Death Of Hon. J. D. Pierce

Hon. John D. Pieroe, for over 30 years a resident of Ypsilanti, died last week at the resideuce of his daughter in Bedford, Massachusetts, where hè had been making his home for a year. "Father" Pierce, as he wa8 called, was bom :n Chesterfield, N. EL, February 18, 1797. From the age of 2 years until his 20th he lived with his uncle in Worcester, Ma3s., receiving about eight weeks of schooling each year af ter he wus old enough to attend school. Wuen he was 20 his uncle gave him hia time, and with $100 he had earned as a farm laborer and a like amount which he received from his grandfather, hc soon started out to seek an education. Earning his own living he prepared himself for college and entered Brown university, where by close application and by teaching three months in each year, he was enabled to maintain himself and gradúate in 1822, in the first eight of a class of thirty eix. The following year he was principal of an academy in Massachusetts, and in the fall of 1823 ho entered the Princtton theologioal semincry and studied one year. He was then licensed by the Congregalional association and on January 1, 1825, was settled as a pastor of a church in Oneida county, N. Y., where he remained unlil 1829. The next year he Rcted as principal of an (lemy iu (oslien, C'onn. I the spring ol 1831, lie receivcd a commission frora tbe home missionary society to settle as a niissionary in this stato, or in Illinois, as he inigUt cboose. He decided upon Michigiin and locatcd iu Marshall, coutinuing to labor as a missionary uutil the 2(5th ot July, 1836, when he wae appoiutcdsuperïnteadcndcnt of public instruction. Tbe important work now devolved upou Mr. Picrce of devising a plan for the organization of the primary schools and the state university, and for the disposai of the primary school and univeisity lands. His first report clearly dcmonstrated the wisdom of his appointment. Mr. Pierce continued as superintendent of public iustruetion for flvc ycars, whcn ba rcsumed his work in tbc Christian ministry. ín 1E47 he wus cltctcd to the state legislatura, when lie succeeded in securing the passage of a resolution iiistructiug tlie Michigan delegation in congress to oppose the introduction of slavery iu the teriitorifs. At this scssiou he proposed aud carried out the homcstead exemplion luw, the first of its kind ever euacted ic the United States. Iu 1850 he was a member of the constitutional convention, and was largely ínstruiucntal n securing the incorporation in the constitution of the homestead cxemptiou measure and the provisión for f ree puDlic schools. In 1852 he delivered the address al the opening of the Normal school and soon after removed to Ypsilanti, wherc he has since resided, dcvoting much of his time to the ministry, but for ten years being county superintendent of schools, and at all times exhibitiiig the liveliest interest in all that pertained to the cducational welfare of the state, aud manifesling this interest by his frequent presence at teachers' gatherings and university and normal school conimencfcmeuts. Altlioii!;li in üis 8(ith year hc reüüned lis faculties and physical vigor to u remaikable degree. For soine time past be ïus been visiüng rehitives ia the east and only a few monttis au;o was present at a reuuion of tbc university aluulni in Boson, by wliom lie was cordially entertained.