HISTORY OF THOMAS PIERCE
Thomas Pearce, who was a soldier of the Patriot Army during the Revolutionary War, was born in the City of New York on Jan. 1, 1745 and on Jan. 1 1768 married Mary Barnes, who bore him ten children, Joseph, Lewis, Elizabeth, Thomas, James, John, Jane, Jesse, Mary and Andrew. He made his home in Frederick County, MD, and served as a member of the regiment from that county in the army of General Washington during the War of independence and was present with that army at the surrender of General Cornwallis on Oct 19, 1781. Sometime after the close of the war his first wife died and on 7 July 1799, he marrried Elizabeth Colllins, who bore him seven children. In the meantime he had moved from MD to KY and after a residence of several years in the latter state, came up into OH (in 1801) and settled on land now occupied by the city of Urbana, erecting there a house and establishing his home. That house, which stood about where a present City Building stands, was the first house built in Urbana and in the same, in 1803 Milton Perce, the first child born, the second child born in that vicinity being Harvey C. Pearce,who was born in the house which Thomas Pearce built on what is now known as the Kenaga farm, just east of the city, in the summer and fall of 1803. On this latter place Thomas Pearce spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the substantial and useful pioneers of that section and a strong factor in the bringing about of proper social and economic conditions in that new country. Before moving to his second place he had cleared a field on his first settlement, including the present Monument Square and the business section of the city of Urbana and had there raised some Indian corn and potatoes; it thus being undisputed that to this old Revolutionary soldier and stout-hearted pioneer belongs the honor of having been the first settler of what is now the populous and thriving county seat of Champaign County.
SOURCE: History of Champaign County OH Vol. II by Judge Evan P. MIddleton 1917.

The town, as was before stated, was laid out in 1805. the first house erected was a log cabin build by Thomas Pearce, on Marker space, immediately north of what was once the old market house, now the city hall building, and east of South Main street. This cabin was built before the town was laid out. He was the father of Mr. Harvey Pearce of Urbana, who, in an active
and vigorous old age, still manages the labor on a large farm. He afterward built a cabin on the knoll, about three hundred yards, east of East Lawn street, which was subsequently used as a school house, being the first school and taught by Peter Oliver nad William Stephens. Hard by, Mr. Pearce, cultivated a corn-field many years, which subsequently contained a race-tract, where houses were shown and scrub-races run.
SOURCE: History of Champaign County Ohio by Publlisher W. H. Beers & Co. 1881

BURIAL: Thomas Pearce was buried on the Family farm.
(2nd) SOURCE: Burial information from Kay Mullen, Pearce descendant of Cynthia Pearce, sister of William Herbert, Born in Bond County, IL .
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY OHIO Publisher W. H. Beers & Co. 1881

HISTORY CONTINUED:
The town, as was before stated, was first laid out in 1805. The first house erected was a log cabin built by Thomas Pearce, on Marker space, immediately north of what was once the old market house, now the city hall building, and east of South Mian street. This cabin was built before the town was laid out. He was the father of Mr. Harvey Pearce of Urbana, who,
in an active and vigorous old age, still manages the labor on a large fame. He afterward built a cabin on the knoll, about three hundred yards east of East Lawn street, which was subsequently used as a schoolhouse, being the first school, and taught by Peter Oliver and William Stephens. Hard, by, Mr. Pearce cultivated a corn field many years, which subsequently contained
a race-track, where horses were shown and scrub-races run. Among the first settlers of the village were Joseph C. Vance, George Fithian, Samuel McCord, Zephania Luse, William H. Fyffe, Willian and John Glenn, Frederick Ambrose, John Reynolds, Simon Kenton, Edward W. Pearce.

Joseph	Lewis	Elizabeth	Thomas	James
John	Jane	Jessee	Mary	Andrew

Facts on Children of Thomas PEARCE and Mary BARNES were as follows:
2 i Joseph2 Pearce [60], born 18 Sep 1780 of Frederick Co. MD. He married in 1838 in Champaign Co. OH, Elizabeth Hubbard [61], born c1800.

3 ii Louis2 Pearce [62], born 11 Jan 1782 of Frederick Co. MD.

4 iii Elizabeth2 Pearce [63], born 14 Jan 1783 of Frederick Co. MD. She married in c1808 in Champaign Co. OH, Bruce Worley [64].

5 iv Thomas2 Pearce [65], born 25 Aug 1785 of Frederick Co. MD. He married in 1827 in Champaign Co. OH, Nancy Ross [66], born 1810 in Urbana, Champaign Co. OH.

6 v James2 Pearce [67], born 3 Jan 1787 of Frederick Co. MD. He married Elizabeth Byram [68], born 1812.

7 vi John2 Pearce [69], born 3 Sep 1788 of Frederick Co. MD. He married in 1814, Elizabeth Stwart [72].
8 vii Jane2 Pearce [70], born 13 Apr 1790 of Frederick Co. MD. She married in c1816 in Champaign Co. OH, Jacob Beedle [71].

9 viii Jesse2 Pearce [73], born 27 Aug 1792 of Urbana, Champaign co. OH. He married in c1813 in Champaign Co. OH, Nancy Williams [74].

10 ix Mary2 Pearce (Polly) [75], born 16 Oct 1792 of Urbana, Champaign Co.OH. She married on 28 Dec 1826 in Champaign Co. OH, Robert Bay [76].

11 x Andrew2 Pearce [77], born 17 Dec 1796 in Frederick Co. MD. He married in 1843 in Jefferson, Co. OH, Malinda Lewis [78], born 8 Sep 1825.

CHILDREN OF THOMAS PEARCE & ELIZABETH COLLINS PEARCE

Children of Thomas PEARCE and Elizabeth Collins Pearce:
+ 12 i William2 Pearce [29], born 13 Feb 1801 in Urbana, Champaigne, Ohio. He married Margaret Gray [20].

13 ii Milton2 Pearce [31], born 1803 in Urbana, Champaigne, Ohio.

14 iii Harvey Collins2 Pearce [30], born 20 Jan 1805 in Urbana, Champaigne, Ohio; died 11 Jul 1891 in Urbana, Champaign Co. OH. He married on 24 Mar 1831 in Urbana, Champaign Co. OH, Beulah Barrett [58], born Aug 1809 in Urbana, Champaign Co. OH; died bef. 1891 in Urbana, Champaign Co. OH.

15 iv Clarissa2 Pearce [41], born 19 Apr 1807 in Urbana, Champ. Ohio. Referred to by Harvey C. as twin of Shyrigh .

16 v Wesley2 Pearce [42], born 5 Apr 1809 in Urbana, Champaigne, Ohio. He married on 21 Sep 1836 in Urbana, Champaigne, Ohio, Nancy Tucker [43].

17 vi Rheny (Rhuey)2 Pearce [44], born 8 Sep 1812 in Urbana, Champaigne, Ohio.

18 vii Sarah2 Pearce [45], born 12 Dec 1815/16 in Urbana, Champaigne, Ohio.

19 viii Hester Shyrigh2 Pearce [59], born in Urbana, Champaign Co. OH. Referred to by Harvey C. as twin of Clarissa.

Generation 2

12. William2 Pearce [29] (Thomas1), born 13 Feb 1801 in Urbana, Champaigne, Ohio; died 8 Jul 1864 in Saline, Madison, ILL. He married abt. 1827 Margaret Gray [20], born 1811 in Saline, Madison, ILL; died 27 Jul 1862 in Saline, Madison, ILL.

William Pearce was born in Urbana, Ohio, on February 13, 1801. He was married on November 21, 1827, to Margaret Gray, who was born December 26, 1811. William Pearce came at an early age to Madison County, Illinois, and located in Saline Township northeast of Highland on a farm now known as the Nancy Gillett Place, which he purchased from a man named McCullom in 1824. He lived on it until his death in 1864. When he came to Saline Township, there was an unbroken prairie extending in all directions except for some timberland along Sugar Creek and the east fork of Silver Creek, which was thickly timbered. James Pearce, a cousin, had made the first settlement in Leef Township, on Section 34, in 1817, having come from Kentucky. No doubt it was through James Pearce that his cousin was induced to make a settlement adjoining him on the south about five miles but over in another township east of Sugar Creek. The game, such as wild turkey, deer, and fox, were plentiful, and William and his cousin William Wriley Pearce often hunted together. Hannah Challis often stated that she remembered Wriley Pearce of Alhambra coming over and staying with them for several days on a hunting
expedition. William Pearce was twice married and reared a large family by his first wife, Margaret Gray, who died August 27, 1862. His second wife was Nancy McAlilly, the widow of Samuel McAlilly, who had passed away in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce had been married but a short time when he met with his untimely death on July 8, 1864. He had been reaping grain when the horses became frightened and ran away, throwing him before the sickle, which cut off an arm and inflicted other injuries from which he died in about a week. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Pearce married again; her third husband was Seth Gillett, whom she married on August 12, 1865. He died in 1881. Nancy McAlilly Pearce Gillett is buried by her first husband in Dugger Cemetery.

Children of William PEARCE and Margaret GRAY were as follows:

+ 20 i Lemuel J.3 Pearce [10], born 27 Sep 1828 in Bond, ILL. He married Sarah Ann Hobbs [11].

21 ii Elizabeth3 Pearce [21], born 1831 in Saline, Madison, Illinois. !

22 iii Mary3 Pearce [22], born 1836 in Saline, Madison, Illinois. !

23 iv Cynthia3 Pearce [23], born 1840 in Saline, Madison, Illinois. !

24 v Sarah3 Pearce [24], born 1843 in Saline, Madison, Illinois. !

25 vi Martha3 Pearce [25], born 1845 in Saline, Madison, Illinois. !

26 vii Hannah3 Pearce [26], born 1849 in Saline, Madison, Illinois. !

Generation 3

 20. Lemuel J.3 Pearce [10] (William2, Thomas1), born 27 Sep 1828 in Bond, ILL; died 24 Jan 1878 in Pocahantas, Bond, ILL. He married Sarah Ann Hobbs [11], born abt. 1832 in Bond Co. ILL.

Children of Lemuel J. PEARCE and Sarah Ann HOBBS were as follows:
27 i John O.4 Pearce [14], born 1853 in Pocahantas, Bond, Illinois; died in Salida, CO. John and wife appeared in Chaffee Co. Salida with brother William Herbert in 1910. John O. died in Salida CO, in 1926. Buried in Fairview Cemetery, Salida, CO.

28 ii James L.4 Pearce [15], born 1859 in Pocahantas, Bond, Illinois; died 24 Oct 1938 in Pueblo, Co.. He married Mary Emily McHugh [32], born in Montgomery Co. IL. James L. and family appeared in 1900 Census Salida, Chaffee Co. with brothers William Herbert and Charles Harvey. Wife Mary was sister to Anne Eliza McHugh, wife of William Herbert. James L. died in Pueblo Co. Oct. 24, 1938. OBITUARY- PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN, TUES. OCTOBER 25, 1938 PEARCE-James Lemuel Pearce at hospital Monday, Oct. 24. Husband of Mrs. Mary E. Pearce of the family home. 714 E. Third Street: father of Mrs George Denman, Denver; Mrs. R. L. Gray, Coffeeville, KS; Mrs. Jack Wilson, Walsenb erg CO; R. M. Pearce, 403 East Evans Ave; W. B. Pearce, Hardy Mont. Life member of Salida Lodge No. 57, A.F.& A.M. at Salida. Service 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Davis Mortuary Chapel. South Pueblo lodge No. 31 A.F.& A. M. in courtesy to the Salida lodge No. 57, will conduct the Masonic burial ceremony at the graveside.

+ 29 iii William Herbert4 Pearce [8], born 4 Apr 1861 in Pocahantas, Bond, ILL. He married Anne Eliza Nancy McHugh [9].

30 iv Truman L.4 Pearce [16], born 1863 in Pocahantas, Bond, Illinois. Truman and family appeared in Census of 1920 in Saquache, Colorado.

31 v Joseph L.4 Pearce [17], born 1867 in Pocahantas, Bond, Illinois.

32 vi Charles Harvey4 Pearce [18], born 1870 in Greenville, Bond, Illinois. [Charles Harvey died in a railroad accident in Salida CO. at age 39, Sept 1907. Buried in Fairview Cemetery Salida CO. Source: Salida Record
(Newspaper) 13 Sept 1907.

33 vii Jesse F.4 Pearce [19], born 1875 in Greenville, Bond, Illinois.

 Generation 4

29. William Herbert4 Pearce [8] (Lemuel J.3, William2, Thomas1), born 4 Apr 1861 in Pocahantas, Bond, ILL; died 22 Dec 1925 in Railroad Hospital, LaJunta, Otero, Colorado. He married on 8 Sep 1883 in , Montgomery,
Illinois, Anne Eliza Nancy McHugh [9], born Dec 1863 in Irving, Montgomery, ILL; died 7 Jul 1954 in Canon City,Colorado, daughter of Benjamin McHugh [33] and Emily Bilyru [34].

William worked for the Salida School District in 1900, was a painter for A.T.&S.F. railroad until his death. He used gold leaf on railcars etc. Buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Pueblo, CO

Grandma Pearce was a very tiny woman but the was notably in charge with no one objecting. She was a very staunch Baptist and a lifetime member of the Lake Ave. Baptist Church in Pueblo, CO. Buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Pueblo, CO

+ 34 i Homer Herbert5 Pearce [3], born 14 Sep 1887 in Irving, Montgomery, ILL. He married Neva Laura Holcomb [4].

35 ii Grace E.5 Pearce [12], born 1891 in , Bond, Illinois. Married Jesse Dunn of Canon City, CO

36 iii William Frances5 Pearce [13], born 18 Dec 1902 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado; died Aug 1986 in Springfield,, Oregan. He married abt. 1926 in Pueblo, Co. CO, Helen Ruddy [56], born abt. 1903/04 in Pueblo, Co. CO; died abt. 1930 in Pueblo, Co. CO.

 Generation 5

34. Homer Herbert5 Pearce [3] (William Herbert4, Lemuel J.3, William2,Thomas1), born 14 Sep 1887 in Irving, Montgomery, ILL; died 14 May 1954 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado. He married on 21 Sep 1914 in Pueblo, Pueblo,
Colorado, Neva Laura Holcomb [4], born 15 Jan 1893 in Chivington, Kiowa, Colorado; Daughter of Frank Curtis & Laura J. Adams Holcomb, died 28 Sep 1991 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado.

Children of Homer Herbert PEARCE and Neva Laura HOLCOMB were as follows:

37 i Lorna Corrine6 Pearce [5], born 16 Apr 1916 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado; died 1993 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado. She married abt. 1932 in Raton, New Mexico, James Willard Mathews [47], born 4 Jul 1915 in Liberal,
Seward, Kan; died 1976 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado.

38 ii Ethel Lenore6 Pearce [7], born Jul 1918 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado.

39 iii Paul Gene6 Pearce [6], born 11 Mar 1921 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado;
died 19 Feb 1975 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado.

40 iv Homer Kenneth6 Pearce [2], born 13 Mar 1926 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado; died 6 Oct 1990 in Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado. He married on 3 Aug 1950 in Raton, Colfax, New Mexico, divorced , Nita Natalie Biby [1], born 4 Jul 1933 in Gentry, Benton, Ark.. Kenneth was born 13 Mar. 1926 in Pueblo CO.