Person:Anna Darby (2)

A more extensive text about Captain Alexander Pearce, his family and his military career, as well as more on the family of Benjamin and Samantha (Pilcher) Ward appears on the 18th OVI web site ("http://www.18thovi.com/apearcebio.htm", Biography of Alexander Pearce, Co D).

"[As quoted from, "A Family History- The Pearces," prepared by Anna Darby in September, 1963 and transcribed with additonal research notations by James Bohannan, June 22, 2010.]

The Pearces lived near New Petersburg, Ohio, and were industrious and prosperous. They were farmers, merchants, shoemakers and tanners. They have a record of good citizenship. James Madison and Rebecca were the parents of eight children, three daughters, Sarah Jane, Alice, Ann Mary, and five sons, Alexander, George W., William H., John Richard, and James. One son, Worth, died in infancy.

Alexander, the oldest, born February 1, 1828, who was destined to become the grandfather of this writer. As a youth Alexander showed promise as a writer and wished to become an editor. He was apprenticed to a printer. After his apprentice­ship, as a young journeyman printer, he was looking for a place to start his own newspaper, when he came in contact with Moses Cleaveland, for whom the city of Cleaveland (now spelled Cleveland) was named. He advised the young printer to start his business in Portsmouth, Ohio pointing out that Portsmouth was the southern terminus of theOhioand Erie Canaland was destined to become a great city. In due time, Alexander became the publisher of the first daily paper in that thriving town. It was called the DAILY DISPATCH. The enthusiasm over canals did not last long, for the first railroad in Ohio was completed in 1848, and by 1850, the Ohio River and Lake Erie were connected for a new kind of transportation. In 1856, the young editor made a change.

In 1850, there came into being a brand new county in Ohio by the name of Vinton. The new county seat, now called McArthur, seemed to offer new opportunities. Here came Alex­ander Pearce, already a newspaper publisher of seven years experience, to publish THE DEMOCRAT.

Shortly after his arrival in McArthur, a young lady captured his attention. Near the location of the newspaper office on East Main Street was a vacant lot. There stood a well where a young girl came to draw water. Like Isaac of old, Alexander inquired about her, and was told that his “Rachel” was little Amanda Ward, who was helping her aunt, Mrs. James Allen, who lived in the first house on the left. She was the only daughter of Samantha Pilcher Ward, widow of Benjamin Ward, who had recently died, leaving her pregnant and with four children. Alex­ander immediately started plans for a picnic, so he could invite that girl as his special guest. Thus started a romance. Amanda was only fifteen, hardly a marriageable age by today’s standard, but she was capable and mature for her age. Anyway it was a good marriage for a girl, even though the editor was fourteen years her senior; so it was on October 23, 1857 they were married. A Methodist preacher, S.C. Frampton officiated."