I did get your email and will be replying. My great great grandfather is James Tyre Pierce the oldest of the Pierce children and the brother of Ruth Pierce that married John W. Howell. I have only put some bits and pieces together for John Howell and his marriage to Ruth Pierce and have 2 children from his first marriage. I don't have a lot of info, but will share with you what I have.

Renee Smelley
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~yarbrough