William T. Pierson
William T. Pierson resides in section 7, German township, where he owns a fine farm of 106 acres half a mile northwest of Elida. This is one of the best improved and most highly cultivated properties in Allen County, and shows the result of modern and progressive ideas when applied to farming Mr. Pierson was born February 1. 1851, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (DeLong) Pierson. His father was born November 18, 1826, and his mother July 1, 1825. They were married in Fairfield County, December 1, 1847. In 1854 they came to Allen County and for about five years lived in the village of Elida. They they moved to Fort Amanda, Auglaize County, where the mother died May 15, 1886, and the father, March 4, 1900. They were the parents of seven children: William T.; J. E., a resident of German township; Jane (Baber), deceased; Margaret (Zerkle); Hannah Sophia (Umbaugh), deceased; Rosetta (Baber) and Cora Belle (Anderson).
William R. Pierson was educated in Auglaize County and remained with his parents until his marriage in 1874, when he moved to a farm one mile south of where he now lives. He has always been engaged in farming, and lived on his first farm for 18 years. On Thanksgiving Day 1893, he moved to the farm upon which he now lives and nine years later, in 1902, built the handsome, 11-room frame house that is so much of an ornament to the property. He also erected barns, etc., and has placed the land under the most thorough cultivation.
Mr. Pierson was married October 22, 1874, to Ellen M. Riley, and their union has been blessed by the birth of one son and one daughter, namely: Eva A., born May 25, 1875; and Ira E., born December 5, 1881. Both are living at home. Mrs. Pierson was born May 2, 1855, in Bath township, and was living near Spencerville at the time of her marriage. She is a daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Berrihill) Riley, both of whom were natives of this county, the former having been born March 16, 1833, and the lattr, October 1, 1833. The father, while living in Keokuk County, Iowa, enlisted for service in the Civil War in which he met death January 2, 1863. The mother resides in Amanda township. Her children were as follows: George A., born September 15, 1857, who died September 22, 1858; Leile Evangeline, born May 30, 1860, who died October 10, 1860; Joseph H., born May 28, 1863, who is a resident of California; and Ellen M. (Mrs. Pierson). When Mrs. Pierson was one year old, her parents moved to Iowa where they resided seven years, the family returning to Ohio on a visit at the time of the father's enlistment and remaining here because of the death of Mr. Riley. Her grandfather was Rev. George Riley, who was born in Burlington County, New Jersey, August 27, 1792, and died in Sugar Creek township, Allen County, Ohio, in 1883. He was a missionary, assisting Rev. J. B. Findlay in his work among the Upper Sandusky Indians of the Wyandot tribe. Mr. Pierson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Elida and is one of the Trustees.