John A. Pierce, superintendent of the poor farm of Delaware county, was born in Jones county, Iowa, October 20, 1869, a son of Hugh and Charlotte (Twombley) Howie. The parents have long since passed away and Mr. Pierce, early left an orphan, was adopted by Laban and Annie (Lathrop) Pierce, who in 1878 came with their family to Delaware county, settling south of Bailey's Ford, upon a tract of land of forty acres. They afterward sold that property and for two years rented. Later they spent four years in South Dakota, after which they returned to Delhi, Mr. Pierce purchasing eighty acres south of the town. After the death of the mother in December, 1902, the father practically retired from business and on the 23d of December, 1912, passed away, both being laid to rest in the cemetery at Delhi. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in. 1861 as a member of Company B, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, with which he served until honorably discharged in 1865. With the close of the war Mr. Pierce returned to his home in Jones county and resumed farming, to which occupation he devoted the greater part of his life. He was never an office holder, but was interested in matters of citizenship and in politics was a radical republican, giving stalwart support to the party and aiding in winning for it success at the local, state and national elections. He led a busy, useful and active life and was highly esteemed wherever known.
      John A. Pierce started out to earn his own living when sixteen years of age, being employed for a time as a farm hand. Whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own efforts. On the 22d of
February, 1900, he married Miss Nellie Frentress, a daughter of Fred and Frances (Hall) Frentress, who were pioneer settlers of Honey Creek township, Delaware county.
      On the 1st of March, 1913, Mr. Pierce was appointed to the position of superintendent of the county poor farm and has since acted in that capacity, making an excellent record through the prompt, capable and efficient manner in which he discharges the duties of the office. He has never been a politician in the usually accepted sense of office seeking, but is a stanch republican, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party, for he believes that its principles contain the best elements of good government. Much of his life has been spent in this county and he has a wide acquaintance among its citizens, who esteem him highly for his sterling worth and many excellent traits of character.