Rowland Pierce and Allied Families
Rowland Pierce was born 21 Mach 1804 in New York State, probably in Albany County, the first of 14 children born to Rowland Sr. and Nancy Cottrell Pierce. After living in Erie County, NY and Blenheim Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Rowland and his family moved to Coolspring Twp, LaPorte County, IN. On 12 May 1850 he purchased 80 acres in that township which he farmed. On 30 Oct 1868 he bought 2 lots in Byron, LaPorte County on which he lived until his death on 2 Sep 1886. His wife was Sally Goodall Pierce, born 26 Jul 1804 in NY, died 25 Aug 1888, both buried at Rolling Prairie Cemetery. Children:
1) Sylvia Ann Pierce, b. 17 March 1829 in Hamburg, Erie County, NY.
Married 7 Jan 1845 in Blenheim Twp, Oxford County, Ontario to William Snyder
Diamond. He was born 14 Jul 1821 in Ontario son of Marcus and Hannah Diamond.
Lived in Scipio Twp and then Wills Twp, LaPorte County. On 24 Apr 1885 they
purchased lots 79, 80, 91, & 92 in Byron. He died there on 30 Aug 1908.
Sylvia died in Michigan City on 21 Mar 1914, both buried at Rolling Prairie
Cemetery. Children of Wm. and Sylvia Diamond:
A.) Jason Goodell Diamond, b.
1 Mar 1848.
B.) Sarah Ann Diamond, b. 6 Mar 1851 in Lake County, IN.
Married 1st in New Buffalo, MI. 14 Feb 1868 to Joseph Ott. He was born 10 Oct
1840, son of Henry W. and Lavina Replogle Ott. He died at Rolling Prairie on 12
Dec 1927. She married 2nd to James Giles Davis, he b. Jul 1843 d. Rolling
Prairie 3 May 1910. She married third to George Griffet. Sarah died 14 Nov 1933
in Chicago Hts, IL. Sarah and Joseph had 8 children, Sarah and James Davis had
1 child.
C) Melissa Angeline Diamond, b. 1 May 1853 in LaPorte County, IN.
Married Jacob W. Ott on 1 Sep 1867 in New Buffalo, MI. He was b. 3 Jan 1835 son
of Henry and Lavina Replogle Ott. Farmed near Rolling Prairie, then moved to
Benton Harbor, MI. He died there on 20 Sep 1912, she died there on 16 May 1945.
8 children.
D) Charles H. Diamond, born 26 Nov 1855 in LaPorte County. M.
15 Mar 1883 to Elizabeth Schultz, she b. Aug 1853 to Frederick and Catherine
Schultz. Farmed at Rolling Prairie where he d. 3 Dec 1904, and she d. in 1913.
Four children.
E.) Rowland Diamond, b. 28 Dec 1857 in Rolling Prairie. M.
13 Nov 1879 in Three Oaks, MI. to Katherine M. Schultz. They lived in Chicago
where he d. 7 Jan 1933, burial at Rolling Prairie Cemetery. One son, Ralph V.
Diamond.
F.) Harriet E. Diamond, b. Mar 1861 in Rolling Prairie. M. 9 Nov
1879 at Three Oaks, MI. to Myron G. VanGieson, he b. 11 Mar 1856 at Rolling
Prairie. He died in Michigan City 21 Mar 1911.
2) Horace Pierce, born 22 Mar 1831 in Hamburg, Erie County, NY. Married first before 1853 to Amanda (?). He was Civil War Vet in Co. F. 119th Ind. Inf. Bought land on 13 Dec 1865 in Sect. 11 of Coolspring Twp. Married 2nd 27 Aug 1877 in Rolling Prairie to Oretta Kinney, she b. abt 1847 in OH. About 1890 they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, but moved back to Rolling Prairie shortly before his death on 30 May 1907 in Byron, burial at Rolling Prairie Cemetery. Horace had at least six children: Walter, Pliny, Peter, Horace, and Ida.
3) Allen L. Pierce, b. 11 Apr 1833 in Hamburg, NY. Veteran of Civil War in Co. B. of the 9th Ind. Infantry. Married in LaPorte County 24 July 1880 to Mrs. Chloe J. Pierce, she b. 8 Apr 1844 d. 19 Jun 1887. Farmed in Rolling Prairie. He died at Byron, IN. 4 May 1901, burial at Rolling Prairie Cemetery. No record of children.
4) Charles H. Pierce, born Sep 1837 in Ontario. Married 5 Feb 1859 in LaPorte County to Charlotte Keith, she b. Nov 1837. Lived in LaPorte County until about 1870 when they moved to Iowa. Four children: Eva, Mary E., Ann G., and Clara L.
5) Elizabeth Pierce, b. Mar 1838 in Canada. Married 17 May 1860 in LaPorte County, IN. to Channing Wilson, he b. May 1830, About 1880 moved to Santa Rosa, CA. 3 children: Herbert, Ralph, and Glenn Wilson.
6) Chester G. Pierce, b. Aug 1842 in Canada. Civil War Vet in Co. B. of 9th Ind. Infantry. Married 20 Dec 1886 in Coloma, MI. to Mrs. Iona A. Fisher Beyea, born 3 Feb 1853. He died in San Diego, CA. on 31 Oct 1932. One child: Lulu.
7) Ellen L. Pierce, born 11 June 1848 in Canada. Married first in LaPorte County to Jay Parkinson on 4 Nov 1870. Married second to Richard Muthart, he born 19 Mar 1846. Lived for a time in Rolling Prairie before moving to Chicago. He died at St. John, Lake County, IN. on 2 Jan 1913. She died at Rockford, IL. on 12 June 1935. Five children: Huston J. Muthart, Luella, Leslie E., and Clarence Muthart.
. Rowland Pierce also had another brother who lived for a time in LaPorte County. His name was Thomas C. Pierce, born 10 July 1826 in Hamburg, NY. He m. 1st at Blenheim, Ontario to Sarah Ann Richards, she b. 18 Aug 1831 in Blenheim, daughter of William and Martha Mudge Richards. The purchased land on 5 May 1869 in NE 1/4 Sect 26 in Coolspring Twp, LaPorte County, and more land in NW 1/4 Sect 19 on 13 Aug 1872. Sarah Ann Richards Pierce died 17 Oct 1871 and is buried at Low's Cemetery in Coolspring Twp. Thomas moved to Wisconsin and later to Cedarvale, Kansas where he died 4 Sep 1902. One of their children, Mary M. Pierce is buried at Pine Lake Cemetery in LaPorte. She was b. 21 Jun 1844 at Hamilton, Ontario married 18 Oct 1866 at Waterford, IN. to Ambrose Porter White, he b. Scipio Twp 2 Dec 1847. Mary Pierce White died in Chicago, IL on 28 Aug 1908, and he in Chicago on 9 Sep 1916, both buried at Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte. Seven children.
Many descendents of Rowland and Sally Pierce lived and are still living in LaPorte County with surnames Ott, Diamond, and Juckett.
Biography donated by: Jim Reich