JOSEPH JACKSON PIERCE, who is familiarly known as Joe Jack, is a prominent and influential citizen of Oregon County, Missouri In Benton County, West Tennessee, he was born in 1849, and is.a son of S. .D. and Kesiah (Forest) Pierce, the former a native of Wake County, N. C., and the latter of west Tennessee.
The father was but a child when his parents took him to west Tennessee, and he there grew to manhood and married. In the year 1855 he came to Missouri and first settled in Ripley County where he remained two years, after which he moved to Oregon County, and bought a claim. The most of this was in the woods on Frederick Creek, and he began at once to clear and improve it. This farm now belongs to George Baker. and is in Oak Grove Township. Mr. Pierce is still living, is seventy-two years of age, and makes his home with our subject. Nearly all his life has been spent in farming. Twice he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, but would never qualify. During the Civil War he served four years in a Missouri regiment, Confederate Army, as lieutenant, and was east of the Mississippi River up to the surrender of Vicksburg. He then returned home and joined Freeman’s cavalry, with which he remained until the close. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner. The mother of our subject is still living, is sixty-eight years of age, and is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, in which she has held membership for many years. Mr. Pierce is a Democrat in politics. Born to their marriage were eleven children, seven of whom are now living.
The original of this notice spent his school days in this county, while his father was in the army, and it became his duty to provide for the remainder of the family as he was the eldest. When twenty-two years of age he commenced farming on Frederick River, on the old place, and remained there until 1872, when he went to the Cherokee Nation. Not being satisfied he returned to Alton, resided there one year and then returned to the farm on the Frederick. A year later he moved to the place owned by Mr. Whitehead. In the year 1876 Mr. Pierce was married to Miss M. Elizabeth Hodges, of this county and State, and they have two children: William A. and Heyden M., both at home. In 1878 Mr. Pierce bought the place where he now lives, and has since been engaged in tilling the soil. In 1886 he was elected sheriff, held the position four years to the satisfaction of all, and then returned to the farm. Before serving as sheriff he had held the office of constable. Recently he received the nomination for sheriff by the Democratic party. Mr. Pierce is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, is an Odd Fellow, and a Democrat in his political views.