Riley Pierce, one of Plainfield's most highly respected residents and a pioneer of the town passed away at his home Sunday at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 21 days.

Mr. Pierce had been in poor health for some time owing to his advanced age. He was one of the earliest settlers in that locality, coming from New York and buying the farm which was bis home at the time of his death, from the government.

He was a man prominent in public affairs and highly respected by all. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Vern on the old home place and Frank, of Menominee, Mich. One son died June 17, 1915. Had Mr. Pierce lived a few hours longer he would have been 82 years of age.

The funeral was held in the Methodist church at Plainfield, Tuesday at 3 p. m., conducted by Rev. Kofske and interment was in the Plainfield cemetery.

Obituary submitted by Richar Creger


Source: Curtiss-Wedge, F.; Jones, Geo. O. (ed.) / :History of Dunn County, Wisconsin" (1925) pages 257-258

Riley Pierce was a native of Catteraugus County, New York, who at the age of 18 years made western land investments, buying 400 acres in Bremer County, Iowa, though he did not then settle on it. He came west, however, to Elgin, Ill., from which place he started in company with a young man named Miller on a journey to Pike's Peak, Colo., this adventure being undertaken about the year 1858 owing to the reports of gold discoveries in that region. No railroad then crossed the western plains, where the Indians were lords of the soil and usually hostile to white encroachments or travel across their territory. In the feverish quest for gold, however, this and other dangers were forgotten or disregarded and thousands of men set out for what was thought to be a new El Dorado, many of whom never came back, some not even reaching their goal, being slain by the Indians or by some white desperado with whom they had come into unlucky collision. Young Pierce and his companion went to Council Bluffs, Ia., with ox teams and continued their journey from there with wagon trains. Before they reached Pike's Peak, however, they met others coming back who had met with disappointment, whose stories so discouraged young Miller that he decided to go no further but to turn back. But Riley Pierce was determined to go on, if not to Pike's Peak, at least to some part of the far west territory, where, if he met with adventure and danger, he might at least have a chance at fortune. Accordingly he bought Miller's team and continued to follow the setting sun, passing through Salt Lake City, where Brigham Young presided as high priest over the polygamous Mormon colony, through Echo Canyon and other notable places on the western pilgrimage until, after some months travel he arrived at Stockton, Calif. In that vicinity, in the San Juan Valley, he had a cousin who was engaged in farming and who gave him employment. After working for him two years he took a job driving a 13-mule team, hauling supplies to the mountain mines. The mules were handled and driven by a contrivance known as a "jerk line," in the use of which young Pierce became expert, and for two vears he was thus occupied. At the end of that time he returned home, making the journey in sailing vessels and by rail crossing the isthmus of Panama.

Not long after his return he was married in Illinois on Sept. 21, 1861, to Vercelia Panton[sic], who was born in Michigan. On the very day of their marriage the bridal pair left for the West to make a home on Mr. Pierce's Iowa land. On arriving there he built a shack for a temporary dwelling and then began the development of a farm homestead. His land included what is now part of the site of the village of Plainfield, but by him it was used for agricultural purposes and stock raising, and very successfully, as be became not only one of the leading farmers in his county but was well known throughout the state. -From 1881 to 1888 he shipped cattle and horses to North Dakota and the Red River Valley. In 1883 he became a squatter on a piece of land near Grand Forks, N. D. On an adjacent tract he found another squatter, by name William H. Davidson, and together they built a shanty right on the dividing line between the two tracts so that the line passed through the center of the shanty. There they lived together until they had proved up their land, after which Mr. Pierce returned to his home farm in Iowa, his family having operated it during his absence. He added to his original claim until he owned a whole section, which is now the property of his son Frank. Riley Pierce developed it into a fine farm and ranch, from 1881 to 1884 shipping cattle and horses to North Dakota and the Red River Valley, and being recognized as one of the wealthiest farmers in his part of the state.

After a long, active and successful career, he passed away on Sept. 2, 1916. His wife is still living on the home farm. They were the parents of three children:

1. William, who also became a prominent and well to do farmer;

2. Frank, of Menemonie, Wis., president of the First National Bank of Menomonie, and a man of varied business and social activities;

3. Vernon, who now conducts the home farm in Iowa, and who is president of the Farmers State Bank of Plainfield, that state.

Information submitted by pMcP

Additional information submitted by Louis

Riley Pierce has been closely and influentially identified with agricultural interests of Bremer County for many years and is now numbered among the extensive landowners and successful agriculturists of this vicinity. He was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, September 4, 1834, and is a son of Luther and Clarissa (Wells) Pierce, the former born January 18, 1802, and the latter, February 14, 1807. When Luther Pierce was nineteen years of age he agreed to pay his father twenty dollars for the time yet remaining before he attained his majority, and, being thus released from work on the farm, went to New York state, where he worked in the lumber woods. About 1838 he removed to Illinois and there engaged in farming, meeting with well deserved success as a reward of his energy and enterprise. He accumulated six hundred acres of land and amassed a comfortable fortune, which he expended always wisely and practically. In community affairs he took an active and prominent part, serving as justice of the peace and supervisor, and he became known as Father Pierce to his many friends. He had six children, Julian, Rosina, Riley, Desdemona, Mary and Byron.
Riley Pierce was still a child when his parents moved to Illinois and he acquired his education in the public schools of that state. In 1859 he joined a party of pioneers driving ox teams across the continent to California. He started from his home in DuPage county, four miles south of Elgin, and afterward joined a party of travelers with fifty wagons. The caravan made the trip to California without being molested and in that state Mr. Pierce engaged in teaming and farming, having joined a cousin, Hiram Thurston, who had gone to the state ten years before. He worked in the latter's employ for some time and remained in California until 1861, in which year he returned by way of the Isthmus, intending to enlist for service in the Civil War. Being, however, too late for the first draft of seventy-five thousand volunteers and too early for the draft of three hundred thousand, he moved to Iowa and settled in Bremer county, this state, buying land in Polk township from the government. He paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre for this property and he continued to develop and improve it for many years thereafter, adding greatly to its value and attractiveness. His holdings comprise three hundred and twenty-four acres and there are also eighty acres across the river, which Mr. Pierce uses as pasture for his fine herd of shorthorn and Durham cattle and his registered Percheron horses. On the home farm Mr. Pierce has erected two large silos, fine barns and outbuildings and a comfortable residence and has made it in all respects a valuable and productive property. He still makes his home upon it and gives a general supervision to its management, but the farm is operated by his sons, who have also charge of a large property in Wisconsin and another in North Dakota. Mr. Pierce is vice president of the Savings Bank of Plainfield and is recognized as a discriminating financier and a farsighted and able business man.
On the 23rd of September, 1862, Mr. Pierce was united in marriage to Miss Vernelia Panton, a native of Oakland county, Michigan, and a daughter of William and Jane Ann (Lane) Panton, the former born in Milton, Kent county, England, and the latter in Victor, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce became the parents of three children: William, who lives at home; Frank, who lives in Wisconsin, where he has married and where he engages successfully in the lumber business, being also president of the First National Bank at Winona; and Vernon, also at home.
Mr. Pierce gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has served two three-year terms as supervisor. In 1904 he was delegate to the National Farmers Convention at Fort Worth, Texas, and he gives his aid and active support to every progressive public project, being known as a loyal and public-spirited citizen. He is a worthy and upright gentleman, whose life has ever been in harmony with his professions and whose good qualities have gained for him an honored name.
[History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914]