DEATH of an OLD CITIZEN--a SOLIDER of the WAR of 1812
Died, at his residence, in Wabash Township, on the 26th day of October, 1874, James Pierce, aged a little over eighty-two years. The deceased was born in the State of Virginia near the battle-field of Rich Mountain, on the 2nd day of October, 1792, and while young, moved, with his parents, to Coshocton County, State of Ohio, where he resided until the year 1829, when with his family, in company with James Severson, another old Citizen of this county, removed to this State, and landed in this county on the 25th day of December, 1829.

On his arrival here at that early day, he found this part of the country with but few residences, the city of Lafayette a small village, and where now may be found prosperous farms, a wild, uncultivated wilderness. The deceased bought the large farm on which he resided for forty-five years, at the land sale at Crawfordsville in the last named year, and died within a few paces of the spot where on the log cabin stood first occupied by him as a house for himself and family.

The deceased enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, under the late General Lewis Cass, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and with his brother, William Pierce, who also lived in this county, and died with the cholera, on what is known as the county farm, in the year 1849, served their country as soldiers in that early day.

General Cass and the deceased, in their younger days, were associates and warm friends, which continued until after the death of the great soldier and statesman. After the termination of the war these two friends became separated, and did not meet again for forty years. Their first meeting, after their long separation, occurred on the north side of the Public square of this city, when the General was here as long ago as 1844. The scene of the meeting and recognition was touching in the extreme.

The deceased has lived a long and eventful life, and has seen most of all the early settlers pass away. He leaves a large family of children, most of whom reside near the old family home, and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss.
--The Weekly Journal - Fri 10/20/1874

Information received from Vonda Dowell, Find-A-Grave contributor #46922561