began to devote himself to dairy farming, which he finds profitable under his wise management, the employment of modern methods and the careful selection and care of stock.

In 1857 our subject was married to Miss Orrilla Willard, of Naperville, and her pleasant companionship and helpfulness have added grave and fullness to his life. Four children have hallowed their union: May, wife of Frank Staubitz; Walter; Carrie, wife of Charles Steyer; and Henry.

Mr. Pierce has been conspicuosly identified with the political life of the county since the early days of the Republican party, when he cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Fremont. He was a fearless and bold advocate for the abolition of slavery, being one of the first Abolitionists in Pope County, when it was absolutely dangerous for a man to champion the cause of the slave. He is a man of strong convictions and resolute will, of a courageous and dauntless nature, his life on the frontier strengthening these traits, and he has never swerved from any course thta he thought right. He used to attend political meetings here armed to the teeth, and made stump speeches with his revolver in his hand, while cooly facing an excited assembly of people who were decidedly at odds with him on the positical questions of those antebellum days. In 1856 he voted for Joshua R. Giddings for Congress. He continued to act with the Republican party until 1887, then, finding himself at variance with it on the tariff issue, and his sentiments more in harmony with the Democrats in that regard, he has since affiated with them. His fellow-citizens knowing him to be a man among men, gifted with the fine personal attributes and rare business qualifications, hold him in high esteem, and have honored him and themselves by his election to two of the most important offices that they can bestow by their suffrage. In 1870 he was elected Sheriff of Pope County, and so well did he act in the interests of law and order, that he was re-elected in 1872, and again in 1874, and it is conceded that no more zealous or capable official ever held the office. In 1876 the popular Sheriff was sent to represent his consituents in the State Legislature, and there too he did good service. Mr. Pierce is one of the leading members of Raum Post No. 362, G. A. R., of which he was one of the organizers; and he is likewise and active member of Golconda Lodge N. 131, A.F. & A.M.; and of Golconda Chapter No. 162, R.A.M.

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