William Francis Pierce (1865-1950) was my maternal 2nd-great grandfather. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about him.
1. Vital Records
1.1. Birth Certificate
William was born July 10, 1865 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana1.
The State of Indiana did not require birth certificates prior to 1907.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
I have not been able to locate any contemporary accounts of William's birth.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I am not aware of any surviving Bible record of the Pierce family. I will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that such a record does exist.
1.1.3. Baptismal Record
I am not aware of any baptismal record for William at this time, nor am I aware of the family's church affiliation. Later in life, they were members of the Methodist church.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that William was adopted.
1.2. Marriage license
William married on January 14, 1892 in Madison County, Indiana to Clara Penisten2.
William married on March 4, 1909 in Madison County, Indiana to Vida Maddox3.
Their marriage license was the subject of a previous post.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
Will need to search out contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of William's marriages. Have added this to my research "to-do" list.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
William and Vida's 25th wedding anniversary would have been March 4, 1934. Need to search local newspapers to see if mention was made.
1.2.3. Divorce decree
There is no indication of any divorce by William from either wife.
1.3. Death Certificate
William died September 21, 1950 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana1. The cause of death listed in his obituary was stroke. I need to obtain a copy of his death certificate from the Madison County Health Department.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
William's obituary was published in the September 21, 1950 edition of the Alexandria, Indiana Times-Tribune1.
Need to search out other local newspapers to see if his death was also mentioned in their publications.
1.3.2. Funeral home records
According to his obituary, the funeral arrangements were handled by the Davis and Strickler funeral home. Need to search at the local historical society to see if they have any of the records.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
William's tombstone in the Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Indiana has been photographed.
The tombstone lists him as "William F. 1865-1950".
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census
On April 24, 1930, William was enumerated in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana4, as William Pierce, age 64, married Farmer born in Indiana. He was aged 25 at the time of his first marriage. He could read and write and spoke English. Both of his parents were born in Indiana. He owned his own home.
2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census
On January 23, 1920, William was enumerated in Frankton, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana5, as William F. Pierce, age 53, married, Farmer born in Indiana. Both of his parents were born in Indiana. He could read and write and speak English. He owned his home and it was mortgaged.
2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census
On April 22, 1910, William was enumerated in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana6, as W.F. Pierce, age 45, farmer, born in Indiana. Both of his parents were born in Indiana. He had been married for 1 year, and it was his second marriage. He owned his home and it was mortgaged.
2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census
On June 15, 1900, William was enumerated in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana7, as William F. Pierce, age 35, born July 1866 in Indiana, farmer. Both of his parents were born in Indiana. He had been married for 8 years. He could read and write and speak English.
2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census
On June 3, 1880, William was enumerated in the Catharine Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana8, as William Pierce, age 14, son, born in Indiana. He worked on the farm and had attended school within the year. Both parents were listed as being born in Indiana.
2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census
On July 15, 1870, William was enumerated in the E.G. Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana9, as W.F. Pierce, age 4, born in Indiana.
2.2. State Census Records
The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919 and 1921. These, however, were merely for the purposes of determining legislative apportionment.
2.3. Agricultural Census Records
I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what light it might shed on the Pierce family farm.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
William was too old to be included in the draft for World War I or World War II. He would have been subject to the draft for the Spanish-American War.
3.2. Pension Records
Not applicable, as I have found no evidence that William served in the military.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable, as I have found no evidence that William served in the military.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana. Have added this to my "to-do" list on my next research trip.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Madison County published a plat map in 1880, 1891, 1893, 1901, 1910, 1915, 1921, 1923, 1931 and 1940 that might be relevant to my search for the Pierce family.
5. Supplemental Records
Supplemental records available to search for William include county/city directories, court records and will and probate records. Have added these to my "to-do" list for my next research trip into Madison County.
Sources:
1. William Pierce obituary, Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, September 21, 1950.
2. Madison County Indiana Marriage Book C4, page 112, Madison County Clerk's Office, Anderson, Indiana.
3. Madison County Indiana Marriage Book 20, page 216, Madison County Clerk's Office, Anderson, Indiana.
4. William Pierce household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 48-45, SD 5, sheet 13B, dwelling 321, family 327; National Archives micropublication T626.
5. William F. Pierce household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 119, SD 8, sheet 6A, dwelling 127; family 129; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 449.
6. W.F. Pierce household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 106, SD 8, sheet 5A, dwelling 86, family 86; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 364.
7. William F. Pierce household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 90, SD 67, sheet 11B, dwelling 220, family 235; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 386.
8. Catharine Pierce household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, page 1, ED 23, SD 3, dwelling 2, family 2; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 293.
9. E.G. Pierce household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, page 32, dwelling 235; family 235; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 336.
This post was developed as part of the series relating to Building My 2011 Research Template, an attempt to systematically document and source the details of my ancestors' lives. Comments regarding this template and the conclusions drawn in this article are welcomed.
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