William Hays Pierce (1894 - 1962)

Born 30 May 1894 in Leaf River Township, Wadena County, Minnesota

Ancestors

Husband of Geneta Brynhilde (Haavig) Pierce — married 18 Jun 1922 in Wells County, North Dakota

Descendants

Died 5 Sep 1962 at age 68 in Spokane, Washington

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Corporal William Pierce served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 29 June 1917
Unit(s): 2nd Infantry Regiment
Service ended: 12 July 1919

Biography

William Hays Pierce, the son of Hollis Pierce and May Lincoln, was born at the home of his Grandfather, Alvin Lincoln, at Leaf River Township, Wadena County, Minnesota; Dr. McKinnon, of Wadena, assisted in the delivery. ^[1] He was named for his paternal grandfather, also named William Hays Pierce. When he was five, the family moved to Bemidji, where his father worked as a teacher. His grandmother, Adelaide Mariette Peirce, lived with the family during this time.

At the age of sixteen, William lost his mother to a heart ailment. He later told his children that his mother collapsed suddenly one day as he was helping her repair a fence. She was only 34 at the time of her death. After her death, his father, who was not to be consoled, disappeared, leaving William alone with his siblings, Sadie, Beth, Emily, and Alvin. William tried to keep the family together by trapping and fur trading, but to no avail. Tragically, their home burned and he lost all the furs he had collected for sale. Later, the children lived with their mother's sister, Alma Laura (Lincoln) Gilmore, in New Rockford, North Dakota.

William enlisted in the United States Army on June 29, 1917, and served in France with distinction. ^[2][3]After his return, he married Geneta Haavig and settled down to raise a family.^[4][5]

William and Geneta were the parents of three children: May, Albert and Jeanne. The family settled in Spokane, Washington.

William died 5 September 1962 in Spokane, Washington, at the age of 68. ^[6][7][8]

Jeanne Pierce wrote the following biography of her parents:

Dad worked at various occupations (his discharge papers listed him as a machinist; he worked after discharge as a policeman, in a meat market, and in a tin shop), but during the greater part of his life he worked as a carpenter.

Cpl. William H. Pierce served his country in World War I, in France and Germany. He was commended as follows:

A soldier of excellent fighting qualities and courage, For gallantry and devotion to duty during the Soissons Offensive July 18-23, 1918.

He was awarded the Silver Star. He was twice wounded and gassed and suffered much on that account in later life.

Dad loved gardening, and whenever possible had a huge garden and planted berries and fruit trees. His gardening and Mom's canning kept us eating during the hard days of the depression. (And no itinerants were turned away as long as we had food to share.) When he wasn't gardening, Dad was reading.

Mom did beautiful handcraft work--knitting, crocheting, tatting, embroidery, and sewing. She also loved to bake. She would get up early in the morning to do her work, and by the time I got up there was often bread baking, and a couple of other baked treats already done.

Mom and Dad both were active in the Lutheran Church. They also belonged to and were active in veterans groups (American Legion in the early years; later the World War I Vets). Mom was involved in precinct politics and worked on election boards many years. Mom and Dad were quiet, gentle people; they were both persons of principle and excellent character.

Our parents were ecumenists long before the ecumenical movement. They were also integrationists before that became popular. A number of years before he died (he died in 1962), Dad made friends with a large black family (the children played near where he worked.) For years he faithfully brought the children to Sunday School for as long as they wanted to go; and Mom would invite them to picnics in the yard. Dad was patience itself, sitting in the car waiting for the children to get ready.

Our parents practiced their Christian profession quietly, without fanfare or fuss, as in befriending some elderly, reclusive neighbors who were in dire straits for a number of years.

Mom and Dad died in faith, resting their hope on Jesus.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Certificate, Minnesota Vital Records, also Minnesota, Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980.
2. ↑ Discharge Papers, United States Army, William H. Pierce, Honorable Discharge.
3. ↑ North Dakota Military Men, 1917-1918. William Hays Pierce, birth: 30 May 1894; military date: 29 June 1917; enlistment: New Rockford, ND; army number 52,840; military branch Company B, 2nd Infantry, North Dakota National Guard; enlisted in Company B, 2nd Infantry, North Dakota National Guard, at New Rockford, on June 29, 1917; called into federal service, World War, on July 15, 1917; served in Company B, 2nd Infantry, North Dakota National Guard, to Oct. 10, 1917; Company H, 164th Infantry, to Jan. 18, 1918; Company B, 26th Infantry, to discharge. Grade: Corporal, Feb. 7, 1919; overseas from Dec. 15, 1917, to Sept. 4, 1919; wounded, slightly, July 21, 1918. Engagements: Offensive: Aisne-Marne. Defensive Sectors: Ansauville (Lorraine); Cantigny (Picardy). Discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa, on Sept. 24, 1919, as a Corporal. Cited in General Orders No. 6, Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Brigade, American Forces in Germany, Montabaur, Germany, July 12, 1919, for gallantry in action and devotion to duty during the operations of 2nd Infantry Brigade, American Expeditionary Forces, France, 1917-1918. A soldier of excellent fighting qualities and courage. For gallantry and devotion to duty during the Soissons offensive, July 18-25, 1918. Received and Entitled to wear a silver star.
4. ↑ North Dakota, Marriage Records, 1872-2017; William H. Pierce, age 28; marriage date: 18 June 1922; marriage place: Eddy, ND; filing date 10 July 1922; spouse: Geneta Haavig.
5. ↑ Original Marriage Certificate, William Hays Pierce and Geneta Haavig, in possession of the family.
6. ↑ Social Security Death Index, William H. Pierce, born 30 May 1894; died September 1962; state issued: North Dakota.
7. ↑ U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963; William Hays Pierce, birth date 30 May 1894; death date 5 September 1962; Spokane Memorial Gardens, Spokane, WA.
8. ↑ Find a Grave Memorial for William Hays Pierce.
9. ↑ Biography of William H. Pierce and Geneta Pierce written by Jeanne L. Pierce, their daughter.