Biographical sketch of EPHRAIM PEARCE from the book entitled, "Biographical Memoirs of Saint Clair County, Michigan," published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Publishers in Logansport, Indiana.

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This bio spans three (3) pages: 265-267

EPHRAIM PEARCE

This venerable and respected resident of Columbus township, St. Clair county, Michigan, was born September 25, 1825, in Milksham, Wiltshire, England, which was one part of the estate of Alfred the Great. He is a son of Isaac and Priscilla (Knee) Pearce, the former of whom was born in the same place in 1797, and died at the age of eighty-three years. Isaac Pearce was a manipulator of cloth and came to America in 1841, locating in Connecticut. From there he removed to Massachusetts and in 1849 came to St. Clair county, Michigan, bought eighty acres of wild land and started the first cloth-making machinery in the county. He afterward settle don his land, where his wife passed away in 1881, he following her to the grave in 1882. They were the parents of four children, namely: George, Matilda, Ephraim and Leah. Of these, George learned the printing business in St. Clair county, Michigan, later went to New York, worked on the Tribune for several years, afterwards became the city editor of the journal, and while employed in that capacity died in 1895. It is stated that Isaac Pearce, the father, lost a small fortune by having spurious money passed on him in the course of trade, but otherwise he was quite successful and realized a competence. He died a deacon in the Baptist church and in politics a Republican.

Ephraim Pearce married, May 7, 1846, Miss Ellen Bailey, a daughter of William and Hannah Bailey, who were all born in the same part of England in which the subject’s parents had their nativity. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were the parents of seven children and died in England, Mrs. Pearce being the only representative of the family in America. In religion Mr. Bailey was reared an Episcopalian, but later became a Baptist, and at death was the owner of ten or twelve thousand dollars’ worth of property. To the old home in England Mr. and Mrs. Pearce made a visit in 1868-1869, chiefly for the purpose of again beholding the scenes of their childhood days and of meeting once more the surviving friends of their early life. Mrs. Pearce was born March 23, 1826, and was reared and educated in her native England. Religiously she was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church, but in later life she became a zealous member of the Baptist church, having served as treasurer of the Ladies’ Mission Circle for seven years. She was a good wife and an affectionate mother. Her death occurred January 29, 1894.

To the marriage of Ephraim Pearce and wife were born six children, namely: William, a farmer who married Isabell Patterson and has had born to him three children, Cora, Roy and George; Hannah married John McCall, a retired farmer, living in Memphis, Michigan, to whom she has borne seven children, Pearce, an engineer on the Grand Trunk Railroad, is married and has the following named children, Eva, Arthur, Frank, Albert, Daily L., and Don; Sarah married George Stewart, of Saginaw, and is the mother of two children, John and Robert; Nellie married Sidney Robertson, and is the mother of seven children, Fred, Bertha, Ada A., Nellie, Vera, Sidney and Blanche; Bertha is the wife of A. P. McDonald, a Baptist clergyman at Mount Pleasant, and has four children, Clarence, Grace, Ralph and Norris; Robert, who is farming on the old homestead, is married to Mary Mackley, and has three children, Eleanor, Beatrice and Eunice.

Ephraim Pearce on coming to America first set out a nursery on Long Island, New York, which he conducted for three years with very satisfactory results, but the growing reputation of Michigan as a fruit-growing, agricultural and live-stock breeding state were strong inducements for Mr. Pearce to make the Wolverine state his home. Accordingly he came here and settled in Columbus township, St. Clair county, and has since been engaged in general farming and fruit growing, together with stock breeding.

Mr. Pearce and his sons have a farm of one hundred and forty acres, nearly all of which is under cultivation and here a great deal of attention is also given to live stock, such as Durham cattle and Berkshire swine, cattle raising being the principal industry. This farm Mr. Pearce, with his own hands, cleared up almost entirely from the woods, having acquired it through his present exertions and economy.

In his political faith Mr. Pearce is a Democrat and has filled the offices of township supervisor, township clerk, township commissioner and all the school offices, having been school director for twenty-nine years. In religion he is a Baptist and for forty years was clerk of the church at Columbus. He has always been a liberal contributor to the support of his church in a pecuniary sense and active in every way toward advancing its welfare. He is now well advances in years, is living in quiet retirement and is most highly respected by all of his neighbors, old and young, and it will certainly be admitted that his long and useful life fully entitles him to all the respect that is paid him.

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PLEASE NOTE: I do not have any personal interest in researching the PEARCE surname or the St. Clair county, Michigan location. I am merely posting a select number of the biographical sketches found in the above-referenced book *upon specific written request* as a service to the genealogical community; these transcriptions are intended for personal use and are not being done for profit. Please do not contact me with regard to research interests in the above as I have no personal ties. Thank you.