Pierce, John J

Pierce, John J.

a Presbyterian minister,was born in Vermont in 1791. He secured his early education principally by his own exertions; graduated at Princeton College in 1820, and at the theological seminary in the same place in 1823. He was licensed by the New Brunswick Presbytery, and began preaching at Portsmouth, Virgina, where he remained until 1824, when he left for Clarksville, Tennessee. In 1825 he was elected president of an academy in Ellkton, Kentucky, which position he held until 1837. Soon after he occupied temporarily the place of one of the professors in Centre College, Danville, Kentucky; then returned again to Elkton; but subsequently left, and spent two years in teaching in Illinois and Missouri. On his return he took charge of Ridgewood Church, Kentucky, where he continued to labor until his death, March 18, 1861. Mr. Pierce was a purehearted, simple-

minded man; never attaining any very eminent success in the ministry, but ever contented and happy. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1862, page 116. (J.L.S.)