Person:Hollis Pierce (2)

Hollis grew up in Valparaiso. At a young age, Hollis's father, William, was killed in a freak railway accident.

For the greater part of his life, Hollis likely worked as a teacher, as did most of his immediate family. At the age of 21, Hollis had arrived in St. Paul, MN, and stayed at the Clarendon Hotel. Perhaps he was scouting a potential homestead for his family, who moved to Minnesota a little later.

Hollis lived in Ottertail County and Wadena County in Minnesota for the next several years, working as a teacher. It was in Wadena that Hollis met his wife, Carrie May Lincoln. She was only 17 when they married, and there was a 20-year age difference between them. The couple had five children.

The couple settled in Grant Valley, Beltrami County, Minnesota, where Hollis continued working as a schoolteacher and Carrie May kept house. There are various newspaper articles referring to Hollis's teaching and earning teaching certificates. There's even an article reporting that Hollis had won fifth prize at the county fair for his Carmon potatoes.

In 1910, tragedy struck the family when Carrie May died of a massive heart attack. After this, Hollis was never the same and couldn't bear living without his wife. He often went far from home to teach, and his children were later adopted by Carrie May's sister, Alma Laura Gilmore.

After this time, Hollis was rarely seen, and he lost his farm in a sheriff's sale. By the time his children were starting families of their own, Hollis would visit his family occasionally, but never for long. Several of his grandsons recalled visits when Hollis would take them out fishing.

During the 1920 and early 1930s, Hollis began using his middle name and was known as Andrew H. Pierce. He worked as a laborer in Oregon. The 1920 census has him living in Westport, Oregon. By 1930, he was living in Spokane, near his sister Minnie.

Hollis died 23 January 1933 in Bend, Oregon, after suffering a stroke. His remains were buried in an unmarked grave at Greenwood Cemetery in a plot for the indigent. He was 74 at the time of his death.

1.   United States Census, 1900.

   1900 United States Federal Census, Township 146, Beltrami, Minnesota; house number 461; Hollis A. Pierce; Carrie M. Pierce; marriage year: 1893; mother's name: Adalaide M. Pierce; occupation: Farming and Teaching; household members: Hollis A. Pierce; Adalaide M. Pierce; Willie A. Pierce; Saidie May Pierce.

2. ↑ 1860 United States Census
   Year: 1860; Census Place: Valparaiso, Porter, Indiana; Roll: M653_289; Page: 285; Image: 287.

   William Pierce, 27, born Penn.
   Adelaide Pierce, 25, born Vt.
   Hollis Pierce, 3, born Indiana
   Keziah Pierce 8/12, born Indiana

3. ↑ 1870 United States Census
   Year: 1870; Census Place: , , ; Roll: M593.

   A. M. Pierce, 37, born Vt.
   Hollis A. Pierce, 12, born Iowa.
   Kizzie M. Pierce, 10, born Indiana.
   Wilhemina Pierce, 8, born Indiana.

4. ↑ 1880 United States Census
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Dunn, Otter Tail, Minnesota; Roll: 628; Family History Film: 1254628; Page: 75B; Enumeration District: 151; Image: 0561.

   Peirce, Adelaide M., 47, Keeping House, Vermont.
   Minnie R., 17, at home, Indiana.
   Peirce, Hollis A., 22, Farmer, Iowa.

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Death Certificate for Andrew H. Pierce, in Death Certificate.

   The Oregon Department of Health. Death certificate for Andrew H. Pierce. Cause of death: stroke. Certificate lists his birth date and place and death date and place, along with burial.

6.   Original Marriage Certificate and Marriage Announcement.

   Original Marriage Certificate and Marriage Announcement in the possession of his descendants.