Hughes' Views & News

John Ticknor Peirce

This letter was written by my maternal great-great grandfather, John Ticknor Peirce (1846-1912), and includes a mention of my maternal great grandparents, Adolphus Elliot Peirce (1868-1910) and Etta Bailey Peirce (1873-1952). It is part of a Peirce family scrapbook now held by my mother, Gloria Breland Hughes. Her mother, Cora Peirce Breland, was the first child of Adolphus and Etta.

Breland La 4/25/1891

Mrs. Mary E. Holly

Dear Niece it has been a long time since I have heard from any of you. I think it has been about a year since I received your last letter I would be glad you would write again, and let us know how you are all getting on. I wrote to Anna soon after I came home from Florida, but have never heard a word from her. I do not know whether she received it or not. Have you heard from our friend Dr. Alford. I suppose you heard he has married, as he was returning home from Fla he met her on board the cars, and before three days were engaged to be married. I have never seen her but they say She is young beautiful and very intelligent, but I fear he has made a bad choice, as she is always gone, her home was in Kansas City and she stays most of her time there.

My oldest Son Adolphus was married last August he married a Miss Bailey. Bedford’s son’s wife died last Jany.

Mary I want to hear something more about that visit of yours, don’t you think you can come this year, we would all be so glad to see you all

How was the orange crop last year, and is there a prospect for a good crop this year. My wife says to ask you how your Turkeys are doing this Spring. She has about thirty young ones.

I am through planting my crop we have had a very late Spring and every thing looks bad, Cotton is selling very low here, it is not at all encouraging, there was a poor cotton crop made in this section last year, people expected to get more than they did, but it is still going down.

Mary tell Ann, and, Laura to write. I know some of you can write oftener than you do. The girls send their love to you all. I hope you are all well, our children are, some of them complaining, but I think they will be better in a few days. With kindest regards to you and Mr. Holly I remain your affectionate Uncle.

Send your letters to Breland, Tangipahoa Par, La as that office is at my house.

J T Peirce

(Editor’s note:  John’s second wife, Salissa E. Peirce, was appointed U.S. postmaster for Breland, Louisiana, on March 28, 1891 — about a month before this letter was written. )

In this letter, he wrote his last name as “Peirce.” Some of his descendants now spell the name as “Pierce,” while others have retained the “Peirce” spelling. © Tom Hughes and Hughes’ Views & News, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Tom Hughes and Hughes’ Views & News with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

In this letter, he wrote his last name as “Peirce.” Some of his descendants now spell the name as “Pierce,” while others have retained the “Peirce” spelling. © Tom Hughes and Hughes’ Views & News, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Tom Hughes and Hughes’ Views & News with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.